PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jex Midnight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Midnight
vs
dos Santos

173 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jex Midnight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Midnight avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Midnight is defended easily by dos Santos.

dos Santos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Midnight to the mat! Midnight manages to get full guard.
Midnight looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
dos Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
dos Santos thows a big elbow that misses.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Midnight tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midnight can't keep his opponent in guard - dos Santos advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Midnight is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Midnight trying to control from the bottom.
dos Santos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
dos Santos shoots in for a takedown but Midnight shows good takedown defense.
dos Santos looks to land a combination but Midnight avoids it well.
dos Santos tries to clinch there but Midnight circles away.
dos Santos fails to land with a series of punches.
dos Santos misses with a takedown

and Midnight counters with a single leg into guard. dos Santos didn't expect that.
Midnight trying to control but dos Santos is working from the bottom.

dos Santos is looking for a triangle but Midnight pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

dos Santos looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Midnight passes into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
dos Santos is looking for a sweep. Midnight is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

dos Santos looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Midnight pushes past his half guard into mount!
Midnight prevents dos Santos from getting the reversal.
Midnight fails to take his opponent's back.

Midnight is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, dos Santos has managed to escape the submission attempt.

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.

Midnight goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now dos Santos is on top in guard.
Midnight looking for a sweep. Not yet Midnight, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jex Midnight will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

dos Santos swinging wildly here.
Rafael dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
dos Santos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Midnight.
dos Santos clinches but Midnight breaks the clinch

and Midnight counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
dos Santos is trying to control but can't.
dos Santos punching from the bottom.
dos Santos has a hand on Midnight's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Midnight takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
dos Santos working to try and regain half guard.
Midnight controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
dos Santos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Midnight looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
dos Santos is in all sorts of trouble here.
dos Santos tries to hold on but Midnight pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
dos Santos tries to control Midnight's body but Midnight pushes him off. dos Santos squirms to his side and now Midnight has his back!
dos Santos is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
dos Santos trying to control the action but Midnight just sinks the hooks in.
dos Santos manages to reverse the position and now he's in Midnight's guard. Nice work there by dos Santos.
dos Santos won't allow Midnight to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos wants to control from the top but Midnight keeps moving.
Midnight manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. dos Santos manages to get himself to full guard.
dos Santos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Midnight from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
dos Santos doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

dos Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Midnight from controlling successfully.
dos Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Midnight is one step ahead there.

dos Santos looking for a guillotine here but Midnight defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jex Midnight dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

An inside leg kick from dos Santos misses.
dos Santos misses with a series of wild punches.
dos Santos misses with a takedown

and Midnight counters with a nice double leg into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now dos Santos is on top in guard.
Midnight manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midnight looking to control but dos Santos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
dos Santos is desperately trying to improve his position but Midnight has a good base and remains in mount.
dos Santos gets back to half guard.
Midnight trying to control the action but dos Santos is working from the bottom.

dos Santos looking for submissions off his back.
dos Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Midnight is figuring out what he wants to do next.
dos Santos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Midnight is working away from the top position though.
dos Santos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Midnight kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midnight works his way into full mount!
dos Santos looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Midnight is trying to stick to dos Santos's back but dos Santos is turning into Midnight. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Midnight's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by dos Santos.
Midnight looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
dos Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Midnight is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Midnight is on top in guard.

dos Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Midnight gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jex Midnight is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

dos Santos has an active guard here but Midnight has managed to pass into half guard.
Rafael dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Midnight is looking to take a break and control but dos Santos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jex Midnight showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Midnight has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jex Midnight!