PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josef Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Desouza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Manuel
vs
Desouza

165 cm
24
140 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josef Manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Desouza!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel thows a leg kick but Desouza checks it
and Desouza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Josef Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Desouza moves out of range as Manuel strikes.
Desouza has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Desouza there as he acknowledges the shot.
Manuel misses with the body kick
and Desouza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Desouza 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.

Manuel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Manuel has a closed guard, preventing Desouza from standing up.

Desouza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Desouza is looking to work some ground and pound but Manuel has wrist control.

Desouza drops back looking for a leg! Manuel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Manuel manages to kick Desouza off! Desouza jumps back into Manuel's guard.

Manuel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Desouza is aware though and is defending well.
Manuel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Desouza.

Desouza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manuel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Desouza has managed to get both his arms back between Manuel's legs - danger averted.

Manuel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desouza throwing strikes but missing.
Desouza cracks Manuel with a solid left hand.

Desouza is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Desouza pushing down on Manuel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Manuel is not content to let Desouza control the position.
Desouza works his way into full mount!
Desouza working Manuel over with strikes here.
Manuel is in a horrible position here. Desouza smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Manuel sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Desouza is trying to control the action in half guard but Manuel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manuel looking for submissions off his back.

Desouza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Manuel is just riding it out for now. Desouza eventually gives up the hold.
Manuel works his way to full guard. Good work.

Manuel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Desouza defends it easily.
Manuel is breathing heavily.
Desouza makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Desouza trying to control but Manuel is working from the bottom.
Desouza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manuel wants to sweep but no luck.
Desouza trying to control but Manuel is working from the bottom.

Desouza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel misses with a right hand
and Desouza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Manuel throws a lazy uppercut
and Desouza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Manuel's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Desouza connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Manuel scrambles back to his feet.
Desouza lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Manuel moves forwards but Desouza connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Desouza looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Manuel throws a sloppy head kick
and Desouza counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Manuel misses with a lunging right hand
and Desouza counters with a nice uppercut.
Desouza jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Desouza misses with a two punch combination.
Desouza lands with a nice body punch.
Josef Manuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manuel on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Desouza lands with a right hand.
Desouza is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Manuel had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Desouza lands a nice shot to the body.
Desouza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manuel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Desouza dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Manuel throws a right hand that misses

and Desouza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Desouza gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Manuel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Desouza works his way into side control.
Desouza moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Desouza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Desouza cracks Manuel with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Desouza trying to control the action but Manuel is working from the bottom.
Manuel gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Desouza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A punch lands to the side of Manuel 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Manuel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Desouza counters with a nice body kick.
Desouza lunges at Manuel with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Manuel's hand.
Manuel throws a combination that misses
enabling Desouza to counter with a crisp jab.
Manuel thows a leg kick but Desouza checks it

and Desouza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Desouza.
Manuel fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Desouza is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Manuel can't fight it off and eventually Desouza manages to take the fight to the floor. Manuel looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dan Desouza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Desouza is pushing down on Manuel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Manuel is fighting to maintain full guard but Desouza has managed to sneak the leg through.
Desouza takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Manuel is defending against the submission attempts here by Desouza.

Manuel looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Desouza seems to be working for a kimura but Manuel defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Desouza seems to be working for a kimura but Manuel defends the submission attempt.

Manuel has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Desouza escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Desouza!

Desouza is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manuel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Desouza lands some shots froms side control.

Desouza is trying to get an arm triangle but Manuel is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Desouza thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Desouza trying to control the action but Manuel is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manuel is looking for a sweep.
Manuel tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Desouza presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Desouza is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Manuel has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Manuel is looking to get to half guard.
Desouza unloading with bombs!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Manuel is trying desperately to improve position.

Desouza is working for a guillotine from mount but Manuel frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Desouza.
Desouza is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Manuel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Desouza cracks Manuel with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Manuel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Desouza working Manuel over with strikes here.
Desouza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Desouza has hold of Manuel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Manuel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Manuel is looking to improve his position but Desouza isn't that keen on the idea.
Desouza tries to control but Manuel wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Desouza raining down shots from the mount!
Manuel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Manuel is working hard here to advance position.
Desouza unloading with bombs!
Manuel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Desouza jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Manuel manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Desouza stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Desouza shoots in and gets a takedown into Manuel's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Desouza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Manuel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Desouza decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Manuel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Desouza pulls his head out easily.

Desouza stands up from half guard.
Manuel throws an off balance right hand

and Desouza moves into the clinch.

Desouza has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Manuel regains guard immediately.
Manuel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Manuel looking for a guillotine here but Desouza defends easily.
Desouza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manuel is keeping the position for now.
Desouza slips nicely into half guard.

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

Desouza seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desouza wants to pass the guard but Manuel is defending well.
Desouza wants to take a breather but Manuel is having none of it.
Manuel tries to get to full guard but Desouza has control of the leg.

Desouza is working for a submission of some sort.

Manuel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Desouza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Manuel sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Desouza is looking for a kimura but Manuel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Desouza to get the leverage.
Desouza prevents Manuel from improving his position.

Manuel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Desouza pulls his head out easily.

Desouza is working for a submission of some sort.
Manuel wants to get back to full guard.

Desouza is working for a kimura but Manuel is defending it quite comfortably.

Desouza stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Josef Manuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel scores with a punch to the head.
Manuel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Manuel.
Desouza bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Manuel throws a low kick but Desouza avoids it.
Desouza scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Manuel scores with a push kick.
Desouza blocks a head kick by Manuel.

Desouza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Desouza looking to control but Manuel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Desouza working Manuel over with strikes here.

Desouza has control of Manuel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Manuel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Desouza throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Manuel because Desouza loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is in all sorts of trouble here.
Manuel slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Desouza is nestled in close to Manuel, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Desouza missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Desouza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manuel keeps working.
Dan Desouza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Desouza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Manuel defends it well.
Desouza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manuel defending well though.

Desouza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Manuel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Desouza.
Manuel tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Desouza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Desouza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Desouza!