PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shogun Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Dos Santos
vs
Rua

190 cm
28
193 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

190 cm
30
201 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, John Dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Shogun Rua!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Rua takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rua on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Dos Santos connects with a nice looking jab.
Dos Santos fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rua is out of range.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rua has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Dos Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Dos Santos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rua can pounce on him.
Dos Santos walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rua.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dos Santos checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dos Santos goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Dos Santos needs to keep his hands up - Rua had a free shot at his head there.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rua throws a leg kick but Dos Santos sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Dos Santos moves out of range as Rua throws a body kick.
Rua tries to land a front kick but Dos Santos steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A head kick misses from Rua.
Dos Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos cracks Rua with an open hand slap.
Shogun Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Dos Santos finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rua throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dos Santos stuns Rua with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dos Santos misses with a head kick.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos lands a lovely overhand right.
Dos Santos throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rua throws a hook to the side of Dos Santos's head but Dos Santos sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dos Santos misses with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dos Santos just misses with a punch to the body.
Dos Santos misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Rua.
Rua throws a head kick but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Rua lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a leg kick
and Dos Santos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dos Santos connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rua. Rua circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Rua.
Dos Santos lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rua throws a leg kick that is checked
and Dos Santos counters with a two punch combo.
Dos Santos dips to his left and cracks Rua with an uppercut!
Rua throws a head kick but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Rua throws a hook but Dos Santos avoids it easily.
Dos Santos throws a good cross that connects.
Rua throws a leg kick but Dos Santos sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A lazy left from Dos Santos finds it's target.
Dos Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a leg kick
and Dos Santos counters with a nice uppercut.
Rua throws a leg kick
and Dos Santos counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rua is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dos Santos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rua throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dos Santos counters with a head kick. That will keep Rua thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rua turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rua cracks the inside of Dos Santos's front leg.
Dos Santos lands a nice hook to Rua's body. Rua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rua misses with the combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua throws a leg kick but Dos Santos sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rua throws a leg kick
and Dos Santos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dos Santos dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rua throws a leg kick
and Dos Santos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rua throws a head kick but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Rua turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rua looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dos Santos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Dos Santos blocks the body kick.
Rua blocks a head kick by Dos Santos.
John Dos Santos is winning the standup battle so far.
Dos Santos looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
John Dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Rua misses
and Dos Santos counters with a nice body shot.
Rua scores with a nice body kick.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dos Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick by Rua misses
and Dos Santos connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking to land body kicks.
Rua avoids the head kick by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Dos Santos duly obliges.
A good leg kick by Rua.
Rua throws a leg kick but Dos Santos moved away.
Rua throws a big shot that misses.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dos Santos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rua throws the kick towards the body but Dos Santos avoids it.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that Rua semi-blocks.
Rua misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua looks for the body kick but Dos Santos saw that one coming.
Rua misses with a hook. Dos Santos ducked under it nicely.
Dos Santos throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Dos Santos tries a head kick but it misses.
Dos Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dos Santos avoids a kick to the body.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua misses with a kick to the body
and Dos Santos counters with a big head kick but Rua shrugs it off.
A punch lands to the side of Rua 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rua misses with a leg kick
and Dos Santos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Rua clinches up against the cage.

Dos Santos breaks the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Dos Santos.
Rua has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Dos Santos throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
A combination from Rua does no damage.
A head kick by Rua misses
and Dos Santos counters with a one-two to the body.

Rua clinches with his opponent.
Dos Santos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dos Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos working aggressively here.
Rua utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dos Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dos Santos has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dos Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Rua takes a shot to the head.
Rua misses with a knee strike.
Rua wants to stall.
Dos Santos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dos Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rua backwards.
Dos Santos has had enough of the clinch but Rua keeps him there for the moment.
Rua looking to throw knees to the head but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Rua has Dos Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Dos Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Santos tries to circle away but Rua has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Dos Santos wants to break free but Rua has control.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dos Santos.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shogun Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dos Santos throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua throws a leg kick but Dos Santos moved away.
Dos Santos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dos Santos keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rua tries a low kick but Dos Santos avoids it.
Rua walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rua.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rua slips under a jab from Dos Santos.
Rua avoids the head kick by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dos Santos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Dos Santos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Dos Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Rua walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rua is looking to land body kicks.
Dos Santos tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dos Santos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rua can pounce on him.
Rua scores with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sloppy strikes from Rua. Those never looked like landing.
Dos Santos scores with a hook to the body. Rua takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rua looks to land a right hand but Dos Santos moved out of range.
Dos Santos is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rua thows a leg kick but Dos Santos checks it
and Dos Santos counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rua tries to land a front kick but Dos Santos steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dos Santos slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rua throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dos Santos slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Dos Santos throws an overhand right that lands on Rua's shoulder, as Rua tries to avoid the shot.
Rua throws a low kick but Dos Santos avoids it.
Rua throws a low kick, looking for Dos Santos's leg but Dos Santos calmly moves out of range.
Dos Santos tries to land a front kick but Rua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rua dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dos Santos. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Dos Santos counters with a good, hard body kick but Rua shrugs it off.
Dos Santos swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dos Santos checks a leg kick.

Rua instigates a clinch.
Rua misses with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rua has him pressed against the cage.

Dos Santos breaks from the clinch.
Dos Santos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Dos Santos walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rua.
Rua misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos checks a leg kick.
Rua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice shot lands for Dos Santos.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rua forces Dos Santos back against the cage and clinches.
Dos Santos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dos Santos is trying to force a seperation but Rua has the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dos Santos struggles to land a body shot inside as Rua controls his hands.
Rua tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rua blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dos Santos.
Rua misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shogun Rua.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Shogun Rua!
A relieved looking Shogun Rua thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.