PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manhoef has chosen Killing In The Name as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Melvin Manhoef has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Dos Santos
vs
Manhoef

185 cm
28
195 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

173 cm
40
194 lbs
35 - 37 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 37 - 1, fighting out of London, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Manhoef is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dos Santos.
Manhoef looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manhoef looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dos Santos has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A punch combination from Dos Santos misses.

Dos Santos gets a clinch.

Manhoef breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manhoef fails to land with a series of punches.
Dos Santos throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A chopping leg kick lands by Manhoef.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manhoef pivots, looking for a leg kick but Dos Santos is out of range and Manhoef settles back down.
Dos Santos smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Dos Santos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Manhoef can pounce on him.
Dos Santos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Manhoef throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dos Santos.
Manhoef moves out of range of the leg kick from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Manhoef is able to avoid easily.
Manhoef misses with a two punch combination.
Manhoef misses with a two punch combination.
Dos Santos scores with a kick to the midsection.

Dos Santos looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Manhoef!
Manhoef is not content to let Dos Santos control the position.
Manhoef really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dos Santos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dos Santos is trying to get an arm triangle but Manhoef is defending well.
Dos Santos working the body and head with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dos Santos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manhoef knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Manhoef wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two 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.
Manhoef dodges the ground and pound from Dos Santos.

Dos Santos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Manhoef has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dos Santos looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dos Santos trying to control the position but Manhoef is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef pushes Dos Santos away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dos Santos gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manhoef is trying to escape the position but Dos Santos is controlling the position.
Manhoef is not content to let Dos Santos control the position.
The ground and pound from Dos Santos seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Manhoef wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Dos Santos in side control, throwing shots but Manhoef defends.

Dos Santos tries for a kimura but Manhoef is defending well.

That's four 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.
Dos Santos working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dos Santos working the body and head with strikes.

Dos Santos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dos Santos will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dos Santos is trying to ground and pound but Manhoef uses the momentary lack of control by Dos Santos to regain half guard.
Dos Santos passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Dos Santos dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dos Santos attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manhoef paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manhoef getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Manhoef rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dos Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dos Santos is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manhoef can do to turn this around?
Manhoef throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dos Santos's head.
Manhoef stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Manhoef wants it to stay on the feet.
Dos Santos lands with a shot to the body.
Dos Santos throws a shot from downtown. Manhoef moves away and avoids it.
Dos Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dos Santos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Manhoef pinned against the cage. Manhoef gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Manhoef drops Dos Santos with a beautiful combination! Dos Santos stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Manhoef is looking for the KO!

Dos Santos is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manhoef plants his feet and throws a 3 punch combo. Miss, miss, boom! The third punch, a big right hook, connects right on the temple and drops Dos Santos to the mat, unconscious! This fight is all over! Dos Santos just couldn't keep out of the way of the whole flurry of punches!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Melvin Manhoef!
Melvin Manhoef thanked the fans post fight for their support.