PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abunazir Kindzal (ranked 4352 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo Dos Santos (ranked 6183 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kindzal
vs
Dos Santos

178 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abunazir Kindzal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leonardo Dos Santos !
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos throws out a powerful jab.
Dos Santos goes for a double leg but Kindzal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kindzal continues to drive forward.

Kindzal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dos Santos , pushing him back against the cage.

Kindzal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kindzal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Dos Santos pushes Kindzal off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kindzal looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kindzal dives in and scores a takedown into Dos Santos 's guard.
Kindzal wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Dos Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dos Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dos Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kindzal controlling from the top position.
Kindzal preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kindzal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kindzal but Kindzal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Abunazir Kindzal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Dos Santos .

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.
Kindzal misses with a takedown attempt - Dos Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dos Santos feints the counter takedown.
Kindzal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dos Santos 's waist but Dos Santos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kindzal off to one side.
Dos Santos is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kindzal lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Kindzal clinches with his opponent.
Dos Santos wants to take the fight to the mat but Kindzal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dos Santos fails to pull guard.
Dos Santos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kindzal pulls Dos Santos into guard.
Dos Santos stopping the sweep attempt from Kindzal.

Kindzal has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dos Santos off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kindzal swats away the attempt to clinch by Dos Santos .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kindzal.
A right-left combo lands from Dos Santos .
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Kindzal sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kindzal attempts a counter takedown but Dos Santos avoids it well and moves away.
Dos Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kindzal moves into the clinch.
Dos Santos jumps guard but Kindzal stands there with Dos Santos around his waist. Dos Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dos Santos wants to get back to striking at distance but Kindzal won't allow it.
Kindzal tries to score a body lock takedown but Dos Santos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kindzal lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.
Dos Santos is trying to break the clinch but Kindzal has him pressed against the cage.

Kindzal is trying to trip Dos Santos . He has hold of a leg but Dos Santos is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kindzal persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Dos Santos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kindzal's guard.

Dos Santos with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dos Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kindzal controlling the position.
Kindzal keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abunazir Kindzal dominated that round.
That's time! Kindzal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dos Santos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kindzal attempts a counter takedown but Dos Santos avoids it well and moves away.
Dos Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown but Kindzal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kindzal stuffs the takedown.
Abunazir Kindzal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Dos Santos .
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kindzal sprawls well. Kindzal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Kindzal on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kindzal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dos Santos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kindzal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dos Santos .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos lands with a shot to the body.

Kindzal gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dos Santos is looking to control Kindzal's arms but Kindzal gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dos Santos has his back to the cage.
Kindzal avoiding damage as Dos Santos throws knees to the body.

Kindzal lands a takedown into guard.
Kindzal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dos Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kindzal lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Kindzal stands up from Dos Santos 's guard - Kindzal perhaps looking for a knockout.

Kindzal takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dos Santos .

Dos Santos is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kindzal is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dos Santos to the mat. Dos Santos regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kindzal is standing up over Dos Santos . Dos Santos looks to escape but Kindzal dives into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kindzal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dos Santos can do to turn this around?
Kindzal tries to advance to mount but Dos Santos denies him.
Dos Santos tries to improve position but can't.
Kindzal tries to score with some ground and pound. Dos Santos controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Dos Santos is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kindzal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dos Santos keeps working.
Dos Santos is trying to control Kindzal's posture but Kindzal avoids it.

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

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

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.
You can see the frustration on Dos Santos 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kindzal has control of an arm but Dos Santos manages to advance to Kindzal's back!

Dos Santos patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Kindzal manages to reverse the position and now he's in Dos Santos 's guard. Nice work there by Kindzal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kindzal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abunazir Kindzal dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dos Santos tries to clinch but Kindzal moves out of range.
Dos Santos shoots in but Kindzal avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dos Santos shoots for a takedown but Kindzal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dos Santos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kindzal swivels and escapes.
Kindzal appears to be looking for a big counter.
Abunazir Kindzal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Dos Santos .

Kindzal takes the fight into the clinch.

Kindzal has picked Dos Santos up - he's going for a ride! Kindzal dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Dos Santos kicks Kindzal off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Dos Santos . Those never looked like landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kindzal throws a right and a left that Dos Santos avoids nicely.
Kindzal sets himself, and Dos Santos steps forward looking for the clinch! Kindzal avoids it this time.
Kindzal throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dos Santos closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kindzal counters with a takedown into side control.

Dos Santos sneaks out the side door and pushes Kindzal away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kindzal sprawls well. Kindzal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Dos Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A low kick from Dos Santos is predictable there

and Kindzal counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Dos Santos escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kindzal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dos Santos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kindzal controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Kindzal from controlling successfully.
Kindzal 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 keeping full guard, as Kindzal tries to pass.
Kindzal is looking to stand up but Dos Santos won't let him.

Kindzal decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dos Santos , up you get!
Dos Santos misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kindzal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dos Santos bucks up and tries to throw Kindzal off but instead Kindzal has got his back!
Dos Santos wants to escape the position.
Kindzal punishes Dos Santos with strikes from the back mount.
Kindzal is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Dos Santos is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kindzal lands strikes to the head.
Kindzal lands strikes to the head.
Kindzal connects with a big shot to the side of Dos Santos 's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dos Santos trying to control the hands but Kindzal breaks the grip.

Kindzal looking to break Dos Santos 's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Dos Santos remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Kindzal will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Kindzal is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Dos Santos knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Dos Santos for a finish.
Dos Santos wants to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abunazir Kindzal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kindzal 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abunazir Kindzal!