PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Dorea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dorea
vs
Santos

210 cm
19
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Dorea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Santos!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santos drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Santos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dorea 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.
Dorea is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Santos postures up and lands a big shot to Dorea's brow.
Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Santos throwing strikes from guard but Dorea blocks nicely.
Santos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dorea. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Santos with a flurry of punches that miss.

Dorea is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dorea throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Dorea is trying to keep Santos in close.
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Dorea is retaining full guard.
Dorea wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santos throws a hook but Dorea avoids it easily.

Santos bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Dorea! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Dorea is rocked!
Santos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Oh Dorea is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Santos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dorea seems to have got his legs back now.
Santos prevents Dorea from getting back to his feet.
Santos throwing strikes but missing.
Santos landing with the ground and pound.
Dorea looking for a sweep. Not yet Dorea, not yet.
Dorea is breathing heavily.
Dorea preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dorea really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dorea throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Santos thows a big elbow that misses.
Santos thows a big elbow that misses.
Santos with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dorea moves out of range of the strikes.
Santos throws a hook but Dorea blocks it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dorea looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Santos throws a looping overhand right but Dorea ducks down to avoid it.
Santos circles away from the clinch attempt.
Santos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Dorea moves out of range of the strikes.
Santos sizes up Dorea with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Dorea.
Dorea stuffs the takedown attempt from Santos. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Santos throws a body punch but Dorea moves out of range.
Santos thows a left - swing and a miss!

Dorea shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Santos napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Dorea stands up.
Santos scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dorea shoots in looking for a takedown. Santos tries to sprawl out of it but Dorea keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Santos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dorea uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Santos.
Santos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Santos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dorea defending well as Santos loads up on a big left hand.

Santos gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santos wants to stand up but Dorea is controlling him.

Santos has his feet on Dorea's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Dorea shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Santos pinned against the cage. Santos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Santos might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Santos cracks Dorea with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dorea's guard.
Santos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dorea working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santos.
Dorea has momentary wrist control but Santos slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dorea wants to get back to his feet but Santos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dorea will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Santos chips away with some ground and pound.

Dorea has his feet on Santos's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice defenses there by Dorea.
Dorea blocks a jab.
Dorea tries to clinch there but Santos circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Dorea.
Dorea misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos throws a shot from downtown. Dorea moves away and avoids it.

Santos gets a clinch.

Santos breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Santos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dorea tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santos swivels and escapes.
Santos cracks Dorea with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Santos cracks Dorea with an uppercut from hell and Dorea crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Santos's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
Santos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dorea is looking to stand up but Santos isn't so interested in that idea.
Santos is looking to work some ground and pound but Dorea has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dorea working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Santos.
Dorea controls Santos momentarily but Santos frees himself.
Dorea has momentary wrist control but Santos slips an elbow through the middle.
Santos throwing strikes but missing.
Santos is looking to work some ground and pound but Dorea has wrist control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santos lands a glancing blow to the side of Dorea's head.

Santos moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos throws a lazy right hand but Dorea sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thiago Santos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dorea tries to close the distance and clinch but Santos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dorea circles away.
Santos waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dorea.
Santos throws out a loose jab but Dorea uses good head movement to avoid it.
Santos misses with an uppercut. Dorea saw that one coming.
Dorea tries to clinch there but Santos circles away.
Dorea feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Santos's calf.
Santos clobbers Dorea with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dorea slips a straight right by Santos.
Dorea tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dorea slips a jab from Santos.

Dorea shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dorea looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Santos with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Santos is trying to stand back up but Dorea is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dorea is trying to control the action in half guard but Santos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dorea stops Santos from getting back to his feet.
Dorea is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Santos kicks Dorea off and gets back to his feet.

Santos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dorea to the mat! Dorea manages to get full guard.
Dorea is striking off his back. Santos thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Santos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dorea's head.

Dorea manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Dorea throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santos.

Santos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Santos lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dorea is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dorea is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Santos throws and elbow that misses. Dorea uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Santos's guard. Nice move by Dorea!
Dorea wants to stand but Santos is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dorea trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Santos looks for a takedown but Dorea sprawls well.

That's four 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.
Dorea tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.
Santos misses with a body shot.
Dorea wants to clinch up but Santos keeps it at a distance.
Santos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dorea tries to avoid it but Santos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dorea to the ground. Dorea escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rodrigo Dorea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Santos.
Dorea defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santos.
Rodrigo Dorea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dorea tries to clinch but Santos moves out of range.
Dorea tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santos stuns Dorea with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dorea fails to land the takedown.
Dorea throws a combination. Santos tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dorea slips a straight right by Santos.
Danga de danga de dang - Santos scores with a four punch combination!

Dorea shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Santos napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Santos throws Dorea to one side and escapes!

Dorea tries to keep at a distance but Santos has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Santos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Santos throws a hook to the side of Dorea's head but Dorea sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dorea looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Santos scores with a hook.

Santos has managed to clinch.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dorea is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Santos is defending well for now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Santos misses with a looping left.
Santos is looking to clinch.
Dorea throws a nice looking combination but Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Good standup being displayed there by Santos as he connects with a hook.
Dorea is looking to clinch.
Dorea staying out of range there.
Santos jabs Dorea right on the nose. Dorea blinks but takes it well.

Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Dorea tries to pull guard but Santos holds him up against the cage and eventually Dorea drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Santos manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dorea tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big right from Santos misses.
Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Santos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dorea is fending him off so far but Santos persists. Nope, Dorea circles away and we're back to standing.
A swing and a miss from Santos.

Santos closes the distance and pushes Dorea back into the cage.
Dorea trying to stall but Santos improves his position.

Santos lands a takedown into guard.
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Dorea is retaining full guard.
Santos throws and elbow that misses. Dorea uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Santos's guard. Nice move by Dorea!
Santos trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Santos can't keep his opponent in guard - Dorea advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thiago Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santos is trying to stand up here but Dorea is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dorea passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Santos!
Dorea dominating with strikes here.
Santos is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Dorea stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Dorea.
Dorea uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Santos.
Santos scores with a jab to the head.
Dorea is looking to clinch but Santos is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos scores with a jab to the head.
Dorea tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dorea somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Dorea. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dorea slips a straight right by Santos.
Dorea keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Santos.
Santos throws out a loose jab but Dorea uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodrigo Dorea has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Dorea closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dorea lands in his opponent's guard.

Santos has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dorea off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Santos tries for a takedown but Dorea circles away easily
and Dorea counters with a three punch combo that has Santos backing up. Santos nods at Dorea to acknowledge the strikes.
Santos throws an overhand right that lands on Dorea's shoulder, as Dorea tries to avoid the shot.
Dorea lands a two punch combo.
A jab from Santos misses.
Santos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santos scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Dorea shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dorea wants to clinch up but Santos keeps it at a distance.
Dorea shoots in for a takedown but Santos shows good takedown defense.
Dorea avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santos catches Dorea with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A big left from Dorea misses.
Santos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dorea tries to clinch up but Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Dorea keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dorea fails with an attempt to clinch.
Santos cracks Dorea with a good jab.
Dorea lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santos circles away quickly and effectively.
Santos misses with a straight left.
Dorea ducks under a wild hook from Santos.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santos misses the shot to the body.
Dorea doesn't manage to clinch there - Santos circles away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Santos.
Dorea steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Santos.
Thiago Santos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dorea sprawls well. Dorea wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Dorea throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

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