PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helio Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos comes into the arena with CLICK CLICK BOOM blaring out of the sound system. Mauricio Rua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dos Santos
vs
Rua

188 cm
23
230 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

187 cm
23
225 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Rua!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rua.
Rua is looking to clinch but Dos Santos is avoiding it.
Dos Santos lands with a right hand.
Dos Santos cracks Rua with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Dos Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rua cracks the inside of Dos Santos's front leg.
Rua shoots for a double leg takedown but Dos Santos sprawls well. He's pushed Rua's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rua fails to land with a series of punches.
Rua tries to clinch up but Dos Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dos Santos as he jumps to the side.
Helio Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Dos Santos, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Dos Santos against the cage but Dos Santos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Dos Santos takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dos Santos jumps guard but Rua 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 holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rua misses with an elbow strike.
Dos Santos lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rua scores with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.
Dos Santos scores with a shot to the side of Rua's head.
Dos Santos misses with an elbow strike.
Dos Santos is looking to control Rua's arms but Rua gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dos Santos has his back to the cage.
Dos Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rua looking to stall.
Rua is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Dos Santos has denied him.
Dos Santos stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Dos Santos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rua.
Dos Santos scores with a hook to the body.
Rua looks gassed!
Rua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dos Santos prevents it.

Dos Santos gets control of Rua's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dos Santos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rua trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Dos Santos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rua's guard.
Rua keeping full guard, as Dos Santos tries to pass.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dos Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Dos Santos stands up from Rua's guard - Dos Santos perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dos Santos tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dos Santos tries a head kick but it misses.
Dos Santos scores with a hook.
Dos Santos throws a hook to the side of Rua's head but Rua sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rua looks to land a body kick but Dos Santos moved away.
Dos Santos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Dos Santos pushes Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Dos Santos.
Rua putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dos Santos in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rua is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Dos Santos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dos Santos wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua prevents Dos Santos from getting back to his feet.
Dos Santos looking for a sweep. Not yet Dos Santos, not yet.
Dos Santos looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dos Santos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dos Santos wants to stand and escape but Rua is having none of it.
Dos Santos wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dos Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Rua.
Helio Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dos Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dos Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rua wants to clinch

and Dos Santos counters by moving into the clinch.
Dos Santos taking a breather.
Rua tries to land knees in the clinch but Dos Santos avoids the damage to the body.

Dos Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua shoots and misses
and Dos Santos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dos Santos's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Dos Santos duly obliges.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Dos Santos counters by moving into the clinch.
Rua goes for a takedown attempt but Dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dos Santos keeps the fight on the outside.
Dos Santos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rua darts in trying to clinch
and Dos Santos counters with a nice body shot.

Dos Santos moves into the clinch.

Dos Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jab, jab by Dos Santos - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Dos Santos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dos Santos looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Dos Santos misses the target.
Rua shoots and misses
and Dos Santos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dos Santos looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
Dos Santos listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Dos Santos takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up.
Dos Santos throws a shot from downtown. Rua moves away and avoids it.
Dos Santos lands a nice shot to the body.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua darts in trying to clinch

and Dos Santos counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rua pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dos Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rua is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rua has escaped and now he's on top!
Rua preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dos Santos misses with a head shot.
Rua is bucking up trying to escape but Dos Santos cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Dos Santos thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rua is in a horrible position here. Dos Santos smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Dos Santos with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos with good strikes from the mount here!
Dos Santos thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Dos Santos throws some wild stikes that Rua manages to avoid easily.
Dos Santos looking to finish Rua with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rua!
Rua is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos landing strikes from the mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dos Santos in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rua's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Dos Santos lands a nice shot to the head.

Dos Santos jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rua is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rua and Dos Santos has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Dos Santos creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rua sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Dos Santos lands a nice forearm strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Dos Santos.
Rua is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dos Santos connects with a decent elbow.
Dos Santos fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dos Santos throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos grinds an elbow into Rua's temple.
Dos Santos working the head and body with strikes.

Dos Santos tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dos Santos has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dos Santos in side control, throwing shots but Rua defends.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos landing strikes.
Dos Santos lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dos Santos tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Dos Santos dominated that second round.
That's time! Dos Santos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Dos Santos wants to clinch.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dos Santos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rua wants to clinch but Dos Santos slips to the side
and Dos Santos counters with a one-two to the body.
Nice defenses there by Rua.
Rua fails with the takedown
and Dos Santos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dos Santos misses with a hook.
Rua darts in trying to clinch
and Dos Santos counters with a straight right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rua.

Rua fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dos Santos, pushing him back against the cage.
Dos Santos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rua up against the cage.
Rua trying to control the position but instead, Dos Santos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rua into the cage.
Dos Santos lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dos Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos just leaning against Rua, taking a breather.

Dos Santos ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dos Santos no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dos Santos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rua manages to get himself to full guard.

Dos Santos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rua, up you get!
Dos Santos throws a jab when Rua was well out of range.
Dos Santos looks to score with a jab to the body but Rua is just out of range.
Dos Santos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dos Santos wants it to stay on the feet.
Helio Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rua.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Dos Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dos Santos throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dos Santos counters with a right hand to the body.
Rua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Dos Santos darts in and clinches Rua up against the cage.
Dos Santos is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Rua working Dos Santos over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos stalling against the cage.
Rua throws a knee to the head but misses.

Dos Santos pulls Rua into guard.
Dos Santos trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.
Dos Santos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rua!
Dos Santos working Rua over with strikes here.
Dos Santos with the ground and pound from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Rua that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos scoring with strikes but Rua is staying in there.
Dos Santos scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rua?
Dos Santos with shots to the head and body - Rua looks very uncomfortable down there.
Dos Santos lands a big elbow.
Dos Santos scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rua tries to buck Dos Santos off but he can't manage it.
Dos Santos pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Dos Santos scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rua?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Dos Santos cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos lands a nice shot to the head.
Dos Santos scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rua?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dos Santos dominating with strikes here.

Dos Santos has hold of Rua's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rua manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rua holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Dos Santos tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Helio Dos Santos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helio Dos Santos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dos Santos 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helio Dos Santos!