PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Byers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldinho De Los Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Los Santos has chosen Muito Mais Safado as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Byers
vs
De Los Santos

156 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacques Byers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldinho De Los Santos!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Los Santos clinches up with Byers and pushes him back against the cage.
Byers swings wildly with an uppercut but De Los Santos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byers prevents a body shot from De Los Santos.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by De Los Santos as Byers tries to tie him up.
Byers holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Come on De Los Santos - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Byers prevents a body shot from De Los Santos.
De Los Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Byers manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Los Santos is looking to clinch but Byers is avoiding it.
De Los Santos throws a series of strikes that have Byers backpedaling.

De Los Santos clinches up with Byers and pushes him back against the cage.
De Los Santos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Byers.
The referee is keeping an eye on Byers - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Byers seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Los Santos tries to work over Byers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Byers tries to work over De Los Santos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Los Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byers really is a fat lump.
Byers wants to take the fight to the mat but De Los Santos manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
De Los Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
De Los Santos stalling in the clinch.
De Los Santos will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Byers up against the cage.
De Los Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byers lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

De Los Santos has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Byers clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Byers is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake De Los Santos off. It looks like it's working - De Los Santos slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Byers displaying calm under pressure there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

De Los Santos gets a clinch.
De Los Santos misses with a knee to the head.
De Los Santos tries to circle away but Byers has him pinned against the cage.
De Los Santos slows down the pace here.
De Los Santos tries to work over Byers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Byers is fighting off a takedown attempt but De Los Santos is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Byers to the mat. Byers regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
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.
Byers is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Byers wants to get back to his feet but De Los Santos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Byers tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Los Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Byers is keeping the position for now.
De Los Santos wants to stand and escape but instead Byers has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Byers scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
De Los Santos has a closed guard, preventing Byers from standing up.

De Los Santos has his feet on Byers's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

De Los Santos drives through and clinches with Byers against the cage.
Byers leaning his opponent against the cage.

Byers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
De Los Santos is looking for the big counter here.

De Los Santos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
De Los Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byers really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
The referee is keeping an eye on Byers - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
De Los Santos misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Byers breaks the clinch.
De Los Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
De Los Santos tries to clinch up but Byers circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

De Los Santos shoots in and bounces Byers off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
De Los Santos postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldinho De Los Santos dominated that round.
That's time! Byers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

De Los Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Byers.
Byers stalls.
De Los Santos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
De Los Santos managing to block the knees to the body from Byers.
Come on Byers - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
De Los Santos throws a punch but it's blocked by Byers.
Byers is trying to stall.
Byers slowing the pace effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jacques Byers.
De Los Santos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
De Los Santos digs a good body shot into Byers's ribs.
De Los Santos throws a leg kick but Byers sees it coming and moves out of range.
Byers throws a quick counter head kick but De Los Santos was just out of range.

De Los Santos manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Byers on his heels. He'll look to pass Byers's guard now, I'm sure.

Byers manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Los Santos wants to clinch up but Byers keeps it at a distance.
Ronaldinho De Los Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Los Santos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Byers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

De Los Santos darts in and clinches Byers up against the cage.
De Los Santos tries a body shot but Byers blocks it.

De Los Santos decides to pull guard.
Byers postures up in De Los Santos's guard and throws a big left but De Los Santos blocks it.
Jacques Byers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Byers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Byers distracts De Los Santos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Byers stands and steps away. De Los Santos gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
De Los Santos lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

De Los Santos has closed the distance and engaged Byers in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
De Los Santos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Los Santos misses with a punch to the body.

Byers jumps guard and drags De Los Santos to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byers wants to stand and escape but De Los Santos is having none of it.
De Los Santos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
De Los Santos stopping the sweep attempt from Byers.
Byers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Byers has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Los Santos preventing the sweep.
Byers is pulling down on De Los Santos's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byers controls De Los Santos momentarily but De Los Santos frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

De Los Santos closes the distance and clinches.

De Los Santos turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Byers explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

De Los Santos scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byers struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byers is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but De Los Santos has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Byers struggling a bit here.
Byers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
De Los Santos controlling the position from side mount.
Byers manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jacques Byers will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

De Los Santos stuffs the takedown.
Byers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Byers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De Los Santos defends it nicely.
De Los Santos is looking to clinch but Byers is avoiding it.
De Los Santos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Byers looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
De Los Santos stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacques Byers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Los Santos lands a right hook to the body.
De Los Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
De Los Santos moves in looking to clinch but Byers pushes him off.
Byers wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Byers gets caught flat footed, as De Los Santos shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

De Los Santos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Byers, up you get!
De Los Santos tries to clinch there but Byers circles away.

De Los Santos clinches up with Byers and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Los Santos wants to stall.
A bit of stalling here from Byers.
De Los Santos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
De Los Santos lands with a left to the head.
Byers avoiding damage as De Los Santos throws knees to the body.
De Los Santos is trying to break the clinch but Byers has him pressed against the cage.
De Los Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Byers is blocking nicely.
De Los Santos wants to stall.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

De Los Santos gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Byers regains guard.
Byers is looking to stand up but De Los Santos isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byers has a closed guard, preventing De Los Santos from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Byers is looking to stand up but De Los Santos isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as De Los Santos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

De Los Santos stands up from guard. Let's bang!

De Los Santos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Byers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Byers wants to get back to his feet but De Los Santos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
De Los Santos wants to stand but Byers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

De Los Santos stands up from Byers's guard - De Los Santos perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ronaldinho De Los Santos seems to be getting the better of the standup.

De Los Santos clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

De Los Santos breaks from the clinch.

De Los Santos forces Byers back against the cage and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Byers stalling against the cage.
De Los Santos works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ronaldinho De Los Santos seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Byers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

De Los Santos fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Byers, pushing him back against the cage.
Byers slows down the pace here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
De Los Santos struggles to land a body shot inside as Byers controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldinho De Los Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think De Los Santos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldinho De Los Santos!
A victorious Ronaldinho De Los Santos thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.