PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giovani Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Batista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giovanni Batista has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dos Santos
vs
Batista

193 cm
20
246 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
256 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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, Giovani Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Giovanni Batista!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos misses with a wild combination.
Batista circles away from the clinch attempt.
Batista stuffs the takedown.

Dos Santos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Batista, pushing him back against the cage.
Dos Santos is trying to pull guard but Batista turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Dos Santos successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Batista is looking to stand up but Dos Santos won't let him.
Dos Santos controls Batista momentarily but Batista frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Batista gets caught flat footed, as Dos Santos shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking to stand up but Batista won't let him.
Dos Santos wants to control from the top but Batista keeps moving.
Batista looks gassed!
Dos Santos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Batista's guard.
Dos Santos connects with a couple of short punches.
Dos Santos is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Giovani Dos Santos wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Batista swats away the attempt to clinch by Dos Santos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a leg kick but Batista sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Batista should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Dos Santos throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Batista has eaten all the pies!

Dos Santos is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Batista's half guard.
Dos Santos wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking to pass Batista's guard but actually Batista recovers to full guard.
Dos Santos looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dos Santos trying to control but Batista is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Giovani Dos Santos.
Dos Santos wants to clinch up but Batista keeps it at a distance.
Batista is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dos Santos.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Batista circles away easily

and Batista counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dos Santos!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Dos Santos dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dos Santos lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Batista backs up against the cage.
Some wild striking there from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos connects with a good right hand that stumbles Batista. Batista circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Dos Santos moves into the clinch.

Dos Santos manages to pull guard.
Dos Santos wants to stand but Batista is controlling the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Giovanni Batista has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Dos Santos wants to clinch up but Batista keeps it at a distance.
Dos Santos shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Batista eats them both and turns towards Dos Santos to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Batista stuffs the takedown.
Dos Santos wants to clinch but Batista slips to the side

and Batista counters with a shoot takedown. Dos Santos fights it but they end up in guard.
Dos Santos is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Batista gets to his feet - Dos Santos follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batista shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dos Santos pinned against the cage. Dos Santos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dos Santos moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Batista shoots for a takedown but Dos Santos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Batista keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Dos Santos closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to stand but Batista has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Batista wants to get back to his feet.
Dos Santos is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Batista reverses the position - he's now on top in Dos Santos's guard.
Dos Santos controls Batista momentarily but Batista frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Giovani Dos Santos.
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.
Giovani Dos Santos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Batista.
Dos Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Batista circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Batista 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.

Batista gets to his feet. Dos Santos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovani Dos Santos dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Batista fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dos Santos sprawls well initially but Batista persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Dos Santos is looking for a sweep. Batista is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dos Santos tries to kick Batista off but Batista keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Batista seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Giovanni Batista has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Batista slips a jab and a cross from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos shoots in looking for a takedown but Batista manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dos Santos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dos Santos shoots in but Batista avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dos Santos misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Batista checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Batista has a takedown stuffed.
Dos Santos wants to clinch up but Batista keeps it at a distance.
Dos Santos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Batista manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Dos Santos closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batista looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dos Santos wants to pass the guard but Batista is defending well.
Dos Santos wants to control but Batista is keeping him busy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Batista is in trouble now - Dos Santos has advanced to mount!
Dos Santos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Batista is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos with the ground and pound from mount.
Dos Santos scoring with strikes but Batista is staying in there.
Batista is trying to escape the mount but Dos Santos keeps good control and instead manages to take Batista's back.
Dos Santos struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos looking to hold on to the position here but Batista rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Batista has his feet on Dos Santos's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch but Batista swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dos Santos throws a series of punches but Batista moves out of range.
Dos Santos moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dos Santos throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giovani 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

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