PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wanderson Marua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emilio Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Marua
vs
Souza

183 cm
24
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

188 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wanderson Marua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emilio Souza!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marua misses with a takedown attempt - Souza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Souza throws a jab but it's blocked by Marua.
Souza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marua manages to avoid it.
Marua lands a right hook to the body.
Souza sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Marua blocks a jab.
Marua tries to bum rush Souza with a series of wild strikes but Souza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Souza cracks Marua with a right hand to the side of the head.
Emilio Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marua scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Souza is looking to control Marua's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Souza avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Marua in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marua tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Souza.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Marua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Marua decides to stand and escape the position.
Souza throws a sloppy body shot
and Marua counters with a body kick that stops Souza in his tracks momentarily.
Marua shoots in for a double leg but Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Marua throws a hook but Souza blocks it.
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marua clobbers Souza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souza is defended easily by Marua.
Marua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Souza throws out the jab.
Souza misses with a hook to the body

and Marua counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Marua wants to stand but Souza is controlling his posture from full guard.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Souza looks gassed!
Marua trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza has a closed guard, preventing Marua from standing up.

Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Marua passes into side control.
Souza tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Marua stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Marua lands a right hook to the body.
Donk. Marua catches Souza right on the button with a cross.

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

Souza is working an open guard so Marua takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Souza takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marua throws a one two combo.
Souza gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Marua jabs Souza right on the nose. Souza blinks but takes it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderson Marua dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Marua throws a right hand that Souza ducks under and follows up with a left that Souza also avoids with ease.
Souza throws a big shot that misses.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt
and Marua cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Emilio Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza throws a combination that misses
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Marua counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Souza takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Souza throws a predictable looking body shot
and Marua counters with a stiff right hand.
Marua throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Souza's head.
Souza throws a combination that misses
and Marua cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Souza on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Marua wants to clinch up but Souza keeps it at a distance.
Marua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Souza as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marua throws a head kick but Souza moves out of range.
A head kick from Marua lands but Souza takes it in his stride.
Souza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wanderson Marua is winning the standup battle so far.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Marua counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Marua looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Souza wants to get back to full guard but Marua has passed into side control.
Souza wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marua is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
I really don't envy Souza right now.
Marua struggling to keep hold of the position.
What can Souza do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Marua has the hooks in. Souza is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Marua trying to control momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marua is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Souza tries to get to his feet, scrambling wildly. Marua sees the opportunity and transitions to an armbar that forces Souza to tap. Impressive finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wanderson Marua!