PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thug Red (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vagner Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vagner Souza struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Red
vs
Souza

175 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thug Red!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vagner Souza!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Souza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Red counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Red has hold of one of Souza's legs. Souza is fighting the takedown attempt but Red gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Red trying to stand up but can't free himself from Souza's guard.

Souza working for a triangle but Red defends it easily.
Red might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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

Red stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza tries for a takedown but Red circles away easily

and Red counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Red tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Red is breathing heavily.

Red is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Souza is just riding it out for now. Red eventually gives up the hold.
Souza trying to control here.
Red stops Souza from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza regains full guard. Nicely done.
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.
Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Souza manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Souza trying to control but Red is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Red because Souza loaded up on that one.
Souza sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Souza trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Red tries to buck Souza off but he can't manage it.

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.

Souza is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Red is surviving well by controlling Souza's body position as best he can.

Souza working for a guillotine from mount but Red is in no mood to give up.
Souza tries to control but Red wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vagner Souza will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for Souza with that takedown attempt.
Souza has his takedown stuffed

and Red counters with a takedown into side control.
Souza is looking to regain half guard here but Red keeps moving and retains side control.

Red decides to stand back up.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Red counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thug Red has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vagner Souza.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Red wants to work for an arm triangle but Souza is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza is trying to maintain the position but Red is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Red is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Red knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Souza on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Souza manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Red won't allow Souza to get back to his feet.
Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Souza wants to get back to his feet but Red is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Red decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Souza shoots and misses

and Red counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Red.
Red content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Red keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Souza's efforts to push away.
Souza wants to get back to striking at distance but Red won't allow it.
Souza fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Red gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Souza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Red pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Souza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Red holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Souza has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Red avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Souza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Red just stands there and leans against the cage.

Red is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Souza can't fight it off and eventually Red manages to take the fight to the floor. Souza looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Red would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Red postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Red stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Red circles away from the clinch attempt.

Red closes the distance and clinches.
Souza is trying to break the clinch but Red has him pressed against the cage.
Souza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Souza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Souza has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Red avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thug Red dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Red counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Red decides to return to a standing position.
Souza fails with the takedown

and Red counters with a shoot takedown. Souza fights it but they end up in guard.
Red content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Red throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Red gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Red has taken the fight to the clinch.
Souza wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Red prevents the takedown attempt.
Thug Red has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vagner Souza.

Red has clasped his hands together around Souza's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Souza regains half guard.

Red is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Souza is just riding it out for now. Red eventually gives up the hold.
Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Red stops Souza from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Red decides to stand up.

Red 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.
Souza throws an elbow that misses.
Souza is trying to drag Red to the mat but Red just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Red breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt

and Red counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Souza's guard now.
Souza throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Red is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Souza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Red trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Red makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Red keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Souza's head.

Souza is working an open guard so Red takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Souza looking for a takedown.

Red pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Souza with a poor takedown

and Red counters with a single leg into guard. Souza didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza has a closed guard, preventing Red from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Red scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thug Red showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Red has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thug Red!