PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Demian Drundson (ranked 4625 p4p, 4632 weight class) and Rafael Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Drundson
vs
Dos Santos

177 cm
18
177
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Demian Drundson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafael Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dos Santos gets a takedown into half guard.
Drundson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos is taking a breather. Drundson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Drundson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Dos Santos takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Drundson is looking to get back to is feet but Dos Santos passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos is looking to take a break and control but Drundson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dos Santos tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dos Santos has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drundson is letting Dos Santos control him for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drundson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dos Santos tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Dos Santos controlling the position from side mount.

That's two 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.
Drundson wants to control but Dos Santos postures up.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Dos Santos has eaten all the pies!
Drundson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Drundson wants to control but Dos Santos postures up.
Drundson is looking for a sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Drundson keeps the fight on the outside.

Dos Santos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Drundson to the mat! Drundson manages to get full guard.
Drundson has momentary wrist control but Dos Santos slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos pushing down on Drundson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dos Santos wants to take a breather but Drundson is having none of it.
Dos Santos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dos Santos stops Drundson from getting back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Dos Santos in particular looking to stall.
Drundson is looking to improve his position.
Dos Santos takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Drundson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dos Santos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dos Santos takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
It looks like Dos Santos is going to stand back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dos Santos.
Drundson tries to control but Dos Santos manages to take his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos is not going to allow Drundson to sit and survive in this position.

Drundson showing good submission defense here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Drundson throws a hook to the side of Dos Santos's head but Dos Santos sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Dos Santos clinches.

Dos Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Drundson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dos Santos is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drundson is looking to advance position but Dos Santos has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Rafael Dos Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drundson is looking to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Drundson is just holding on here. Dos Santos manages to take his back.
Drundson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Drundson tries to hold on but Dos Santos pushes him away.
Dos Santos controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Drundson is looking to get to half guard.
Dos Santos controlling his opponent.
Dos Santos with good strikes from the mount here!

Dos Santos with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Dos Santos blocks Drundson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drundson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Drundson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Drundson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dos Santos's guard.
Drundson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drundson won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.
Drundson controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drundson won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.
Drundson won't allow Dos Santos to get back to his feet.
Drundson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Drundson trying to control but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dos Santos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Drundson's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Dos Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dos Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Drundson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Drundson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dos Santos tries to bench press Drundson off him but Drundson keeps the position.
Dos Santos keeps trying to improve his position.
Dos Santos is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Drundson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
BOOM! Drundson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos tries to hold on but Drundson pushes him away.
Drundson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dos Santos is trying desperately to improve position.
Drundson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dos Santos because Drundson loaded up on that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Dos Santos gets back to half guard.
Dos Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Drundson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dos Santos is refusing to be controlled, as Drundson sits in half guard.
Dos Santos works his way to full guard. Good work.
Drundson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dos Santos seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two 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.
Drundson won't allow Dos Santos to sweep him here.
Drundson lands a couple of digs.
Drundson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dos Santos looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Drundson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dos Santos napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Drundson tries to stand but Dos Santos is controlling his head.
Drundson working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drundson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Dos Santos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Drundson but great work by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drundson keeps working.
Drundson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Dos Santos wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Drundson, who protects the arm well.
Dos Santos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drundson keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drundson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Drundson struggling a bit here.
A lull in the action here as Dos Santos stalls from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drundson tries to bench press Dos Santos off him but Dos Santos keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rafael Dos Santos.
Well Dos Santos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight for Rafael Dos Santos!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Rafael Dos Santos!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Rafael Dos Santos!

Rafael Dos Santos wins by unanimous decision!