PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Zuzinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kleber de souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernando Zuzinho has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zuzinho
vs
de souza

178 cm
18
157 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

173 cm
22
157 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Zuzinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kleber de souza!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de souza swats away the attempt to clinch by Zuzinho.

de souza scores with a takedown into Zuzinho's guard.

de souza stands up and waves to Zuzinho to follow him.
Zuzinho is breathing heavily.
de souza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zuzinho.

de souza closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

de souza decides to return to a standing position.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

de souza darts in and clinches Zuzinho up against the cage.
de souza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
de souza connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Fernando Zuzinho has been cut.
de souza tries a knee to the head but Zuzinho blocks it.
de souza lands an elbow that stopped Zuzinho in his tracks for a moment.
de souza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zuzinho dodges an elbow strike from de souza.
Zuzinho takes a knee right on the jaw!
de souza tries to land a knee to the head but Zuzinho blocks with his arms.

de souza drags the fight down to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

de souza pushes Zuzinho off and gets back to his feet.
de souza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zuzinho.

That's one minute gone in the round.

de souza gets the takedown into side control.
Zuzinho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zuzinho is trying to control de souza's posture but de souza avoids it.

de souza tries for a kimura but Zuzinho is defending well.

de souza decides to stand back up.

de souza pushes Zuzinho up against the cage in a clinch.
de souza tries to break free but Zuzinho pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de souza with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Zuzinho pulls guard.

de souza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kleber de souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
de souza tries to clinch

and Zuzinho counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zuzinho is looking to work some ground and pound but de souza has wrist control.
Zuzinho distracts de souza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zuzinho wanted to stand there but de souza had control of the position.
Zuzinho seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
de souza lands a good elbow from the bottom.

de souza pushes Zuzinho off and gets back to his feet.
Zuzinho misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Zuzinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zuzinho fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

de souza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

de souza decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zuzinho lands a two punch combo.
Zuzinho misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

de souza shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zuzinho is trying to defend but de souza finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Zuzinho pushes de souza off looking to stand but de souza dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

de souza stands up and beckons Zuzinho to join him on the feet.
de souza throws a head kick that misses

and Zuzinho holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
de souza looking to throw knees to the head but Zuzinho is blocking nicely.
Zuzinho stops a takedown attempt from de souza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de souza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zuzinho smiles and moves away.
de souza slaps away a takedown attempt from Zuzinho, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Zuzinho scores with a takedown into de souza's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zuzinho gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
de souza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zuzinho as he avoids it easily.
de souza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zuzinho counters by moving into the clinch.
de souza tries to land a knee to the head but Zuzinho blocks with his arms.
Zuzinho fails to pull guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
de souza tries to break free but Zuzinho pushes him back against the cage.
de souza looking to throw knees to the head but Zuzinho is blocking nicely.
de souza looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zuzinho drops down looking for an ankle pick but de souza pulls his leg out and moves away.

de souza rushes Zuzinho and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kleber de souza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fernando Zuzinho's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zuzinho shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts de souza as he jumps to the side.
de souza tries for a takedown but Zuzinho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

de souza clinches up against the cage.
de souza throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

de souza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

de souza has Zuzinho up against the cage in a clinch.
de souza is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Zuzinho wants a takedown but no success here.
Zuzinho gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from de souza.
Zuzinho takes an elbow to the temple.
Zuzinho stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zuzinho takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de souza looking to throw knees to the head but Zuzinho is blocking nicely.

Zuzinho manages to break the clinch.

Zuzinho shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. de souza manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de souza is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zuzinho trying to control but de souza is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zuzinho accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zuzinho won't allow de souza to sweep him here.
Zuzinho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. de souza is keeping the position for now.
de souza lands a couple of shots from the bottom.

de souza has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zuzinho off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
de souza tries to clinch up
and Zuzinho counters with a two punch combo.
Zuzinho throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
de souza tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Zuzinho counters with a left and a right that stings de souza.

de souza closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zuzinho tries to improve position but can't.

de souza stands up.

de souza rushes Zuzinho and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
de souza misses with a knee to the head.
de souza looking to throw knees to the head but Zuzinho is blocking nicely.
Zuzinho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

de souza gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

de souza stands and steps away. Zuzinho gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
de souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Fernando Zuzinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kleber de souza.
Zuzinho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Zuzinho moves into the clinch successfully.
de souza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zuzinho is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zuzinho has de souza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. de souza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de souza throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Zuzinho blocks an elbow strike.
de souza tries to break free but Zuzinho pushes him back against the cage.
de souza tries to land a knee to the head but Zuzinho blocks with his arms.
Zuzinho drops down looking for an ankle pick but de souza pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zuzinho circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zuzinho counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zuzinho.
de souza throws an elbow but it misses.
de souza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zuzinho has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
de souza tries to land a knee to the head but Zuzinho blocks with his arms.
de souza misses with a knee to the head.

de souza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
de souza tries to clinch

and Zuzinho moves into the clinch.
de souza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zuzinho blocks it with crossed arms.
de souza throws an elbow but it misses.
Zuzinho tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
de souza prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zuzinho jumps guard but de souza stands there with Zuzinho around his waist. Zuzinho gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuzinho wants to get back to striking at distance but de souza won't allow it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
de souza misses with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, de souza throws an elbow but misses.

de souza breaks the clinch.
Fernando Zuzinho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
de souza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
de souza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
de souza tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zuzinho swivels and escapes.
de souza tries to clinch up

and Zuzinho moves into the clinch.
Zuzinho is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zuzinho as de souza tries to tie him up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zuzinho drops down looking for an ankle pick but de souza pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zuzinho shoots in for a takedown but de souza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kleber de souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fernando Zuzinho's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by de souza.
Zuzinho wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

de souza stands up and beckons Zuzinho to his feet.
Zuzinho tries to close the distance and clinch but de souza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zuzinho shoots for a double leg takedown but de souza sprawls well. He's pushed Zuzinho's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zuzinho fails with an attempt to clinch.
de souza stuffs the takedown.
de souza tries to clinch up but Zuzinho circles away and keeps his distance.
de souza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zuzinho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but de souza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
de souza wants to clinch up but Zuzinho keeps it at a distance.

de souza closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zuzinho is trying to control de souza's posture but de souza avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

de souza decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zuzinho looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zuzinho misses with a few strikes there.

de souza gets the takedown into side control.

de souza stands up.
Zuzinho shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Zuzinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
de souza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zuzinho defends it nicely.
Zuzinho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says de souza as he avoids it easily.
de souza shoots in but Zuzinho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zuzinho looks for a takedown but de souza sprawls well.
de souza tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zuzinho counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de souza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zuzinho takes an elbow to the temple.

Zuzinho breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
de souza wants to clinch.
de souza closes the distance but Zuzinho moves to the side

and Zuzinho decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in de souza's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
de souza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zuzinho is controlling him.
Zuzinho working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

de souza uses the cage to get back to his feet.
de souza is looking to clinch but Zuzinho is avoiding it.
de souza throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zuzinho misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de souza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
de souza tries to clinch but Zuzinho moves out of range.

de souza closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - de souza lands in his opponent's guard.
Zuzinho is looking to stand up but de souza isn't so interested in that idea.
Zuzinho is trying to control the position but de souza postures up.

de souza stands and steps away. Zuzinho gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

de souza moves into range and clinches up with Zuzinho.
de souza is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zuzinho is keeping busy.

Zuzinho escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zuzinho tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but de souza swivels and escapes.
de souza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Zuzinho counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zuzinho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

de souza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
de souza looks to clinch
and Zuzinho counters with a one-two to the body.
de souza fails in his attempt to clinch.
de souza shoots in but no luck this time.
de souza with a poor takedown
and Zuzinho counters with a one-two to the body.
de souza tries to clinch up

and Zuzinho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zuzinho trying to control the position from guard on top but de souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

de souza pushes Zuzinho off and gets back to his feet.

de souza moves into the clinch successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Zuzinho pulls de souza into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kleber de souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well de souza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kleber de souza!