PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Machado (ranked 4978 p4p, 25342 weight class) and Thiago Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Machado
vs
Dos Santos

173 cm
22
180
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
180
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado leaves Dos Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Machado throws a right and a left that both miss.

Machado closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Machado working away.
Machado wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dos Santos keeps working.
Machado throws a strike aimed at the side of Dos Santos's head but Dos Santos avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Dos Santos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dos Santos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Machado is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Machado is staying active.

Machado is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Machado is looking for a kimura here.
Machado tries to stand and escape but Dos Santos is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dos Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Machado throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Machado not doing much here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machado fails with an attempt to clinch.

Dos Santos shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Machado is trying to defend but Dos Santos finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Machado wants to stand back up but Dos Santos manages to pass into side control.
Dos Santos trying to control the position but Machado is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dos Santos is trying to control the action in half guard but Machado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Machado keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Dos Santos is trying to control the action in half guard but Machado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dos Santos content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Machado wants to improve his position but Dos Santos is controlling well.
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.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dos Santos slips a nice elbow through Machado's hands, connecting with Machado's forehead.
Dos Santos trying to control the pace.
Dos Santos working over Machado with some ground and pound. Machado looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dos Santos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Machado defends it well.
Dos Santos is thwarting Machado's attempts to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodrigo Machado will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dos Santos gets a double leg takedown into Machado's guard.

Machado pushes Dos Santos off and gets back to his feet.
Dos Santos pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Machado closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Dos Santos - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dos Santos fails to pull guard.
Machado fails to pull guard.
Dos Santos prevents the takedown attempt.
Machado drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Machado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machado tries for a takedown but Dos Santos manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Dos Santos to work.
Machado is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dos Santos to keep the fight standing.

Dos Santos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Machado got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dos Santos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Machado has managed to get both his arms back between Dos Santos's legs - danger averted.
Dos Santos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dos Santos pulls Machado in close to prevent any damage.
Machado might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Machado passes Dos Santos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is looking to improve his position.
Dos Santos is trying to maintain the position but Machado is very close to passing his half guard.
Machado looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dos Santos with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Dos Santos wants to control but Machado is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dos Santos controlling the position for now.

Machado is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Machado connects with a nice short shot to Dos Santos's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machado is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dos Santos has managed to free his arm - good work.

Machado is working for a kimura but Dos Santos is defending it quite comfortably.
Machado thows a huge punch but Dos Santos dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dos Santos wants to improve his position but Machado is controlling well.
Machado is pressing down on Dos Santos's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dos Santos is holding on for now.
Machado is thwarting Dos Santos's attempts to control the position.
Machado trying to control the action but Dos Santos is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dos Santos scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
No luck for Machado with that takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rodrigo Machado will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Machado tries to clinch but Dos Santos moves away

and Dos Santos counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Machado is retaining full guard.
Dos Santos throws a big elbow that misses.
Dos Santos wants to get up but he can't break Machado's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Machado wants to sweep here but Dos Santos controlling him for the moment.
Machado is trying to keep Dos Santos in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machado looking to control but Dos Santos passes into half guard.
Machado works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos pushing down on Machado's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Machado is trying to maintain the position but Dos Santos is very close to passing his half guard.
Machado is refusing to be controlled, as Dos Santos sits in half guard.
Machado wants to control but Dos Santos is keeping busy.
Machado avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dos Santos.
Rodrigo Machado overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Machado trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Dos Santos controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dos Santos pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Machado slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Dos Santos not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machado trying to control here.
Dos Santos is trying to control. Machado wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Machado is pressing down on Dos Santos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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 being controlled here momentarily.
Dos Santos engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Machado clinches up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos digs a right hand into Machado's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Machado's gas tank.

Machado escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thiago Dos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodrigo Machado is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dos Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Dos Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Machado 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Machado!