PBP Commentary

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

Soto
vs
Santos

185 cm
25
265 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
269 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dominic Soto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Santos!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos blocks a head kick by Soto.
Santos looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
A head kick misses from Soto.
We've been hearing reports that Soto has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
The fighters circling - Soto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Soto lands a high kick!

It looks like Gustavo Santos has been cut.
Soto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Soto lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Soto.
Soto throws a series of strikes that have Santos backpedaling.

That has opened up Gustavo Santos's cut even more.
Soto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Santos at a distance.
Soto throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Santos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto throws a head kick that half lands.
Santos steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Soto. That one must have hurt.
Soto throws a good cross that connects.

The cut above Gustavo Santos's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Soto misses with a head kick.
Soto throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Soto connects with a right hand. Santos shakes it off.
Soto throws out a leg kick but Santos moves out of range and Soto only half commits.
Soto tries a head kick but it misses.
Santos's coach down at Tenacity Elite - 17 Coaches was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Santos's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Soto tests Santos's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soto misses with a head kick.
A clash of legs there as Santos blocks the low kick.
Soto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soto misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Soto.
Soto throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Soto throws a leg kick which misses Santos's front leg but catches the back leg as Santos tries to avoid it.
Soto misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick from Soto misses.
No joy there for Soto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santos blocks a head kick by Soto.
Santos blocks a head kick by Soto.
Soto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Santos manages to avoid it.
Soto misses with a head kick.
A head kick by Soto misses
and Santos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Soto misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos avoids the head kick by Soto.
Soto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Soto.
Soto throws a sloppy head kick

and Santos counters by clinching up.
Soto prevents the takedown attempt.

Santos's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Soto throws a head kick that misses
and Santos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Soto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Soto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gustavo Santos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Soto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Soto throws a head kick that misses
and Santos counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Santos avoids the head kick by Soto.
Soto just misses with a punch to the body.
Soto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Soto misses with a head kick.
Soto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?
Soto throws the left hand but Santos avoids the punch easily.
Donk. Soto catches Santos right on the button with a cross.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soto lands with a kick to the temple. Santos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Soto misses
and Santos counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Santos blocks a head kick by Soto.
Soto throws a sloppy head kick
and Santos counters with a left to the body.
Soto throws a lazy head kick
and Santos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Soto throws a lazy head kick
and Santos counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Soto throws a head kick that misses
and Santos counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Soto throws a leg kick
and Santos counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Soto throws a lazy head kick
and Santos counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Soto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soto throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Soto.
Dominic Soto is winning the standup battle so far.
Santos moves out of range as Soto strikes.
Soto misses with a head kick.
Soto throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Soto throws a hook to the side of Santos's head but Santos sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santos blocks a head kick by Soto.
Soto tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santos checks a leg kick nicely.
Soto throws a lazy head kick
and Santos counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Soto thinking.
Soto attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Soto throws a low kick but Santos avoids it.
Soto throws a head kick that misses
and Santos counters with a right hand to the body.
Soto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Soto misses with a head kick.
Soto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Soto.
Soto throws a sloppy head kick
and Santos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Soto looks for the body kick but Santos saw that one coming.
A head kick by Soto misses
and Santos counters with a right hand to the body.
Soto throws a sloppy head kick
and Santos counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Soto. Santos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santos avoids the head kick by Soto.
Santos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Soto.
Soto throws out a leg kick but Santos moves out of range and Soto only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Soto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gustavo Santos's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Soto throws a head kick but Santos moves out of range.
Santos slips a jab and a cross from Soto.
Santos is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Soto rather than just go for the knockout.
Soto scores with a hook.
Soto throws a head kick that misses.
Soto looks to land a body kick but Santos moved away.
Soto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soto tries a head kick but it misses.
Santos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Soto throws out the jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santos blocks a head kick by Soto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santos is out of range and Soto settles back down.
Soto tries a head kick but it misses.
Soto throws a leg kick that misses.
Soto throws a lazy head kick

and Santos counters by clinching up.
Soto gets underhooks to prevent Santos's takedown attempt.

Soto ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Soto no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Santos decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Santos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Soto can pounce on him.
Soto tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Soto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Soto.
Soto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slow jab from Soto misses its intended target.
Soto misses with a low kick.
Soto throws a head kick that misses.
Soto takes a swing at Santos's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Soto throws a leg kick but Santos checks it.
Soto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dominic Soto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos avoids the head kick by Soto.
Soto misses with a wild combination.
Soto tries a head kick but it misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Santos checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.
A head kick by Soto misses
and Santos counters with a nice body shot.
Santos checks a leg kick nicely.
Dominic Soto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Soto throws a lazy body kick
and Santos counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Soto throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.
Soto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Santos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Soto.
Soto misses with a low kick.
Gustavo Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santos avoids the head kick by Soto.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominic Soto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Soto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominic Soto!