PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago de Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Babcock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

de Souza
vs
Babcock

183 cm
19
177 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

ENDLESS 152

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago de Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruce Babcock!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de Souza lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Babcock lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as de Souza backs up against the ropes.
Babcock swings and misses with a hook to the body.
de Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Babcock paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Babcock decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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.
Babcock trying to advance position but de Souza counters by regaining guard.
Babcock with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

de Souza throws his legs up looking for a submission but Babcock uses it to pass to side control.

Babcock is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. de Souza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
An elbow from Babcock crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Souza is looking to reverse the position.
de Souza struggling a bit here.

Babcock looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
de Souza can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two 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.
de Souza is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Babcock is looking to take a break and control but de Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Babcock working the ground and pound.
Babcock has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
You can see the frustration on de Souza's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Babcock lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear de Souza down.
de Souza managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Babcock.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Souza is trying to improve his position.
de Souza sneaks back into half guard.

Babcock is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. de Souza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Babcock.
de Souza trying to control from the bottom.

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.

de Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

de Souza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Babcock pulls his head out easily.
Babcock wants to pass to mount but de Souza is defending the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
de Souza tries to clinch but Babcock moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Babcock dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

de Souza shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Babcock's guard.
de Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Babcock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Babcock has an active guard here but de Souza has managed to pass into half guard.
Babcock tries to get to full guard but de Souza has control of the leg.
Babcock trying to hold on to de Souza's head to control him but de Souza postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babcock tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
de Souza stalling.

Babcock actively working from the bottom here.
Babcock wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
de Souza is controlling the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

de Souza shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Babcock manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Babcock looking for a triangle here. de Souza is fighting it but it looks tight! Babcock pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, de Souza is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Bruce Babcock!