PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manel Sousa (ranked 4159 p4p, 4448 weight class) and Kieran Newton (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.

Sousa
vs
Newton

170 cm
24
184
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
175
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

DrugLords 50$ Q130

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Manel Sousa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kieran Newton!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Newton.
Sousa throws a nice looking combination but Newton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Newton leaves Sousa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Newton takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Newton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sousa's waist but Sousa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Newton off to one side.
Sousa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Newton is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Newton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sousa defends well and Newton ends up having to push Sousa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Newton takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newton fails with a takedown attempt.
Manel Sousa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kieran Newton.
Newton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa throws a head kick that misses.
Sousa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Newton lands a head kick. Sousa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Newton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sousa but Sousa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Newton throws a right and a left that Sousa avoids nicely.
Newton tries to clinch
and Sousa counters with a three punch combo that has Newton backing up. Newton nods at Sousa to acknowledge the strikes.
Newton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sousa tries to avoid it but Newton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sousa to the ground. Sousa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Newton looks winded!

Sousa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Newton regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sousa.
Sousa throwing strikes from guard but Newton blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sousa stopping the sweep attempt from Newton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sousa.
Sousa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sousa controlling from the top position.
Sousa could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sousa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sousa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Newton is keeping the position for now.
Sousa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sousa sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sousa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sousa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Newton.
Sousa scores with a three punch combo!
Sousa lands a slapping body shot.
Sousa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Newton at a distance.
Sousa punishes Newton's body with a nice straight punch.
Sousa lands a jab to Newton's midsection.
Good shot there by Sousa.
Sousa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sousa wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sousa.
A shot to the liver by Sousa. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A left and a right from Sousa both land. Nice combination.
A combination from Sousa does no damage.
Sousa is looking to wear down Newton with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
No joy there for Sousa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sousa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sousa throws a series of strikes that have Newton backpedaling.
Newton tries for a takedown but Sousa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sousa swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A nice combination there by Sousa.
Sousa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Newton.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manel Sousa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Newton looks for a takedown but Sousa sprawls well.
Sousa is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Newton shoots in for a takedown but Sousa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sousa lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice combination there by Sousa.
Newton blocks a leg kick.
Newton misses with a body kick.
Sousa lands a two punch combo.
Manel Sousa is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sousa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sousa digs a good body shot into Newton's ribs.

Sousa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Newton pushes Sousa off and gets back to his feet.
Newton is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Sousa.
Sousa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sousa.
Sousa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Newton can do to turn this around?
Sousa lands a jab-cross combination.
Newton wants to clinch up but Sousa keeps it at a distance.
A punch combination from Sousa misses.
Newton shoots in but no luck this time.
Manel Sousa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kieran Newton.
Newton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Newton misses with a takedown attempt - Sousa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Newton wants to clinch up but Sousa keeps it at a distance.
Sousa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Newton backs up against the cage.
Newton lands with a good body shot.
A shot to the liver by Sousa. Beautiful body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Newton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Newton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sousa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sousa.
Newton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sousa as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa throws a one two combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Newton is defended easily by Sousa.
Sousa has a takedown stuffed.
Newton closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sousa misses with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa lands a right hook to the body.
Newton on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sousa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Newton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sousa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Newton clinches with his opponent.
Sousa prevents the takedown attempt.
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!
Newton wants a takedown.
Newton is trying to stall.
Newton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sousa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manel Sousa dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Newton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sousa but Sousa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sousa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Newton throws a counter combo.
Newton shoots in but Sousa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sousa tests Newton's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sousa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Sousa does no damage.
Newton lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sousa stuns Newton with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Newton's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Newton duly obliges.
Newton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Newton drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa cracks Newton with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Sousa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Newton to the ground. Sousa is now in Newton's guard.

Newton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sousa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sousa passes Newton's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sousa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sousa is thwarting Newton's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sousa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Newton for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is thwarting Newton's attempts to control the position.
Sousa throws a strike but Newton avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Newton looking to control.
Sousa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Manel Sousa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sousa prevents Newton from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Newton is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sousa.
Manel Sousa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sousa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Manel Sousa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kieran Newton.
Newton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice shot by Sousa.
Sousa works over Newton's head and body with a nice combination.
A nice combination there by Sousa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sousa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Newton stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sousa scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sousa!
Newton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sousa tries to avoid it but Newton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sousa to the ground. Sousa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sousa swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kieran Newton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sousa scores with a sloppy right hand. Newton should have avoided that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manel Sousa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sousa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Manel Sousa!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Manel Sousa!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Manel Sousa!

Manel Sousa wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath and clearly excited Manel Sousa thanked DrugLords 50$ Q130 for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).