PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos comes to the cage accompanied by Three Amigos - Mexican Party. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dos Santos
vs
Smith

170 cm
23
170 lbs
10 - 2 - 1

185 cm
25
183 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miguel Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Smith!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dos Santos.
Smith moves forwards but Dos Santos connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Dos Santos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
A jab from Smith misses.
Marcus Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Dos Santos misses.
Dos Santos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Dos Santos scores with a jab to the head.
Dos Santos slaps away a takedown attempt from Smith, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Dos Santos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dos Santos throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dos Santos misses with a wild body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Dos Santos there.
Dos Santos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Smith misses.

Dos Santos gets a clinch.
Dos Santos lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dos Santos lands with a right to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dos Santos content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Smith blocking some punches.

Smith decides to pull guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Dos Santos controlling him for the moment.
Dos Santos wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dos Santos wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dos Santos stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith is pulling down on Dos Santos's head to control his posture.
Dos Santos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Dos Santos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith is trying to keep Dos Santos in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith 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.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Smith keeping full guard, as Dos Santos tries to pass.
Dos Santos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dos Santos trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith wants to sweep here but Dos Santos controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dos Santos misses with a hook.
Smith avoids the body shot from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a hook to the body
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Good shot there by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Smith shoots in and bounces Dos Santos off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Dos Santos pushes Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Dos Santos misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dos Santos wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
Dos Santos is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.
Dos Santos pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Dos Santos is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
Dos Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dos Santos controlling Smith's posture.
Smith trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Smith won't allow Dos Santos to get back to his feet.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dos Santos wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Dos Santos looking for a sweep. Not yet Dos Santos, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dos Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dos Santos just misses with a punch to the body.
Dos Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dos Santos avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos slips a straight right by Smith.
Dos Santos just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice body punch from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Dos Santos tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Dos Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dos Santos.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Miguel Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dos Santos tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Smith lands with a cross.
Smith walks into a straight right hand from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos slips a straight right by Smith.
Dos Santos ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith misses with a hook.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Dos Santos takes a swing at Smith's ribcage but misses.
Dos Santos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Dos Santos ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.
Dos Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dos Santos looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dos Santos looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dos Santos!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Dos Santos has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Smith is trying to improve his position.

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.
Smith trying to remain calm as Dos Santos controls from the top position.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Dos Santos decides to stand back up.
Dos Santos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Dos Santos tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Dos Santos tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dos Santos misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Dos Santos ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dos Santos but Dos Santos pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dos Santos throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves away from the strike by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos throws a sloppy body shot

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dos Santos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dos Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dos Santos is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dos Santos holds on and takes a little breather.
Smith won't allow Dos Santos to get back to his feet.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Dos Santos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith wants to sweep here but Dos Santos controlling him for the moment.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Dos Santos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dos Santos tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Miguel Dos Santos.
I think Dos Santos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!