PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Morozevich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souza has chosen Mv Bill - Marginal Menestrel as his entrance music. Ronaldo Souza has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Morozevich
vs
Souza

180 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

183 cm
18
188 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Proof Supplements

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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Morozevich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronaldo Souza!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Morozevich swivels and escapes.
Morozevich throws a body punch but Souza moves out of range.
Souza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morozevich but Morozevich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Morozevich looks to score with a jab to the body but Souza is just out of range.
Morozevich misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Morozevich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Souza has his takedown stuffed
and Morozevich counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Souza thinking.
Alexander Morozevich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.
Souza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Morozevich counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Souza with a poor takedown

and Morozevich counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Morozevich is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Souza is trying to stand up here but Morozevich is controlling him well.
Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Souza looks gassed!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Souza closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Morozevich controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Morozevich trying to hold on to Souza's head to control him but Souza postures up.

Souza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Morozevich is just riding it out for now. Souza eventually gives up the hold.
Morozevich has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Souza is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morozevich is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Souza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Morozevich is looking to control Souza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morozevich avoid being mounted?
Morozevich manages to get to full guard.
Morozevich lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Souza!
Morozevich lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Morozevich.
Morozevich working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Morozevich looking to control but Souza is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is trying to escape the mount.
Souza in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Souza wants to control but Morozevich is having none of it.
Morozevich controlling the pace for now.
Morozevich tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
Morozevich looking to finish Souza with some ground and pound. This is bad for Souza!
Morozevich landing shots from mount.
Morozevich lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Souza hang on?
Morozevich lands a heavy elbow.
Morozevich breaks from Souza's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Morozevich content just to control the position here.
Souza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morozevich controlling from the full mount.
Morozevich tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
Morozevich prevents Souza from getting the reversal.
Morozevich working Souza over with strikes here.
Souza is working to get back to half guard.
Morozevich lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morozevich sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Morozevich trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Morozevich dominated that round.
That's time! Morozevich's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morozevich jabs at Souza's body.
Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Morozevich.
Souza tries for a takedown but Morozevich circles away easily

and Morozevich counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Morozevich wants to take a breather but Souza is having none of it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexander Morozevich just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morozevich counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Souza thinking.

Souza scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Souza is looking for a kimura here.
Morozevich trying to control from the bottom.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Morozevich tries to get to full guard but Souza has control of the leg.
Morozevich keeping hold of Souza's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morozevich is in trouble now - Souza has advanced to mount!
Morozevich is in all sorts of trouble here.
Morozevich is working hard here to advance position.
Morozevich wants to control but Souza is having none of it.
Morozevich throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Morozevich is working to get back to half guard.

Souza moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Morozevich has worked his arm free - good work by Morozevich!
Morozevich throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Morozevich is looking for a sweep.

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.
Morozevich is trying to control Souza's posture but Souza avoids it.
Morozevich manages to get back to half guard.
Morozevich tries to get to full guard but Souza has control of the leg.

Souza is looking for a kimura here.
Morozevich gets back to full guard.
Morozevich keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.

Souza drops back looking for a leg! Morozevich is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Morozevich manages to kick Souza off! Souza jumps back into Morozevich's guard.
Souza passes Morozevich's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Morozevich doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Souza.
Morozevich is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Souza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Morozevich doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Souza.
Souza is thwarting Morozevich's attempts to control the position.

Souza wants to work for an arm triangle but Morozevich is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Souza decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Morozevich changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Souza looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Souza looking for a sweep but Morozevich has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Morozevich lands a nice shot to the head.
Morozevich can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Souza is looking to escape.
Souza is working to get back to half guard.
Morozevich lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Souza hang on?
Morozevich prevents Souza from getting the reversal.
Souza regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Morozevich dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Morozevich ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Souza takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Souza with a poor takedown
and Morozevich counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Morozevich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Souza manages to avoid it.

Souza clinches.

Souza ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Souza no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Morozevich is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Morozevich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Souza is looking for a triangle but Morozevich pushes his legs off easily.

Morozevich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Souza is looking for a triangle but Morozevich pushes his legs off easily.
Morozevich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Morozevich trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morozevich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morozevich chips away with some ground and pound.

Souza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Souza working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Morozevich has passed into half guard!
Souza blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morozevich.
Souza is trying to control but can't.
Souza moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morozevich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Morozevich trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Souza manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morozevich trying to strike off his back.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Morozevich is keeping the position for now.
Morozevich manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Souza manages to get himself to full guard.
Morozevich trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Morozevich looking to pass the guard.

Souza has his foot on Morozevich's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Morozevich works his way back into a safe position though.
Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Morozevich's guard.

Souza has gone for a leg lock! Morozevich slips out almost immediately though and dives into Souza's guard.

Souza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Morozevich doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Morozevich manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Morozevich makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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

Souza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Souza has his foot on Morozevich's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Morozevich works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morozevich not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Souza working for submissions but it's allowed Morozevich to get to half guard.
Alexander Morozevich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.
Ronaldo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Morozevich is taking a breather. Souza says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Morozevich trying to control from half guard but Souza is working away.
Morozevich scoring with strikes to the body and head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldo Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morozevich has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Morozevich!