PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nic Bravo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufio Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bravo
vs
Souza

190 cm
19
191 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ka-POW Clothing
Supersize Me

Hell's Balls Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nic Bravo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rufio Souza!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Souza scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bravo tries to buck Souza off but Souza is having none of it.
Bravo sneaks back into half guard.
Bravo tries to get to full guard but Souza has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bravo trying to hold on to Souza's head to control him but Souza postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bravo is looking for a sweep. Souza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Souza is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Souza is looking to advance position but Bravo won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to control from half guard but Bravo is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bravo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Souza scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bravo is looking to reverse the position.
Souza tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bravo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bravo is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bravo gets full guard.
Souza works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bravo is trying to maintain the position but Souza is very close to passing his half guard.
Souza passes to side control.
Bravo manages to get back to half guard.

Souza is trying to work for a kimura but Bravo is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bravo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Souza's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Souza's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bravo is hanging on to Souza's back as he tries to escape.
Bravo has good solid back control here.
Souza breaks Bravo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Bravo trying to keep a closed guard but Souza is proving a slippery customer.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Bravo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bravo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Souza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Bravo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Souza has gone for a leg lock! Bravo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Souza's guard.

Bravo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Souza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bravo has managed to get both his arms back between Souza's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufio Souza dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Souza looks for a takedown but Bravo sprawls well.
Bravo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Souza.
Bravo tries a head kick but it misses.
Souza tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bravo swivels and escapes.
Nic Bravo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufio Souza.
Bravo takes a swing at Souza's ribcage but misses.
Nic Bravo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bravo lands a head kick!
Bravo throws the left hand but Souza avoids the punch easily.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bravo as he jumps to the side.
Bravo shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bravo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Souza is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Souza has his takedown stuffed
and Bravo counters with a nice uppercut.
Bravo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Souza.
Bravo wants to control but Souza postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bravo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Souza trying to control the position but Bravo is working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Bravo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two 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.
Bravo is looking to improve his position.

Souza wants to work for an arm triangle but Bravo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bravo is trying to control but can't.
Souza trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bravo defends it well.

Souza is working for a submission of some sort.
Souza is trying to control. Bravo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four 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.
Bravo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bravo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bravo keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Souza wants to control from the top but Bravo keeps moving.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rufio Souza just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Souza shoots in and bounces Bravo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rufio Souza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bravo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bravo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Souza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bravo throws and low kick but Souza moves out of range easily.

Bravo instigates a clinch.

Bravo pulls guard.

Souza drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bravo dives on top into guard.
Souza trying to control the position here.
Bravo preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bravo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Souza 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.
Souza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Souza working for a triangle but Bravo defends it easily.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Souza has his foot on Bravo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bravo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bravo feints and as Souza raises his hands in defense, Bravo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bravo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bravo defends well.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bravo thows a big elbow that misses.
Bravo trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bravo is one step ahead there.
Bravo passes Souza's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bravo trying to control the action but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bravo.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.
Bravo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bravo thows a huge punch but Souza dodges it nicely.
Bravo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nic Bravo clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bravo counters with a good low kick that Souza was not able to check.
Souza misses with a takedown

and Bravo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Souza's guard now.
Nic Bravo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bravo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bravo throwing strikes from guard but Souza blocks nicely.
Bravo trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza controls Bravo momentarily but Bravo frees himself.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bravo passes into side control.
Souza is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bravo in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Souza tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Bravo throwing strikes here but Souza is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Souza tries to lock up and control but Bravo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bravo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Souza is looking to escape.
Bravo controlling the position easily from mount.
Bravo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Souza is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bravo throws some wild stikes that Souza manages to avoid easily.
Bravo prevents Souza from getting the reversal.
Souza is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Bravo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Souza is now in Bravo's guard. A big mistake from Bravo there, giving up the dominant position!
Souza looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Souza won't allow Bravo to sweep him here.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Bravo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bravo is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bravo holds on and takes a little breather.
Souza looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nic Bravo had his way with Rufio Souza in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Souza tries for a takedown but Bravo circles away easily

and Bravo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!
Souza tries to lock up and control but Bravo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bravo looking to finish with strikes here!
Souza wants to hold on but Bravo pushes him away.
Bravo misses with a head shot.
Bravo throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Bravo cracks Souza with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza is trying to escape the mount.
Souza tries to hold on but Bravo postures up.
Bravo cracks Souza with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Souza is looking to improve his position but Bravo isn't that keen on the idea.
Souza wants to hold on but Bravo pushes him away.

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.
Bravo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Souza keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bravo lands with some strikes.
Bravo thowing shots but they're missing.
Souza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bravo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza can't escape the position.
Souza is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bravo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Souza manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Bravo seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four 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.
Souza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bravo is working away from the top position though.
Souza slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bravo thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bravo is posturing up here but Souza has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Bravo tries to roll out but it's too tight and Bravo has to tap! Slick submission there by Souza!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rufio Souza!
Rufio Souza is the new middleweight champion!