PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose De Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cesar Jovani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jovani comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ecstasy of Gold kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jose De Souza could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Cesar Jovani's chin.

De Souza
vs
Jovani

169 cm
26
157 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose De Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Cesar Jovani!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Souza avoids the head kick by Jovani.

De Souza scores with a takedown into Jovani's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jovani is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst De Souza is controlling him.

De Souza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jovani keeping moving, preventing De Souza from controlling successfully.
Jovani wants to stand and escape but De Souza is having none of it.
De Souza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jovani is trying to control the position but De Souza postures up.
De Souza wants to control from the top but Jovani keeps moving.
Jovani wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jose De Souza wasn't doing enough on the ground.
De Souza blocks a head kick by Jovani.
De Souza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jovani's waist but Jovani gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing De Souza off to one side.

Excellent takedown into side control there by De Souza.
Jovani tries to improve position but can't.
Jovani is looking to work his way out of this bad position but De Souza is controlling him well.

De Souza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jovani has escaped the position, nice work there.
De Souza working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Jovani is trying to improve his position.
Jovani is pushing De Souza's head away, looking to escape. De Souza manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Souza looks up at the clock and then as Jovani takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, De Souza smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

De Souza goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Jovani has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for De Souza but great work by Jovani.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jovani advances to full mount.
Jovani can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as De Souza is looking to escape.

Jovani is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Jovani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jovani scores with a kick to the midsection.

De Souza scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Souza prevents Jovani from standing back up.

De Souza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jovani doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time De Souza.
Still in half guard, De Souza seems content to control.
De Souza prevents Jovani from standing back up.
Jovani is staying active underneath De Souza, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jovani wants to control but De Souza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jovani is looking for a sweep. De Souza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
De Souza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jovani keeping hold of De Souza's head, controlling as best he can.

Jovani manages to escape and get back to his feet!
De Souza walks forward, straight into a front kick from Jovani.
Jovani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jovani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jovani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jovani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters circling a little - Jovani finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Jovani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cesar Jovani dominated that round.
That's time! De Souza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jovani throws a head kick that misses

and De Souza counters with a single leg into guard. Jovani didn't expect that.

Jovani looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
De Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
De Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Jovani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Souza stops Jovani from standing up.
Jovani is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jovani is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

De Souza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jovani keeping moving, preventing De Souza from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Souza throwing strikes but missing.
Jovani wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and De Souza manages to pass to side control.
Jovani wants to get back to his feet.

De Souza is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
De Souza prevents Jovani from standing back up.
De Souza is trying to control the action in half guard but Jovani is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Souza stops Jovani from getting back to his feet.
De Souza is trying to control. Jovani wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
De Souza throws a strike but Jovani avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Jovani keeping full guard, as De Souza tries to pass.
Jovani is looking to stand up but De Souza isn't so interested in that idea.
Jovani is breathing heavily.
Jovani looking to hit a scissor sweep but De Souza is one step ahead there.
De Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Jovani is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jovani keeping moving, preventing De Souza from controlling successfully.
De Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Jovani is retaining full guard.
De Souza forces his way into half guard.

De Souza looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
De Souza is just content to waste time from the top position. Jovani takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jovani wants to get back to his feet but De Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
De Souza trying to move into half guard but instead Jovani has managed to sweep!
De Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jovani pushes down on De Souza's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jovani is looking to advance position but De Souza won't allow it.
De Souza is refusing to be controlled, as Jovani sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like Jovani is going to stand back up.
Jovani works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jose De Souza will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jovani lands with a kick to the temple. De Souza shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Jose De Souza has been cut.
Jovani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

A big head kick from Jovani and De Souza is sent sprawling to the canvas!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jovani avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jovani trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jovani trying to control but De Souza is working from the bottom.
Jovani looking to pass the guard.

Jovani stands and steps away. De Souza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jovani throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cesar Jovani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jovani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jovani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Jovani.
Jovani stuffs the takedown attempt from De Souza. De Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
Jovani throws a good cross that connects.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Jovani, as that shot connected.
Jovani throws a head kick that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Jovani.
Jovani is looking to slow De Souza down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

De Souza closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - De Souza lands in his opponent's guard.
Jovani is trying to control the position but De Souza postures up.
Jovani wants to get back to his feet but De Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jovani wants to sweep but no luck.
Jovani keeping full guard, as De Souza tries to pass.
Jovani is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst De Souza is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jovani wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and De Souza manages to pass to side control.
De Souza wants to take a breather but Jovani is having none of it.
De Souza trying to control from Jovani's half guard. Jovani has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Jovani is looking to stand up but De Souza isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as De Souza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jovani 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 tries to free his leg and advance position but Jovani is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Souza postures up and lands a big shot to Jovani's brow.
Jovani keeping full guard, as De Souza tries to pass.

Jovani manages to escape and get back to his feet.
De Souza blocks a head kick by Jovani.
Jovani throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Jovani throws a sloppy head kick and De Souza moves out of range easily.
Jovani lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
De Souza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jovani circles away.
Jovani lands a glancing blow to the side of De Souza's head.
Jose De Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jovani connects with a right hand. De Souza shakes it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cesar Jovani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jovani has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cesar Jovani!