PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edward Nygma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nygma comes to the cage accompanied by Crazy Train by Ozzy Ozbourne. dos Santos has chosen Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger as his entrance music. Rafael dos Santos is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nygma
vs
dos Santos

182 cm
21
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
29
155 lbs
10 - 8 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Edward Nygma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nygma connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

dos Santos has Nygma up against the cage in a clinch.
Nygma prevents a takedown attempt there.

dos Santos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Nygma is trying to keep dos Santos in close.
Nygma keeping moving, preventing dos Santos from controlling successfully.
dos Santos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
dos Santos trying to control but Nygma is working from the bottom.
dos Santos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nygma kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rafael dos Santos hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nygma paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nygma falls off balance throwing a combination

and dos Santos counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nygma is trying to control the position from the bottom.
dos Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nygma swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nygma controls dos Santos momentarily but dos Santos frees himself.
dos Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nygma is keeping the position for now.

dos Santos drops back looking for a leg! Nygma is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nygma manages to kick dos Santos off! dos Santos jumps back into Nygma's guard.
Nygma keeping moving, preventing dos Santos from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nygma keeping moving, preventing dos Santos from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nygma tries to score with a low kick but dos Santos moves his leg out of the way.
Nygma scores with a one two! dos Santos had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

dos Santos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - dos Santos lands in his opponent's guard.
Nygma looking to hit a scissor sweep but dos Santos is one step ahead there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
dos Santos postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nygma is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nygma 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.
Nygma controls dos Santos momentarily but dos Santos frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as dos Santos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
dos Santos trying to control but Nygma is working from the bottom.
Nygma being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Edward Nygma has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

dos Santos drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

dos Santos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nygma knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

dos Santos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

dos Santos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nygma is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael dos Santos dominated that round.
That's time! Nygma's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

dos Santos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nygma wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
dos Santos shoots for a double leg takedown but Nygma sprawls well. He's pushed dos Santos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
dos Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Edward Nygma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
dos Santos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Nygma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
dos Santos shoots in but no luck this time.
dos Santos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nygma swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and dos Santos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

dos Santos moves into range and clinches up with Nygma.
dos Santos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nygma avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Edward Nygma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael dos Santos.
dos Santos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
dos Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nygma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nygma prevents the takedown attempt.
dos Santos is breathing heavily.
dos Santos drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nygma's efforts to push away.
dos Santos lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good body shot from Nygma.
dos Santos is working for takedown but Nygma is calmly controlling the position for now.
dos Santos wants a takedown.
Nygma is trying to break free.
Nygma tries to break free but dos Santos pushes him back against the cage.
Nygma is looking to break free of the clinch but dos Santos has double underhooks.
dos Santos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nygma fights it off and pushes away nicely.
dos Santos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nygma lands a nice hook to dos Santos's body. dos Santos takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nygma 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.
Nygma lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

dos Santos closes the distance and pushes Nygma back into the cage.
dos Santos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nygma fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nygma connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Edward Nygma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Nygma catches dos Santos right on the button with a cross.
Nygma misses with a combination

and dos Santos counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nygma won't be happy with that.
Nygma knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for dos Santos on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
dos Santos wants to control but Nygma is keeping him busy.
Nygma is looking to regain half guard here but dos Santos keeps moving and retains side control.
Nygma struggling a bit here.

dos Santos is working to tighten is grip on Nygma's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Nygma has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but dos Santos is really squeezing tight and eventually Nygma passes out! dos Santos breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rafael dos Santos!