PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Habanero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Habanero is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: NERD - Rockstar. Rafael Habanero is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Dos Santos
vs
Habanero

200 cm
24
217 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

196 cm
26
218 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Vicious Nutrition :: Proven 159Q Recovery for $100

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Junior Dos Santos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafael Habanero!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Habanero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Habanero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dos Santos throws out the jab.
Dos Santos misses with a straight left.
Dos Santos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Dos Santos misses with a double jab.
Dos Santos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Habanero manages to avoid it.
Habanero lands a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Dos Santos misses the target.
Dos Santos just misses with a punch to the body.
Dos Santos thows a body shot but no joy.
Dos Santos waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Habanero.
Dos Santos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dos Santos misses with a straight right.
Habanero slips under a jab.
Dos Santos fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habanero sizes up Dos Santos with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dos Santos getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Habanero moves out of range as Dos Santos strikes.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dos Santos crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Habanero - the referee stops the clock and Dos Santos gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Habanero. Dos Santos manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dos Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Junior Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Habanero swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fighters circling - Dos Santos throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dos Santos throws a jab but it's blocked by Habanero.
A big left from Dos Santos misses.
Dos Santos misses with a double jab
and Habanero counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Habanero sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Dos Santos to the ground! Habanero dives into full mount looking to finish!

It looks like Junior Dos Santos has been cut.
Habanero thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Habanero tries to control but Dos Santos wriggling away.
Dos Santos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Habanero on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habanero controlling from the full mount.

Habanero with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Dos Santos is bucking up trying to escape but Habanero cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habanero looking to ground and pound but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Habanero tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Habanero misses with a head shot.
Dos Santos is in a horrible position here. Habanero smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Dos Santos really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Habanero thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Habanero misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos tries to lock up and control but Habanero gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Habanero tries to control but Dos Santos wriggling away.
Habanero throwing strikes here but Dos Santos is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Habanero.
Habanero working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Habanero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Junior Dos Santos's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Habanero misses with a body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Habanero, right into the meat.
Dos Santos misses with a double jab
and Habanero counters with a two punch combo.
Dos Santos blocks a head kick by Habanero.

Habanero shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dos Santos's guard.
Dos Santos trying to control the position.
Habanero throws and elbow that misses. Dos Santos uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Habanero's guard. Nice move by Dos Santos!
Habanero seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Habanero 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Habanero's guard.
Habanero looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dos Santos wants to stand but Habanero is controlling his posture from full guard.
Habanero is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Habanero works his foot free and advances to mount.
Dos Santos wants to control but Habanero is having none of it.
Habanero throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dos Santos because Habanero loaded up on that one.
Dos Santos is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Habanero.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Habanero thowing shots but they're missing.

Habanero goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dos Santos turns into him and now he's in Habanero's guard.
Habanero looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Habanero controls Dos Santos momentarily but Dos Santos frees himself.
Habanero is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Habanero thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Habanero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Habanero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Habanero trying to control the pace.
Dos Santos wants to control but Habanero is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Habanero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Junior Dos Santos's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dos Santos misses the jab.
Dos Santos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dos Santos is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Habanero drives through and clinches with Dos Santos against the cage.
Habanero stalling in the clinch.
Habanero lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.
Habanero missing with knees to the body.
Habanero throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dos Santos blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Habanero slows down the pace here.
Dos Santos wants to get back to striking at distance but Habanero won't allow it.
Dos Santos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Habanero scores with a hook to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Habanero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habanero lands with a left to the head.
Habanero digs a right hand underneath Dos Santos's ribcage. Dos Santos let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Habanero lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Come on Habanero - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Habanero lands a hook to the side of the head.
Habanero lands with a light punch inside.
Habanero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Habanero holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Habanero makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Dos Santos is trying to break free.
Dos Santos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Habanero working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Habanero makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Habanero leaning his opponent against the cage.
Habanero softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habanero content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Habanero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Habanero lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.
Habanero has Dos Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Dos Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dos Santos avoids a wild elbow strike from Habanero.
Dos Santos tries to break free but Habanero pushes him back against the cage.
Habanero stalling against the cage.
Nice body punch from Habanero.
Dos Santos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Habanero lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habanero lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Habanero misses with a knee strike.
Habanero content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Habanero lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Dos Santos blocking some punches.
Habanero is working Dos Santos over against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Habanero.
Habanero cracks Dos Santos with a nice body shot.
Habanero working Dos Santos over with knees to the body.
Habanero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Habanero utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short right from Habanero.
Dos Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice body punch from Habanero.
Dos Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Habanero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Habanero.
Habanero lands a nice elbow.
Habanero lands with a left to the head.
Habanero stalling.
Habanero scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Habanero.
Habanero lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Habanero taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Habanero.
Habanero lands an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Habanero throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Habanero makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rafael Habanero seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stalling in the clinch from Habanero.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Habanero really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Junior Dos Santos's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dos Santos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Habanero tries a head kick but it misses.
Dos Santos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dos Santos misses the jab.
Habanero connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Habanero throws a head kick that half lands.
A big right from Dos Santos misses.
Rafael Habanero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Habanero cracks a nice hook into Dos Santos's ribs.
Dos Santos avoids the head kick by Habanero.
Dos Santos throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Habanero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A swing and a miss from Dos Santos.
Good exchange - Habanero coming out on top.
Habanero swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habanero blocks a jab.
Dos Santos throws a predictable looking body shot
and Habanero counters with a thumping low kick.
Nice defenses there by Habanero.
Habanero moves out of range of the strikes.
Dos Santos throws a sloppy body shot
and Habanero counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Habanero shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dos Santos as he jumps to the side.
Dos Santos misses with a shot to the body

and Habanero counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Habanero pushes off an throws an elbow but Dos Santos leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Habanero scores with a shoulder strike.
Habanero working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dos Santos tries to break the clinch but Habanero is controlling the position.
Habanero lands an elbow just above Dos Santos 's eye.
A left hand lands to the body for Habanero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Habanero.
A nice left hand lands by Habanero.
Habanero digs a right hand into Dos Santos's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dos Santos's gas tank.
Habanero lands an elbow that stopped Dos Santos in his tracks for a moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Habanero obliges.
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!
Habanero is struggling to control the position.
Habanero is leaning against Dos Santos and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Habanero misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dos Santos.
Habanero creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dos Santos's defenses.
Habanero tries to land a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks with his arms.
Habanero stalling the fight.
Habanero softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Dos Santos's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Habanero scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dos Santos swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habanero misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dos Santos.
Habanero pressing his opponent against the cage.
Habanero scores with a nice hook to the head.
Dos Santos is trying to force a seperation but Habanero has the dominant position.
Nice body punch from Habanero.
Nice body punch from Habanero - that landed with a thud.
Habanero just leaning against Dos Santos, taking a breather.
Habanero continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to break the clinch but Habanero is controlling him.
Habanero lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dos Santos backwards.
Dos Santos letting Habanero take a breather here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rafael Habanero.
Dos Santos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Habanero blocks a jab.
Dos Santos loads up on a big right hand but Habanero slips the punch.
Dos Santos looks to score with a jab to the body but Habanero is just out of range.
Dos Santos loads up on a big right hand but Habanero slips the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos lands an overhand right.
A slapping leg kick lands for Habanero.
Dos Santos throws the left hand but Habanero avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Habanero dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Junior Dos Santos's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A big right from Dos Santos misses.
Dos Santos misses with a looping right.
Habanero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a hook. Habanero ducked under it nicely.
Dos Santos misses with a shot to the body
and Habanero counters with a stiff right hand.
Dos Santos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Habanero feints and then cracks Dos Santos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dos Santos down.
Habanero delivers a nice body kick.
Dos Santos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Habanero takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Dos Santos misses with a two punch combination.
Habanero staying out of range there.
Dos Santos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Habanero moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habanero feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dos Santos's calf.
Nice takedown defense from Dos Santos. No joy for Habanero on that attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Habanero.
Habanero with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Habanero thumps Dos Santos with a low kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Habanero. That's going to slow Dos Santos down.
Habanero throws a shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Habanero.
Habanero lands with a slapping head kick.
Habanero lands with a thumping leg kick.
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!
Habanero cracks the inside of Dos Santos's front leg.
Habanero looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habanero looks to land a combination. Dos Santos sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Habanero scoring well with a low kick there.
Habanero scoring well with a low kick there.
Habanero stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Habanero stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Habanero scores with a leg kick.
Habanero comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Habanero fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dos Santos on the side of the head.
Good leg kick by Habanero there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Dos Santos is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A punch lands to the side of Dos Santos 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dos Santos pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Habanero uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a sloppy body shot
and Habanero counters with a right hand to the body.
Habanero is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Dos Santos takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Dos Santos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Habanero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Habanero scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dos Santos doesn't seem bothered though.
Habanero plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Dos Santos is rocked!
Dos Santos misses with an uppercut. Habanero saw that one coming.
Junior Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dos Santos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Habanero.
Dos Santos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Habanero.

Habanero looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dos Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Habanero.
Rafael Habanero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Habanero is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Habanero is pushing down on Dos Santos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dos Santos is fighting to maintain full guard but Habanero has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Habanero in particular looking to stall.
Dos Santos keeps control of the position for the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Habanero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Habanero 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 43:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 43:50
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 43:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Habanero!
Rafael Habanero is the new light heavyweight champion!