PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Flaubert Canto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sousa is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ratamahatta. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Canto
vs
Sousa

170 cm
28
165 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

172 cm
28
167 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flaubert Canto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Sousa!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sousa connects with a leg kick. Canto looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Canto gets a clinch.
Sousa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Canto fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A big right from Sousa misses.
Canto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Canto looks for a takedown but Sousa sprawls well.
Canto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sousa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Canto somewhat.
Sousa cracks Canto with a good jab.
Canto tries for a takedown but Sousa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flaubert Canto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sousa catches Canto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Flaubert Canto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Canto looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Sousa.
Canto with a poor takedown
and Sousa counters with an outside leg kick.
Sousa lands a two punch combo.
Canto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Canto scores with a takedown into Sousa's guard.
Canto trying to control but Sousa is working from the bottom.
Sousa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sousa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sousa looking for a sweep. Not yet Sousa, not yet.
Canto controlling from the top position.
Canto seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sousa for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Flaubert Canto has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Canto 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.
Canto controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sousa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Canto kicks off Sousa and gets to his feet.

Canto closes the distance and clinches.
Sousa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Canto goes for a takedown attempt but Sousa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Canto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sousa as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa connects with a crisp jab.
Sousa thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Canto if he has to take too many more of those.
Sousa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Canto backs up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Canto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sousa avoids it really well and circles away.
Sousa's corner calls for a 1-2. Sousa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Canto.
Sousa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thiago Sousa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sousa's corner calls for a 1-2. Sousa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Sousa. Those never looked like landing.

Canto shoots in and bounces Sousa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sousa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Canto is trying to stand up here but Sousa is controlling him well.

Canto kicks off Sousa and gets to his feet.
Canto blocks a head kick by Sousa.
Canto just misses with a punch to the body.
Sousa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A left and a right from Sousa both land. Nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sousa!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Sousa as Canto shoots in.
Canto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Canto fails with a takedown attempt.
Canto throws out a loose jab but Sousa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sousa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Canto back to the cage. Sousa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sousa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sousa misses with the combination.
Sousa scores with a jab to the head.
Canto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flaubert Canto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa lands a jab to the nose.
Canto throws a jab when Sousa was well out of range.
Thiago Sousa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Canto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sousa defends it nicely.
Sousa keeps Canto at a distance using the push kick.
Canto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sousa but Sousa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sousa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Canto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sousa scores with a push kick.
Canto with a poor takedown
and Sousa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Canto's knee momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sousa.
Sousa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sousa enables Canto to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sousa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sousa is trying to keep Canto in close.
Canto looking to sit in guard and control but Sousa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Canto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sousa.
Canto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sousa.
Sousa won't allow Canto to get back to his feet.
Sousa wants to pass the guard but Canto is keeping the position.
Canto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sousa throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canto is looking to stand up but Sousa isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Canto uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Canto shoots in for a takedown but Sousa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Canto slips a jab and a cross from Sousa.
Sousa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sousa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Canto has time to react.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sousa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Canto's head.
Sousa misses with a body kick.
Canto needs to keep his hands up - Sousa had a free shot at his head there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Sousa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sousa slaps away a takedown attempt from Canto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sousa avoids the body shot from Canto.
Canto tries for a takedown but Sousa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Canto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sousa was well out of range. Poor timing from Canto.
Canto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sousa pinned against the cage. Sousa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flaubert Canto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Canto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sousa is pressing down on Canto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Sousa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Canto stopping the sweep attempt from Sousa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa looking to control.

Canto stands up and waves to Sousa to follow him.
A big right from Canto misses.
Sousa is looking to land body kicks.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sousa stalling in the clinch but Canto improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Canto turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Canto landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sousa tries to buck Canto off but Canto is having none of it.
Canto working the head and body with strikes.
Canto throwing shots but missing, from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Canto content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Sousa struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canto cracks Sousa with a big elbow.
Canto throws an elbow but Sousa slips to the side and avoids it well.
Canto lands a few punches from side control.
Sousa is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sousa is being controlled here.
Canto cracks Sousa with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa wants to control but Canto postures up.
An elbow from Canto crashes against the mat.

Canto decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sousa to his feet.
Sousa blocks a jab.
No joy there for Sousa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Canto misses the body punch
enabling Sousa to counter with a crisp jab.
Canto misses the shot to the body.
Sousa swings for the body but Canto moves out of range.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Canto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sousa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Canto fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flaubert Canto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sousa 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Flaubert Canto!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Thiago Sousa!

The fight ends as a draw!