PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Swift (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago de Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swift comes to the ring accompanied by This Fire Burns by Killswitch Engage. de Souza has chosen Dry County as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Swift
vs
de Souza

180 cm
25
175 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

183 cm
21
177 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nathan Swift!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago de Souza!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Swift shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Swift was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
de Souza is wriggling around trying to escape.

Swift is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Swift swats away the attempt to clinch by de Souza.
de Souza wants to clinch.
Swift avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Swift fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Swift misses with a looping right.

de Souza moves into range and clinches up with Swift.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swift wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but de Souza has him pressed against the ropes.
Swift tries to break free but de Souza pushes him back against the ropes.
Swift is working for takedown but de Souza is calmly controlling the position for now.
de Souza lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Swift working hard to break the clinch.
Swift working hard to break the clinch.
Swift tries to pull guard but de Souza holds him up against the ropes and eventually Swift drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Swift. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swift looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
de Souza lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Swift tries to break the clinch but de Souza is controlling the position.
Swift tries to break free but de Souza pushes him back against the ropes.
Swift is trying to break the clinch but de Souza has him pressed against the ropes.
Swift avoiding damage as de Souza throws knees to the body.
Swift is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. de Souza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A hook to the body from de Souza.
de Souza tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Swift avoids it.
de Souza lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swift or not.
de Souza is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Swift looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
de Souza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, de Souza just misses with a elbow thrown towards Swift's brow.
de Souza tries to land a knee to the head but Swift blocks with his arms.
de Souza pushes Swift back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Swift blocks an uppercut.
de Souza misses with a knee to the head.
de Souza lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
de Souza lands a body shot in the clinch.
Swift takes a knee right on the jaw!
de Souza throws a punch but it's blocked by Swift.
Swift drops to a knee looking for a takedown but de Souza gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Swift is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swift is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. de Souza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
de Souza presses Swift against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
de Souza prevents Swift from breaking the clinch.
Swift tries to circle away but de Souza has him pinned against the ropes.
Swift looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A knee to the head by de Souza.
de Souza lands a shoulder strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by de Souza.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Swift.
Swift blocks an elbow strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Swift.
de Souza lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
de Souza misses with a knee strike.
de Souza lands with a light punch inside.
de Souza throws a punch but it's blocked by Swift.
Swift looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
de Souza lands an elbow just above Swift 's eye.
Knees in the clinch landing for de Souza.

Swift breaks from the clinch.
de Souza wants to clinch.
No joy there for Swift, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

de Souza closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Swift is trying to break the clinch but de Souza has him pressed against the ropes.
Swift blocks a body shot from de Souza.
de Souza swings wildly with an uppercut but Swift uses good head movement to avoid it.

Swift pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
de Souza tries to clinch there but Swift circles away.
de Souza tries to close the distance and clinch but Swift swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
de Souza doesn't manage to clinch there - Swift circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Swift is defended easily by de Souza.
Swift throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around de Souza's waist but de Souza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Swift off to one side.

That's four 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.
Swift keeps the fight on the outside.
de Souza tries to clinch there but Swift circles away.
A combination from Swift does no damage.
Swift throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
de Souza slips under a jab from Swift.
de Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swift misses with a jab, cross combination.
Swift shoots in but de Souza avoids the takedown attempt easily.

de Souza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago de Souza dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

de Souza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Swift throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
de Souza tries to clinch but Swift moves out of range.
Nathan Swift is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swift shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and de Souza moves into the clinch.

Swift pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Swift misses with a double jab.

de Souza has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
de Souza using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Swift is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
de Souza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
de Souza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swift has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A shot in the inside from de Souza.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de Souza scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice right hand lands inside from de Souza.
A left hand lands to the body for de Souza.
de Souza lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Souza with a knee to the head.
de Souza lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Swift.
de Souza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
de Souza makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
de Souza lands a left hand.
de Souza with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
de Souza cracks Swift with a nice body shot.
de Souza lands a body punch in the clinch.
de Souza lands a right hand.
de Souza makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
de Souza lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Swift backwards.
de Souza lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
de Souza lands a damaging elbow.
Swift has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. de Souza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
de Souza unloads a knee to the mid-section. Swift lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
de Souza throws an elbow but it's blocked.
de Souza digs a right hand into Swift's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Swift's gas tank.
de Souza cracks Swift with a nice body shot.
de Souza lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swift or not.
Swift takes a shot to the head.
de Souza lands a hook that snaps the head of Swift backwards.
de Souza looks to throw an elbow but misses.
de Souza lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Swift dodges an elbow strike from de Souza.
Nice body punch from de Souza - that landed with a thud.
A short right from de Souza on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, de Souza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Souza lands with a short shot to the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
de Souza landing knees to the body.
de Souza lands with a left to the head.
Thiago de Souza seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
de Souza lands with a short head shot on the inside.
de Souza throws a head punch that misses.
de Souza lands an elbow just above Swift 's eye.
de Souza lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Swift or not.
Swift working hard to break the clinch.
de Souza tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Swift tries to pull guard but de Souza won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Swift. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swift wants to break free but de Souza has control.
de Souza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Swift tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. de Souza just stands there and leans against the ropes.
de Souza misses with a punch to the body.
de Souza creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Swift avoiding damage as de Souza throws knees to the body.
Swift wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Swift breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Swift throws a left and a right that both miss
and de Souza counters with a flying knee. Nice.

de Souza rushes Swift and presses him up against the ropes.
de Souza lands a body shot in the clinch.
de Souza lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Souza tries a knee to the head but Swift blocks it.
Swift has had enough of the clinch but de Souza keeps him there for the moment.
de Souza goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Swift manages to break the clinch.
Swift misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Swift misses with a body kick.
Swift misses with a shot to the body

and de Souza counters with a takedown into side control.
de Souza is looking to take a break and control but Swift is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Check out the look on de Souza's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
de Souza lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Swift down.
Swift is trying to control de Souza's posture but de Souza avoids it.
Swift is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Souza tries to advance to mount but can't.
Swift sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Swift has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. de Souza is working away from the top position though.
Swift wants to improve his position but de Souza is controlling well.

Swift looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Swift gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and de Souza counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago de Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Swift misses with a double jab
and de Souza counters with a left to the body.
de Souza blocks a jab.
de Souza slips under a jab.
A low kick from Swift is predictable there

and de Souza counters by moving into the clinch.
Swift takes a shot to the head.
Swift blocks a punch to the side of the head.
de Souza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Swift blocks it with crossed arms.
de Souza tries to land a knee to the head but Swift blocks with his arms.
de Souza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Swift takes an elbow to the temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
de Souza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
de Souza lands with a light punch inside.
de Souza keeps control of Swift as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
de Souza throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
de Souza missing with knees to the body.

Swift manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swift with a lazy takedown attempt

and de Souza counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swift is trying to break the clinch but de Souza is controlling him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for de Souza.
de Souza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
de Souza lands with a right to the head.
Swift tries to break free but de Souza pushes him back against the ropes.
Swift wants to break the clinch but can't.
de Souza lands with a light punch inside.
de Souza works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Swift wants to break free but de Souza has control.
de Souza swings wildly with an uppercut but Swift uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, de Souza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Swift is trying to break the clinch but de Souza has him pressed against the ropes.
de Souza lands with a right to the head.
Swift tries to pull guard but de Souza won't allow it.
de Souza lands a hook to the side of the head.
de Souza tries a knee to the head but Swift blocks it.
Swift is looking to break free of the clinch but de Souza has double underhooks.
Swift wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Swift wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
de Souza scores with a knee to the head.
de Souza missing with knees to the body.
de Souza unloads a knee to the mid-section. Swift lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Swift tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Swift. That's going to take a lot out of him.
de Souza lands a nice shot to the body.
de Souza softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Souza lands an uppercut.
de Souza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Swift working hard to break the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, de Souza just misses with a elbow thrown towards Swift's brow.

Swift breaks from the clinch.

de Souza closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
de Souza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Swift's elbow.
de Souza working some nice short punches in the clinch.
de Souza goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
de Souza tries to throw a body punch but Swift avoids it by throwing de Souza back against the cage.

Swift breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Swift fails with the takedown
and de Souza counters with a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - de Souza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swift fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swift tries for a takedown but de Souza circles away easily
and de Souza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Swift thinking.
Nathan Swift seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
de Souza wants to clinch.
A clash of legs there as de Souza blocks the low kick.
de Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Swift paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swift shoots and misses

and de Souza counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
de Souza throws an elbow but it misses.
de Souza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Swift jumps guard but de Souza stands there with Swift around his waist. Swift gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
de Souza lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A nice glancing elbow lands by de Souza.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, de Souza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
de Souza lands a knee to the head.
de Souza lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
A short body shot lands from de Souza as the two fighters clinch.
de Souza stops a takedown attempt from Swift.
de Souza lands an elbow inside.
de Souza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
de Souza scores with a shoulder strike.
de Souza doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Swift goes for a takedown attempt but de Souza pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
de Souza lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nathan Swift has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thiago de Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

de Souza clinches up with Swift and pushes him back against the ropes.
Swift working hard to break the clinch.
de Souza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Swift looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Thiago de Souza!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Thiago de Souza!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Thiago de Souza!

Thiago de Souza wins by unanimous decision!