PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RaFa Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo comes to the cage accompanied by Lil Jon "Snap Yo Fingers" ft Sean Paul & E-40. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Aldo
vs
Souza

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, RaFa Souza!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aldo shoots in and drives through. Souza sprawls well.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo thows a body kick. Souza tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Aldo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Souza's waist but Souza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aldo off to one side.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.

Souza feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Aldo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Souza wants to pass the guard but Aldo is keeping the position.
Souza has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aldo is proving hard to escape from.
Souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Aldo wants to stand up but Souza is controlling him.
Aldo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aldo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Aldo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Souza swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to de liver by Souza. Beautiful body shot.
Souza explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Aldo leaves Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Souza wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Souza shoots in and bounces Aldo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Souza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Souza keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aldo's head.
Souza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souza drops back looking for a leg! Aldo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Aldo manages to kick Souza off! Souza jumps back into Aldo's guard.
Souza controlling from the top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Aldo wants to get back to his feet but Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Souza scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza moves into the clinch.

Souza breaks from the clinch.
Souza blocks a head kick by Aldo.
Souza throws a leg kick which misses Aldo's front leg but catches the back leg as Aldo tries to avoid it.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Aldo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souza is defended easily by Aldo.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Aldo.

Souza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aldo, pushing him back against the cage.

Souza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Souza lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a head kick.
Aldo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Aldo misses with a head kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Souza. That snapped Aldo's head back.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Aldo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Aldo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Souza has managed to clinch.
Aldo prevents the takedown attempt.
Aldo tries to break the clinch but Souza is controlling the position.
Aldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Souza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Aldo looking for a takedown.
Souza leaning his opponent against the cage.
Souza keeps control of Aldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aldo is trying to break the clinch but Souza is controlling him.

Souza manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RaFa Souza 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 displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aldo.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Souza prevents Aldo from breaking the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.

Souza clinches up with Aldo and pushes him back against the cage.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aldo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aldo wants it to stay on the feet.
Souza blocks a head kick by Aldo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Souza.

Souza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Aldo was covering up waiting for the punch and Souza finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aldo wants to stand and escape but Souza is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Aldo wants to stand up but Souza is controlling him.
Souza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Aldo is looking to stand up but Souza isn't so interested in that idea.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Souza. No joy for Aldo on that attempt.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jose Aldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RaFa Souza.
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Souza finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Souza closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Aldo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Souza.
Aldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Souza has him pressed against the cage.
Aldo is looking to break free of the clinch but Souza has double underhooks.
Aldo tries to circle away but Souza has him pinned against the cage.
Souza lands a right hand that snaps the head of Aldo backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Aldo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Aldo being controlled against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is stalling here.
Aldo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aldo throws a head kick but Souza moves out of range.
Aldo throws a head kick but Souza moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souza.
Nice takedown defense from Aldo. No joy for Souza on that attempt.
Souza throws a right and a left that Aldo avoids nicely.
Souza throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Aldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Souza blocks a head kick by Aldo.
Aldo lands a head kick. Souza smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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.
Souza slaps away a takedown attempt from Aldo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Aldo lands with a slapping head kick.

Souza closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Aldo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Souza is controlling him well.
Souza tries to advance to mount but Aldo denies him.
Souza working away.
Souza moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Aldo is pushing Souza's head away, looking to escape. Souza manages to hold on to the position though.
Souza trying to control the position but Aldo is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

RaFa Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Aldo fails with the takedown

and Souza counters by moving into the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses.
Souza stalks Aldo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Aldo's face. Aldo staggers backwards, shaken.
Souza lands a head kick. Aldo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Souza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aldo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Souza makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Aldo really felt that one!
Aldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses

and Souza counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aldo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Souza landing knees to the head.
Souza prevents Aldo from breaking the clinch.
Aldo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Souza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Aldo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza has Aldo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Aldo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Souza unloads a knee to the mid-section. Aldo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza gets control of Aldo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Souza will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Souza has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aldo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aldo wants to stand but Souza has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Souza. Aldo shrugs it off though.
Jose Aldo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Souza moves into the clinch.

Souza jumps guard and drags Aldo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Aldo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Souza's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aldo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aldo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Aldo stopping the sweep attempt from Souza.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Souza can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aldo wants to stand but Souza is controlling his posture from full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Aldo throws a sloppy head kick

and Souza moves into the clinch.

Souza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Aldo sprawls well. He's pushed Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Souza has taken the fight to the clinch.
Souza tries for a takedown but Aldo manages to get underhooks.
Aldo working hard to break the clinch.

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.

Souza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aldo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Aldo.
Souza blocks a head kick by Aldo.
Aldo throws the kick towards the body but Souza avoids it.
Souza fails to land with a series of punches.
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch but Aldo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aldo misses with a takedown attempt
and Souza counters with a three punch combo that has Aldo backing up. Aldo nods at Souza to acknowledge the strikes.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Aldo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Aldo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Souza has Aldo up against the cage in a clinch.
Aldo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Souza smiles and moves away.
Jose Aldo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
RaFa Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Souza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aldo but Aldo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
RaFa Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... RaFa Souza!