PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Rzaner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rzaner comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Notorious B.I.G Vs. Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Biggie Love kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Shane Rzaner told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Souza
vs
Rzaner

188 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shane Rzaner!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza moves in looking to clinch but Rzaner pushes him off.

Rzaner shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rzaner showed some decent athleticism there.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Souza tries to roll over but Rzaner keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rzaner is pressing down on Souza's thigh, looking to free his foot. Souza is holding on for now.
Rzaner is thwarting Souza's attempts to control the position.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Rzaner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza is pressing down on Rzaner's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Rzaner from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rzaner looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rzaner trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza keeping full guard, as Rzaner tries to pass.
Rzaner content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shane Rzaner.

Rzaner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Souza did well to prevent Rzaner getting side control.
Rzaner wants to take a breather but Souza is having none of it.
Souza is looking to improve his position.
Rzaner takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Souza is looking to improve his position.
Rzaner trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to control but Rzaner is keeping busy.
Rzaner prevents Souza from improving his position.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Rzaner slows the pace down in half guard.
Souza tries to kick Rzaner off but Rzaner keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rzaner slows the pace down in half guard.
Rzaner working Souza over with strikes.

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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rzaner in particular looking to stall.
I looks like Rzaner might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Souza trying to control here.
Rzaner not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shane Rzaner.
Souza works over Rzaner's head and body with a nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Rzaner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rzaner connects with a crisp jab.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rzaner counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rzaner.
Rzaner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rzaner wants to stand but Souza is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rzaner wants to pass the guard but Souza is keeping the position.

Souza is working an open guard so Rzaner takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rzaner feints and as Souza raises his hands in defense, Rzaner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rzaner wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
Souza trying to control the position.
Rzaner seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Souza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rzaner sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two 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.
Souza trying to control the position.
Rzaner landing with the ground and pound.
Souza being controlled here, momentarily.
Souza is trying to control the position but Rzaner postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rzaner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shane Rzaner.
Rzaner lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Rzaner looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Souza!
Rzaner looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Rzaner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rzaner shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Souza's guard.
Rzaner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shane Rzaner.
Rzaner takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Rzaner rushes Souza and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rzaner manages to pull guard.
Souza wanted to stand there but Rzaner had control of the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rzaner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rzaner pulls Souza in close to his closed guard and prevents Souza from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rzaner is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Rzaner keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza won't allow Rzaner to get back to his feet.
Rzaner tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rzaner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Souza defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Souza shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rzaner manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza lands a couple of elbows.
Rzaner is adopting a defensive guard.
Souza wanted to stand there but Rzaner had control of the position.

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.

Rzaner kicks Souza off and gets to his feet.
Souza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rzaner counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Shane Rzaner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rzaner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Rzaner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rzaner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Rzaner!