PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Durham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Durham is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Lose my mind - Young Jeezy and Plies. Michael Durham will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Souza
vs
Durham

184 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

189 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Durham!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durham sizes up Souza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Souza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Durham sprawls well. Durham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
Durham ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Souza moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza walks into a stiff left hand from Durham.
Durham lands a slapping body shot.
Durham scores with a hook to the body. Souza takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Souza takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Durham jabs Souza right on the nose. Souza blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Durham which made him look bad.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Souza walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Durham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Souza was well out of range. Poor timing from Durham.
Souza tries for a takedown but Durham sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham throws a right hand that Souza ducks under and follows up with a left that Souza also avoids with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Durham. Souza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Durham throws a body punch but Souza moves out of range.
Durham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Michael Durham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durham throws a looping overhand right but Souza ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Durham fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Souza throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Durham throws a shot to the body.
Souza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Durham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Souza was well out of range. Poor timing from Durham.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Durham dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Souza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Durham looks to score with a jab to the body but Souza is just out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Durham.
Durham lands a slapping body shot.
Durham is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Souza rather than just go for the knockout.
Durham keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Michael Durham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A jab from Durham does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Durham shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Durham lands a with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durham throws a shot to the body.
Souza takes one to the chin there.
A left and a right from Durham both land. Nice combination.
Durham misses the shot to the body.
Souza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Durham tries to avoid it but Souza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Durham to the ground. Durham escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham misses with a wild combination.
Durham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Souza. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Durham scores with a jab to the jaw.

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.
Durham sizes up Souza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Durham misses with a few strikes there.
Souza walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Michael Durham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza avoids the body shot from Durham.
Durham connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Durham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Durham looks to land a combination but Souza avoids it well.
Souza takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A head kick misses from Durham.
Souza has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Souza there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Souza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Durham was covering up waiting for the punch and Souza finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza passes Durham's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Souza is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Durham still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Durham has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Durham is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Souza's shoulder. That is not cool.
Souza prevents Durham from improving position.
Souza can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Souza tries to buck Durham off but Durham is having none of it.

Durham stands up and beckons Souza to his feet.
Durham works Souza's body with a nice hook.
Durham scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durham misses with a kick to the body.
Durham goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Durham tries to bum rush Souza with a series of wild strikes but Souza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Durham lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Souza crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Durham - the referee stops the clock and Souza gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Durham. Souza manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Durham moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Durham cracks Souza with a good jab.
Ronaldo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souza closes the distance and clinches up with Durham, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes Durham against the cage but Durham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Durham!

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Durham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Durham winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Durham!