PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murilo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Bigwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Bigwood is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Souza
vs
Bigwood

178 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Murilo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Bigwood!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bigwood pinned against the cage. Bigwood gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Bigwood shows good takedown defense.
Bigwood throws a right and a left that Souza avoids nicely.
Souza is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bigwood sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murilo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bigwood lands a glancing blow to the side of Souza's head.
Bigwood misses with a few strikes there.
Souza avoids the head kick by Bigwood.
Souza fails to land the takedown.
Bigwood lands a two punch combo.
Souza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bigwood's waist but Bigwood gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Souza off to one side.
Bigwood scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Souza doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Bigwood both land. Nice combination.
Murilo Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souza is defended easily by Bigwood.
Bigwood slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Bigwood has managed to clinch.
Souza wants a takedown.
Souza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Souza as Bigwood tries to tie him up.
Bigwood looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bigwood prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bigwood is pressed up against the cage. Souza has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bigwood down to the mat. Bigwood avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Souza shoots in for a double leg but Bigwood sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Bigwood moves into the clinch.
Bigwood prevents a takedown attempt there.

Bigwood breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bigwood moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Bigwood shows good takedown defense.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Bigwood lands a jab to the nose.
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown. Bigwood tries to sprawl out of it but Souza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bigwood manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bigwood throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Souza.
Bigwood throws a right and a left that both miss.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bigwood sprawls well. Bigwood wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bigwood, right into the meat.
Bigwood scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Souza doesn't seem bothered though.
Souza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bigwood defends it nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bigwood.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza avoids a kick to the body.
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown. Bigwood tries to sprawl out of it but Souza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bigwood manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bigwood misses with a leg kick.
Souza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bigwood can pounce on him.
Horrible takedown by Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Bigwood which made him look bad.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Bigwood shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right-left combo lands from Bigwood.
Mark Bigwood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Bigwood dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bigwood is looking to clinch but Souza is avoiding it.
Souza fails with the takedown.
Souza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bigwood tries to avoid it but Souza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bigwood to the ground. Bigwood escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bigwood lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bigwood.
Souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Murilo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bigwood pushes Souza up against the cage in a clinch.
Souza tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bigwood avoiding damage.
Bigwood has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Souza has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bigwood uses from the top position.

Souza is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bigwood is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bigwood wants to stand but Souza is controlling his posture from full guard.

Bigwood throws a sloppy strike and Souza has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Bigwood is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Souza!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Murilo Souza!