PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damir Stojnic (ranked 4409 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Dos Santos (ranked 4318 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Dos Santos acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Stojnic
vs
Dos Santos

175 cm
25
156 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damir Stojnic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodrigo Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stojnic looks for a takedown but Dos Santos sprawls well.
Stojnic darts in looking for a takedown but Dos Santos gets double underhooks and turns Stojnic into the cage.
Dos Santos is looking for the big counter here.
Dos Santos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dos Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
Stojnic is looking to clinch but Dos Santos is avoiding it.
No joy there for Dos Santos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stojnic misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Dos Santos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dos Santos looks winded!
Stojnic misses with a head kick.
Stojnic stalks Dos Santos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dos Santos's face. Dos Santos staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stojnic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dos Santos somewhat.
Damir Stojnic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Dos Santos.
Stojnic leaves Dos Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dos Santos misses with the combination.
Dos Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Stojnic.
Stojnic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dos Santos's waist but Dos Santos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stojnic off to one side.
Stojnic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dos Santos tries to avoid it but Stojnic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dos Santos to the ground. Dos Santos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Stojnic tries to keep at a distance but Dos Santos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dos Santos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stojnic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dos Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dos Santos wants to get back to striking at distance but Stojnic won't allow it.

Stojnic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dos Santos uses from the top position.
Dos Santos wants to stand but Stojnic is controlling his posture from full guard.

Stojnic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stojnic is on top in guard.

Stojnic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dos Santos's guard.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Stojnic from controlling successfully.
Stojnic throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dos Santos being controlled here, momentarily.
Dos Santos wants to control but Stojnic passes easily into half guard.
Stojnic prevents Dos Santos from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos is refusing to be controlled, as Stojnic sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damir Stojnic dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stojnic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dos Santos sprawls well initially but Stojnic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Stojnic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dos Santos can do to turn this around?
Stojnic tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Dos Santos.
Dos Santos regains full guard. Nicely done.
Stojnic stops Dos Santos from standing up.

Stojnic stands up and waves to Dos Santos to follow him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stojnic defends it nicely.
Dos Santos is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos shoots for a takedown but Stojnic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stojnic appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stojnic tries to clinch up but Dos Santos circles away and keeps his distance.

Stojnic looking to score a takedown here. Dos Santos is defending well but Stojnic drives through and ends up in Dos Santos's guard.
Stojnic sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dos Santos's guard.
Stojnic wants to pass to mount but Dos Santos is defending the position.
Dos Santos wants to control but Stojnic is keeping busy.

Stojnic escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Dos Santos is able to avoid easily.

Stojnic clinches up against the cage.
Stojnic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dos Santos smiles and moves away.
Dos Santos throws a right hand that Stojnic ducks under and follows up with a left that Stojnic also avoids with ease.

Dos Santos gets caught flat footed, as Stojnic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stojnic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stojnic is in close to Dos Santos's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Stojnic pushing down on Dos Santos's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
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!
Dos Santos trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stojnic controlling from mount.
Dos Santos is squirming around, avoiding Stojnic's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dos Santos working to try and regain half guard.
Stojnic lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Dos Santos is squirming around, avoiding Stojnic's attempts to control the action.
The referee warns Dos Santos that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stojnic controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damir Stojnic dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stojnic is defended easily by Dos Santos.

Dos Santos moves into the clinch.
Dos Santos is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Dos Santos is stalling here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stojnic wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damir Stojnic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dos Santos tries to pull guard but Stojnic won't allow it.

Dos Santos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stojnic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dos Santos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dos Santos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stojnic misses with a takedown attempt - Dos Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dos Santos is looking for the big counter here.
Stojnic tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dos Santos defends well and Stojnic ends up having to push Dos Santos into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Dos Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Dos Santos tries to pull guard but Stojnic holds him up against the cage and eventually Dos Santos drops back down to his feet.

Dos Santos gets control of Stojnic's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dos Santos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dos Santos wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stojnic trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stojnic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stojnic won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.
Stojnic prevents Dos Santos from getting back to his feet.
Damir Stojnic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dos Santos wants to control but Stojnic passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stojnic decides to stand and escape the position.
Dos Santos needs to keep his hands up - Stojnic had a free shot at his head there.
Stojnic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stojnic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dos Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stojnic defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stojnic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stojnic lands in his opponent's guard.
Stojnic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dos Santos is keeping the position for now.

Dos Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rodrigo Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damir Stojnic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stojnic working some strikes from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Dos Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stojnic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damir Stojnic!