PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dex Arial (ranked 9175 p4p, 817 weight class) and Cicero Dos Santos (ranked 5714 p4p, 658 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arial
vs
Dos Santos

178 cm
20
176 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
175 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dex Arial!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Cicero Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arial just misses with a punch to the body.
Dos Santos is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Arial moves into range and clinches up with Dos Santos.
Arial stalling the fight.
Arial effectively controlling the action here.
Arial seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Arial is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dos Santos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Arial fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dos Santos avoids the head kick by Arial.

Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arial regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arial keeping full guard, as Dos Santos tries to pass.
Dos Santos controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Dos Santos stops Arial from standing up.
Dos Santos works over Arial with some ground and pound from guard.
Arial looking to control but Dos Santos passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Arial tries to get to full guard but Dos Santos has control of the leg.
Arial on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Arial tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dos Santos controlling the pace.
Arial is looking for a sweep. Dos Santos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dos Santos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Arial looking to score a takedown here. Dos Santos is defending well but Arial drives through and ends up in Dos Santos's guard.
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.
Arial controlling from the top position.
Arial in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Arial throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dos Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Arial postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arial working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Arial from controlling successfully.
Arial postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arial missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Arial trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Arial in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Arial working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dos Santos's head.
Dos Santos is trying to hold Arial in close to prevent damage but Arial has managed to pass into half guard.
Dos Santos trying to control here.
Arial throwing shots but Dos Santos is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Arial.
Dos Santos keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Arial misses with a head shot. Dos Santos uses the momentum to regain guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dex Arial dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Arial shoots in for a double leg but Dos Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Dos Santos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Arial to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Dos Santos is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Arial presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Arial breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dos Santos shoots in but Arial avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Arial instigates a clinch.
Arial prevents the takedown attempt.

Arial gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dos Santos regains guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Arial throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arial accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arial trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dos Santos is trying to keep Arial in close.

Arial has gone for a leg lock! Dos Santos slips out almost immediately though and dives into Arial's guard.

Arial is trying to control the position but Dos Santos postures up.
Arial wants to sweep here but Dos Santos controlling him for the moment.
Arial can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dos Santos controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Arial working a defensive guard here.
Dos Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arial trying to control the position.
Dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Arial is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arial wants to sweep but no luck.
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 throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arial seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Arial looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Arial lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dex Arial overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Arial avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dos Santos is trying to keep Arial in close.

Arial avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Arial postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arial throws a big elbow that misses.
Dos Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arial.
Dos Santos looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arial accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Arial with a flurry of punches that miss.
Arial sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arial trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
Arial has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dos Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dex Arial dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Arial throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Arial shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Santos as he avoids it easily.

Arial clinches.

Arial turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Arial manages to end up in side control.
Dos Santos is trying to control Arial's posture but Arial avoids it.

Arial is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dos Santos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Arial throws an elbow but Dos Santos slips to the side and avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos is not content to let Arial control the position.
Arial in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to control Arial's posture but Arial avoids it.
Dos Santos parries the strikes from Arial easily there. Arial is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dos Santos to escape.
Arial working away.
Arial looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Dos Santos is avoiding damage well.
Arial with the ground and pound but Dos Santos regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Arial is trying to control the action in half guard but Dos Santos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Arial is looking for a kimura but Dos Santos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Arial to get the leverage.

Arial is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dos Santos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dos Santos is looking to control Arial's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dos Santos avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arial is trying to control. Dos Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Arial is looking for a kimura here.
Arial is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dos Santos can do to turn this around?
Arial trying to pass the guard but Dos Santos defending well.
Dos Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Arial sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dos Santos defending well though.
Arial throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arial drops an elbow to the side of Dos Santos's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking to control Arial's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dos Santos avoid being mounted?
Dos Santos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dos Santos.
Dex Arial is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arial is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dos Santos controls Arial momentarily but Arial frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dos Santos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Arial sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dos Santos goes for a double leg but Arial avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Arial continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Arial shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dos Santos is trying to defend but Arial finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Arial prevents Dos Santos from improving his position.
Arial with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Arial's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arial trying to control the action but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dex Arial showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Arial 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dex Arial!
Dex Arial seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.