PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago de Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Gilstrap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). de Souza's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dry County. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

de Souza
vs
Gilstrap

183 cm
23
177 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

185 cm
20
180 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

FULL METAL GEAR

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago de Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chris Gilstrap!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
de Souza tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gilstrap is able to avoid easily.

Gilstrap 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

de Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gilstrap gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
de Souza is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
de Souza throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
de Souza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
de Souza passes to full mount!
Gilstrap is trying desperately to improve position.
de Souza landing shots from mount.
de Souza throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
de Souza lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gilstrap hang on?
de Souza thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
de Souza thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
de Souza scoring with strikes but Gilstrap is staying in there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilstrap is working to get back to half guard.
de Souza works his way to his opponent's back.
Gilstrap rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
de Souza wants to pass to mount but Gilstrap is defending the position.
de Souza is working hard here to advance position.
de Souza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilstrap defending well though.

Gilstrap actively working from the bottom here.
Gilstrap trying to hold on to de Souza's head to control him but de Souza postures up.

de Souza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gilstrap defends it well.

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.
Gilstrap is trying to maintain the position but de Souza is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
de Souza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilstrap defending well though.
Gilstrap trying to control but de Souza postures up.
de Souza scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
de Souza frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gilstrap takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
de Souza seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Gilstrap is holding on tight.
Gilstrap working to try and regain half guard.
de Souza is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gilstrap can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gilstrap holds on to de Souza around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Souza throws some wild stikes that Gilstrap manages to avoid easily.
Gilstrap is looking to get to half guard.
Gilstrap wants to hold on but de Souza pushes him away.
de Souza punishing his opponent with strikes.
Gilstrap is bucking up trying to escape but de Souza cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Gilstrap is rocked!
Gilstrap is looking to get to half guard.
Gilstrap is still in real trouble! Can de Souza finish him?
Oooooh, big shot lands for de Souza! Gilstrap is hurt baaadly! de Souza is firing away with more strikes - Gilstrap is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thiago de Souza!