PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sousa comes to the cage accompanied by Ratamahatta. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sousa
vs
James

172 cm
26
167 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Sousa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Justin James!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Sousa catches James right on the button with a cross.
James lands a jab to Sousa's midsection.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sousa with a poor takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
James prevents Sousa from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
James prevents Sousa from standing back up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with James in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Justin James wasn't active enough on the ground.
James throws a head kick that misses

and Sousa counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
James trying to control the position.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
James is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sousa trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Sousa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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.
Sousa postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Sousa which made him look bad.
Sousa darts in trying to clinch

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sousa won't be happy with that.
James controlling the position.
Sousa is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is working hard here to advance position.
Sousa is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
Sousa is trying to get back to his feet.
Sousa is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
James trying to control the position but Sousa is working away.
James lands a nice forearm strike.
Sousa is looking for a sweep.
James is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sousa's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sousa is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
James trying to control the position but Sousa is working away.
James takes a little break here. Sousa wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sousa doesn't succeed with the takedown

so James counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
James trying to move into half guard but instead Sousa has managed to sweep!
Sousa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
James prevents Sousa from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sousa being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin James dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James shoots in for a double leg but Sousa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sousa's guard.
James sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sousa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
James is stalling in the full guard.
Sousa trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James won't allow Sousa to get back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sousa blocks a head kick by James.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sousa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Sousa on that attempt.

James scores a takedown into full mount!
Sousa throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sousa is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James controlling from the full mount.
Sousa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to take his opponent's back but Sousa doesn't allow it.
James tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
James fails to advance to Sousa's back.
Sousa tries to hold on but James postures up.
James thowing shots but they're missing.
James looking to control but Sousa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James controlling from the full mount.

That's four 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.
Let's hope that James has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sousa is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Justin James hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sousa has his takedown stuffed

and James decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sousa's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin James 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

James misses the body punch
and Sousa counters with a series of strikes. James will be more careful next time no doubt.
A head kick by James misses

and Sousa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for James. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
James controls Sousa momentarily but Sousa frees himself.
James seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Justin James was stalling too much, according to the referee.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sousa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa with a poor takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sousa won't be happy with that.
Sousa is pushing James's head away, looking to escape. James manages to hold on to the position though.
James taking a breather here.
James's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sousa is not content to let James control the position.
Thiago Sousa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James working away.
James trying to control the position but Sousa is working away.

Justin James has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
James fails to land the takedown.
Sousa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sousa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thiago Sousa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin James.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sousa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James misses with a takedown
and Sousa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sousa.
Thiago Sousa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sousa fails with the takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Justin James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James trying to control but Sousa is working from the bottom.
James passes Sousa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Justin James has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sousa looks like he's trying to stand up.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sousa trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.
James content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Justin James.
I've got James 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin James!