PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eduardo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wallid Ismail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Souza
vs
Ismail

178 cm
25
179 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
28
182 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wallid Ismail!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ismail fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Souza tries to clinch up

and Ismail counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ismail tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
Souza tries to reverse the position but Ismail maintains control.
Souza is squirming around, avoiding Ismail's attempts to control the action.
Ismail prevents Souza from getting the reversal.
Ismail trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Ismail has control of Souza's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Souza regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ismail looking to control but Souza is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ismail wants to finish this one by submission but Souza is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ismail.

Ismail looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ismail tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ismail thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Souza is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail with a couple of short strikes.
Souza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ismail looking to control but Souza is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ismail takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Ismail moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Souza has worked his arm free - good work by Souza!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Souza is looking to regain half guard here but Ismail keeps moving and retains side control.
Ismail tries to move into full mount but can't pass Souza's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ismail working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ismail wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Souza, who protects the arm well.

Ismail working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ismail has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Souza!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Ismail goes for an armbar but Souza turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Souza.

Ismail had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Souza defends it easily.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ismail is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wallid Ismail dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ismail 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.
Ismail tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.
Ismail passes Souza's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ismail tries to stand but can't do so whilst Souza controls his leg.
Ismail wants to pass to mount but Souza is defending the position.
Souza wants to control but Ismail is keeping busy.
Souza is not content to let Ismail control the position.
Ismail working Souza over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza moves into full guard.
Wallid Ismail has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ismail is pushing down on Souza's leg trying to pass to half guard. Souza is fighting to maintain full guard but Ismail has managed to sneak the leg through.
Souza won't allow Ismail to pass to mount.

Ismail 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. Ismail eventually gives up the hold.
Ismail is pressing down on Souza's thigh, looking to free his foot. Souza is holding on for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismail uses his free foot to push down on Souza's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Souza.
Souza flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Ismail is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Souza has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Souza is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ismail content just to control the position here.

Ismail has control of Souza's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Souza regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ismail is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Souza can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismail looking to control but Souza is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Souza keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ismail working Souza over with strikes here.
Ismail controlling the pace for now.
Souza tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismail trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Ismail working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ismail tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ismail putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Souza takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wallid Ismail showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Souza swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ismail counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ismail.
Ismail has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ismail can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ismail trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ismail passes into half guard.
Ismail trying to control from half guard but Souza is working away.
Ismail trying to mount his opponent but Souza defends it.

Ismail 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. Ismail eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Souza!
Ismail can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Souza is looking to escape.

Ismail goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Souza turns into him and now he's in Ismail's guard.

Ismail is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Eduardo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza throwing strikes from guard but Ismail blocks nicely.

Ismail is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Souza defends well.

Ismail working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Souza has passed into half guard!
Ismail landing strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismail controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Ismail actively working from the bottom here.
Souza works his way into side control.
Ismail manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza not doing much here.
Ismail wants to improve his position but Souza is controlling well.
Ismail is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Ismail looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Souza seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ismail does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wallid Ismail is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wallid Ismail comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ismail 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wallid Ismail!