PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Maine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maine has chosen 99 Problems as his entrance music. Carlos Maine is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Dos Santos
vs
Maine

175 cm
21
142 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

162 cm
23
135 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Maine!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Santos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dos Santos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dos Santos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maine was well out of range. Poor timing from Dos Santos.
Maine throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.

Maine feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Maine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.

Dos Santos throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Maine escapes and throws Dos Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Maine working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maine trying to control the position but Dos Santos is working away.

Maine tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maine has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to improve his position.
Dos Santos is not content to let Maine control the position.
Dos Santos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dos Santos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Maine thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maine won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.

Dos Santos looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Maine passes into side control.
Dos Santos is not content to let Maine control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dos Santos tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maine working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maine wants to control for a moment but Dos Santos uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Dos Santos is looking to advance position but Maine won't allow it.
Maine is not content to let Dos Santos control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maine has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dos Santos is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maine pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Dos Santos doesn't manage to clinch there - Maine circles away.

Maine drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dos Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maine accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dos Santos is trying to control the position but Maine postures up.

Dos Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dos Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos controls Maine momentarily but Maine frees himself.
Maine passes Dos Santos's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Maine is working for a kimura but Dos Santos is defending it quite comfortably.
Dos Santos wants to improve his position but Maine is controlling well.
Maine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dos Santos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dos Santos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maine is looking to take a break and control but Dos Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Maine is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Maine dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dos Santos gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Maine from controlling successfully.
Dos Santos is looking to stand up but Maine isn't so interested in that idea.
Maine's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Dos Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maine doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maine manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Maine wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Maine is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dos Santos throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Maine escapes and throws Dos Santos's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Dos Santos seems a little lost for a moment, as Maine dominates the positioning.

Maine is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dos Santos has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dos Santos is looking for a sweep.
Dos Santos manages to get back to half guard.
Maine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dos Santos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dos Santos gets back to full guard.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Maine from controlling successfully.

Dos Santos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maine is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maine passes Dos Santos's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maine missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Maine is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Dos Santos has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maine is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos is staying active underneath Maine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Dos Santos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Maine is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dos Santos doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maine.

Dos Santos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maine trying to control from half guard but Dos Santos is working away.
Dos Santos is looking for a sweep. Maine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maine changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dos Santos tries to avoid it but Maine manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dos Santos to the ground. Dos Santos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dos Santos throws a lazy right hand but Maine sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dos Santos misses with a hook.
Dos Santos fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dos Santos has his takedown stuffed
and Maine counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dos Santos lands a nice looking body shot.
Dos Santos lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Maine walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Maine closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Maine lands in his opponent's guard.
Dos Santos is trying to control the position but Maine postures up.
Maine stopping the sweep attempt from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Maine from controlling successfully.

Dos Santos looking for a guillotine here but Maine defends easily.

Maine drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dos Santos manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Maine has Dos Santos in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Maine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Maine uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dos Santos.
A jab lands there for Dos Santos.
Dos Santos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maine counters with a right hand to the body.
Maine throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Maine tries to move into range but Dos Santos moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Maine moves out of range.
Dos Santos looks to throw the jab but Maine is out of range.
Dos Santos throws a jab but it's blocked by Maine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maine takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Dos Santos looks to clinch

and Maine counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maine.
Dos Santos working a defensive guard here.

Maine has gone for a leg lock! Dos Santos slips out almost immediately though and dives into Maine's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maine looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maine is trying to keep Dos Santos in close.
Dos Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maine swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maine is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Maine throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Dos Santos escapes and throws Maine's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Dos Santos in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Maine is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thiago Dos Santos!