PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Souza (ranked 4025 p4p, 5472 weight class) and Lorant Kerekes (ranked 472 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Souza
vs
Kerekes

192 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
175
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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, Rafael Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lorant Kerekes!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza lands with a hook. Kerekes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kerekes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Souza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kerekes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kerekes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Souza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A combination from Souza does no damage.
Kerekes misses with a hook to the body
and Souza counters with a series of strikes. Kerekes will be more careful next time no doubt.
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kerekes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kerekes takes a swing at Souza's ribcage but misses.
Kerekes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kerekes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A punch lands to the side of Souza 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Kerekes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kerekes throws a good cross that connects.
Kerekes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kerekes scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza stuns Kerekes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kerekes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Souza seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kerekes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Souza cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kerekes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Souza was well out of range. Poor timing from Kerekes.
Kerekes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Souza on the side of the head.
Souza tries to clinch there but Kerekes circles away.
Souza's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Souza duly obliges.
Souza slips a straight right by Kerekes.
Souza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kerekes was well out of range. Poor timing from Souza.
Souza throws a hook but Kerekes avoids it easily.
Kerekes cracks Souza with a right hand to the side of the head.
Souza moves out of range as Kerekes strikes.
Souza appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kerekes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Souza.
A shot to the liver by Souza. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kerekes slips a jab and a cross from Souza.
Kerekes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Souza throws out a powerful jab.
Kerekes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Souza looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lorant Kerekes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Souza.
Kerekes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Souza scores with a one two! Kerekes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Souza takes one to the side of the head.
Souza defending well as Kerekes loads up on a big left hand.
Kerekes misses with a hook to the body
and Souza counters with a straight right hand.
Kerekes jabs Souza to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kerekes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Souza cracks Kerekes with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerekes missing with a left hand there. Souza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Souza is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kerekes.
Kerekes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Souza.
Souza throws out a loose jab but Kerekes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Souza dodges the punch combination from Kerekes.
Souza appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kerekes cracks Souza with a good jab.
Kerekes takes a swing at Souza's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Souza on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kerekes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Souza.
It looked like Souza was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kerekes.
Kerekes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kerekes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A jab lands there for Kerekes.
Souza tries to move into range but Kerekes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kerekes throws out the jab.
Souza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kerekes moves away.
Kerekes wants to counter the offense by Souza and move into the clinch position.
Kerekes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Souza dodges the punch combination from Kerekes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kerekes takes one to the side of the head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kerekes, as that shot connected.
Kerekes misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Souza was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kerekes.
Souza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kerekes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kerekes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kerekes looks to land a right hand but Souza moved out of range.
Kerekes misses with a shot to the body
and Souza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lorant Kerekes will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kerekes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kerekes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Souza.
Kerekes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Souza.
Kerekes blocks a jab.
Souza misses with the combination.
Kerekes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Souza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rafael Souza is winning the standup battle so far.
Souza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Souza takes a swing at Kerekes's ribcage but misses.
Kerekes throws an off balance right hand
and Souza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kerekes thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kerekes.
Kerekes blocks a jab.
Kerekes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Souza was well out of range. Poor timing from Kerekes.
A big right from Kerekes misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza swings away with a body shot that misses

and Kerekes counters by moving into the clinch.
Souza lands with a left to the head.
Kerekes tries a body shot but Souza blocks it.
Souza has a couple of punches blocked by Kerekes.
Souza slowing the pace effectively.
Souza has Kerekes pushed against the cage.
Kerekes misses with some punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Souza.
Kerekes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Souza's elbow.
Souza is trying to push Kerekes away but Kerekes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kerekes struggles to land a body shot inside as Souza controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Souza.
Kerekes blocking some punches.
Souza slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerekes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kerekes misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Souza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Souza.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Souza.
Kerekes can't find room to land a body shot as Souza controls the action.
Kerekes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kerekes lands a right hand.
Kerekes digs a right hand underneath Souza's ribcage. Souza let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kerekes blocks a body shot from Souza.
Souza misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kerekes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerekes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Souza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kerekes being controlled against the cage.
Souza tries to throw a body punch but Kerekes avoids it by throwing Souza back against the cage.
Kerekes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Souza's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kerekes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Souza's elbow.
Souza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kerekes has him pressed against the cage.
Souza looking to stall.
Nice body punch from Kerekes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Souza.
Souza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kerekes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kerekes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Souza just leaning against Kerekes, taking a breather.
Souza misses with a punch on the inside.
Souza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kerekes letting Souza take a breather here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Souza.
Souza looking to slow down the pace here.
Kerekes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kerekes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
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 Rafael Souza will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice defenses there by Souza.
Souza misses with a hook. Kerekes ducked under it nicely.
Kerekes lands a slapping body shot.

Souza closes the distance and clinches.
Kerekes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kerekes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Souza taking a breather.
Maybe Souza would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Kerekes struggles to land a body shot inside as Souza controls his hands.
Kerekes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza is trying to stall.
Kerekes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Souza struggles to land a body shot inside as Kerekes controls his hands.
Kerekes blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza tries a body shot but Kerekes blocks it.
Kerekes scores with a shot to the side of Souza's head.
Kerekes misses with some punches.
Souza blocks an uppercut.
Kerekes can't find room to land a body shot as Souza controls the action.
Souza stalling.
Kerekes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kerekes pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Souza.
Kerekes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kerekes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kerekes.
A shot in the inside from Kerekes.

Souza is rocked!
Kerekes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kerekes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kerekes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerekes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Good body shot from Kerekes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kerekes.
Kerekes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Souza wants to get back to striking at distance but Kerekes won't allow it.
Kerekes lands with a light punch inside.
Souza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kerekes scores with a nice hook to the head.
Souza wants to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Kerekes fails to land.
Kerekes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Souza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Kerekes.
Kerekes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Souza backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Souza lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kerekes backwards.
Kerekes lands a left hand.
Souza has a couple of punches blocked by Kerekes.
Kerekes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Souza is looking to control Kerekes's arms but Kerekes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Souza has his back to the cage.
Souza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Souza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kerekes is leaning against Souza and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kerekes tries to work over Souza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Kerekes on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Kerekes.
Kerekes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kerekes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kerekes tries to throw a body punch but Souza avoids it by throwing Kerekes back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerekes lands with a right to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short uppercut from Kerekes.
Lorant Kerekes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kerekes has a couple of punches blocked by Souza.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Souza prevents a body shot from Kerekes.
A short left from Kerekes.
Kerekes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kerekes lands a body shot.
Souza is trying to break free.
Nice body punch from Kerekes - that landed with a thud.
Kerekes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kerekes fails to land.
Kerekes tries to throw a body punch but Souza avoids it by throwing Kerekes back against the cage.
Kerekes working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lorant Kerekes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kerekes 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!