PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rakharo Bharbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklin Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bharbo comes to the cage accompanied by Tomorrow by Salif Keita. 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.

Bharbo
vs
Dos Santos

184 cm
19
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Work Hard, Fight Hard Apparel

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rakharo Bharbo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franklin Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dos Santos throws a wild body kick that Bharbo sees coming a mile off.
Dos Santos tries for a takedown but Bharbo circles away easily
and Bharbo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dos Santos turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dos Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bharbo counters with a left to the body.

Bharbo moves into the clinch.

Bharbo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt
and Bharbo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rakharo Bharbo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Dos Santos.
Sloppy strikes from Dos Santos. Those never looked like landing.

Bharbo has managed to clinch.

Bharbo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dos Santos takes a swing at Bharbo's ribcage but misses.
Dos Santos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bharbo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bharbo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bharbo is stalling in the full guard.
Dos Santos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Dos Santos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dos Santos trying to keep a closed guard but Bharbo is proving a slippery customer.
Bharbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bharbo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bharbo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown

so Bharbo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bharbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dos Santos is trying to control the position but Bharbo postures up.
Bharbo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bharbo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bharbo won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.
Bharbo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bharbo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bharbo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dos Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Rakharo Bharbo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Dos Santos moves into the clinch successfully.

Bharbo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bharbo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dos Santos on the ground.
Bharbo wants to pass the guard but Dos Santos is keeping the position.
Bharbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dos Santos wants to get back to his feet but Bharbo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Dos Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bharbo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bharbo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bharbo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dos Santos is trying to keep Bharbo in close.

Bharbo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bharbo looking to pass the guard.
Bharbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bharbo wants to pass the guard but Dos Santos is keeping the position.

Dos Santos looking for a triangle here. Bharbo is fighting it but it looks tight! Dos Santos pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Bharbo is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Franklin Dos Santos!
A victorious Franklin Dos Santos thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.