PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Rickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sousa comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Spiel Mitch Mir kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rickson
vs
Sousa

168 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Rickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Sousa!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sousa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sousa stuffs the takedown.
Rickson slips a jab and a cross from Sousa.
Rickson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sousa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Rickson clinches with his opponent.
Rickson keeps control of Sousa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sousa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rickson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sousa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sousa can't break the clinch.
Rickson tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Rickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sousa is pressed up against the cage. Rickson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sousa down to the mat. Sousa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thiago Sousa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sousa throws a head kick that Rickson semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rickson.
Sousa lands a front kick.
Rickson is breathing heavily.
Rickson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sousa throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sousa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sousa throws a right and a left that Rickson avoids nicely.

Rickson has Sousa up against the cage in a clinch.
Sousa is trying to break the clinch but Rickson has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rickson has Sousa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sousa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sousa wants to break free but Rickson has control.
Sousa is looking to break free of the clinch but Rickson has double underhooks.
Sousa is trying to break free.
Rickson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sousa has had enough of the clinch but Rickson keeps him there for the moment.
Sousa is trying to break the clinch but Rickson has him pressed against the cage.
Rickson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sousa's efforts to push away.
Sousa is trying to break the clinch but Rickson is controlling him.
Sousa stops a takedown attempt from Rickson.
Sousa tries to break the clinch but Rickson is controlling the position.
Rickson leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rickson seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Sousa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rickson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rickson prevents Sousa from breaking the clinch.
Sousa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rickson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sousa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sousa wants to get back to striking at distance but Rickson won't allow it.
Sousa wants to get back to striking at distance but Rickson won't allow it.
Sousa is trying to break the clinch but Rickson is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sousa can't break the clinch.

Rickson wants the takedown. Sousa is fighting it off but Rickson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sousa's guard against the cage.
Rickson thows a big elbow that misses.
Sousa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rickson wants to control from the top but Sousa keeps moving.
Sousa wants to stand up but Rickson is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rickson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rickson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Rickson drops back looking for a leg! Sousa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sousa manages to kick Rickson off! Rickson jumps back into Sousa's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sousa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sousa throws a series of punches but Rickson avoids them all with ease.
Sousa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rickson's head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rickson.
Sousa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rickson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rickson tries to clinch but Sousa moves out of range.
Rickson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sousa throws a head kick but Rickson moves out of range.
Rickson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sousa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rickson somewhat.

Rickson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sousa's half guard.
Sousa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sousa is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is breathing heavily.

Rickson seems to be working for a kimura but Sousa defends the submission attempt.
Sousa is trying to stand.

Rickson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sousa has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rickson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Rickson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rickson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rickson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sousa lands a front kick.
Sousa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sousa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sousa throws a right and a left that Rickson avoids nicely.
Sousa tries a head kick but it misses.
Rickson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rickson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sousa.
Sousa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rickson circles away quickly and effectively.
Sousa throws a series of punches but Rickson moves out of range.
Rickson wants to clinch.
Sousa scores with a head kick.
Sousa scores with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sousa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rickson avoids the head kick by Sousa.

Rickson scores with a takedown into Sousa's guard.
Rickson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rickson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rickson lands a couple of elbows.
Sousa keeping full guard, as Rickson tries to pass.

Rickson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sousa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rickson has Sousa in his guard.
Sousa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sousa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rickson's guard.
Sousa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rickson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sousa uses it to pass to side control.
Rickson controls the position for a moment.
Sousa tries to stand but Rickson is controlling his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rickson tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Rickson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sousa tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rickson tries to buck Sousa off but Sousa is having none of it.
Kevin Rickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rickson looks to move to half guard but instead Sousa has passed into mount! Damn!
Sousa wants to stand but Rickson is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Rickson tries to hold on but Sousa postures up.
Rickson can't escape the position.
Sousa looking to control but Rickson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rickson is trying to escape the mount.

That's four 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.
Sousa wants to control the pace but Rickson is squirming around nicely.
Sousa is looking to stand but Sousa has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Rickson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rickson is squirming around, avoiding Sousa's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Rickson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sousa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Sousa!