PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Martin Daskalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Daskalov
vs
Dos Santos

178 cm
27
152 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
28
150 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Martin Daskalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Junior Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Daskalov clinches up with Dos Santos and pushes him back against the cage.

Daskalov breaks the clinch.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Daskalov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Daskalov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Daskalov misses with a takedown attempt - Dos Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dos Santos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dos Santos goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Daskalov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dos Santos pinned against the cage. Dos Santos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Daskalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Daskalov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dos Santos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dos Santos sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Daskalov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daskalov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dos Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Daskalov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dos Santos being controlled here momentarily.

Daskalov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daskalov has control of Dos Santos's left arm, preventing Dos Santos from doing any damage.
Dos Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Daskalov is keeping the position for now.
Daskalov trying to keep a closed guard but Dos Santos is proving a slippery customer.

We're going to have a standup here because Martin Daskalov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Daskalov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dos Santos.
Daskalov throws a head kick that misses.
Dos Santos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Daskalov's waist but Daskalov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dos Santos off to one side.
Daskalov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Dos Santos takes a step back to recover.

Daskalov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daskalov keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.

Daskalov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dos Santos postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daskalov pulls Dos Santos in to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dos Santos wants to stand and escape but instead Daskalov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Daskalov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daskalov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dos Santos working a defensive guard here.

Daskalov gets to his feet. Dos Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Dos Santos wants to clinch up but Daskalov keeps it at a distance.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Daskalov is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daskalov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Daskalov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dos Santos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Daskalov darts in and clinches Dos Santos up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Daskalov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dos Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Daskalov fakes the leg kick and cracks Dos Santos in the body.

Daskalov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dos Santos's half guard.
Daskalov content to control rather than advance.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Daskalov uses his free foot to push down on Dos Santos's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dos Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to control but Daskalov is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daskalov lands a couple of good shots and Dos Santos has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Daskalov lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Dos Santos is really stuck here.

Dos Santos fending off the submission attempt from Daskalov.
Daskalov lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Daskalov biding his time, controlling Dos Santos.
Martin Daskalov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Daskalov lands with a hammerfist to the side of Dos Santos's head.
Daskalov has good solid back control here.
Dos Santos is trying to break free.
Daskalov cracks Dos Santos with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Dos Santos from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Dos Santos is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daskalov keeps control of the position easily here as Dos Santos tries to buck him off.
Daskalov throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Dos Santos!
Daskalov tries to keep control of the position but Dos Santos is staying busy.
Daskalov controlling the position well here. Dos Santos rolled but Daskalov kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Daskalov trying to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daskalov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dos Santos is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dos Santos is covering up but some of the strikes from Daskalov are getting through and doing damage.
Daskalov tries to keep control of the position but Dos Santos is staying busy.

Dos Santos fending off the submission attempt from Daskalov.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dos Santos tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daskalov gets his hands free as Dos Santos looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Daskalov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Daskalov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dos Santos swivels and escapes.
Daskalov slaps away a takedown attempt from Dos Santos, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dos Santos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Daskalov avoids it really well and circles away.

Daskalov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dos Santos napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Daskalov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Daskalov trying to control the position but Dos Santos is working away.
A lull in the action here as Daskalov stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daskalov working the head and body with strikes.
Dos Santos wants to control but Daskalov postures up.
Daskalov lands some shots froms side control.
Daskalov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Dos Santos to see if he's OK.

Daskalov stands up and beckons Dos Santos to his feet.
Dos Santos takes a kick to the side of the head.
Daskalov fails with a takedown attempt.
Daskalov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dos Santos can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dos Santos is looking to clinch.
Martin Daskalov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daskalov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dos Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Daskalov somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Daskalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dos Santos avoids a kick to the body.
Daskalov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Daskalov seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Martin Daskalov is winning the standup battle so far.

Daskalov has managed to clinch.
Daskalov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Junior Dos Santos has been cut.
Daskalov landing knees to the head.
Daskalov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Daskalov.

Dos Santos has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Daskalov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Daskalov can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daskalov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Dos Santos's guard. Nice work there by Daskalov.
Daskalov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Daskalov looking to pass the guard.
Daskalov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Daskalov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dos Santos's head.
Daskalov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Daskalov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Daskalov lands a couple of elbows.
Daskalov trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.

Daskalov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daskalov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dos Santos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Junior Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daskalov connects with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Daskalov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Daskalov 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Daskalov!