PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo da Silva Furtado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Souza
vs
da Silva Furtado

190 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Souza!
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, Ricardo da Silva Furtado!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza is looking to clinch but Furtado is avoiding it.
Furtado shoots for a takedown but Souza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Souza looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Furtado!
Furtado tries to hold on but Souza postures up.
Furtado sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Furtado preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza stands up from half guard.
Furtado shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Souza counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Furtado!
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.
Souza is looking to work his way around to Furtado's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

Souza stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza misses with an uppercut.
Furtado with a poor takedown

so Souza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rafael Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo da Silva Furtado.
Souza is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Furtado pulls Souza in to control the position.
Furtado keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Furtado wants to hit a switch here but Souza passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Furtado there!
Furtado blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furtado is squirming around, avoiding Souza's attempts to control the action.
Souza is trying to take his opponent's back.
Souza landing strikes from the mount and Furtado is in trouble!

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.
Furtado is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Souza wants to control the pace but Furtado is squirming around nicely.
Souza unloads with some shots from mount but Furtado bucks and avoids them well.
Souza is landing with some decent strikes but Furtado is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Souza dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Furtado doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Souza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Furtado's guard now.
Furtado wants to sweep but no luck.
Rafael Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Furtado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Souza postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Furtado is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Souza, into his guard.
Souza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Furtado manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza is looking to stand up but Furtado won't let him.
Souza won't allow Furtado to get back to his feet.

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.
Furtado keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Furtado wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Souza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furtado wants to sweep here but Souza controlling him for the moment.
Furtado working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Furtado counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Furtado seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Furtado wants to get up but he can't break Souza's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
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 Rafael Souza will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Souza.
Souza looking to control but instead Furtado has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Souza wants to control but Furtado is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Furtado avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Furtado tries to kick Souza off but Souza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Furtado controlling the position for now.
Furtado's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Souza is stalling here. Furtado is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Souza seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Furtado has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

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.
Souza struggling a bit here.

Furtado has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furtado doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Souza counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Souza.
Souza trying to control but Furtado is working from the bottom.
Souza thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Furtado keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Furtado avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ricardo da Silva Furtado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Souza decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Souza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Souza 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Souza!