PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexandre Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Santos Kazashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Souza
vs
Santos Kazashi

182 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexandre Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Santos Kazashi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Santos Kazashi tries to keep at a distance but Souza has taken the fight into the clinch.

Souza turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Santos Kazashi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Santos Kazashi prevents Souza from standing back up.
Santos Kazashi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Souza defending well though.
Souza is looking to control Santos Kazashi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Souza avoid being mounted?
Souza tries to get to full guard but Santos Kazashi has control of the leg.
Souza is trying to maintain the position but Santos Kazashi is very close to passing his half guard.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Souza defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos Kazashi is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Santos Kazashi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Souza taking some punishment here, with Santos Kazashi in his half guard.
Santos Kazashi slips a nice elbow through Souza's hands, connecting with Souza's forehead.
Santos Kazashi is pressing down on Souza's thigh, looking to free his foot. Souza is holding on for now.
Souza tries to roll over but Santos Kazashi keeps him under control.
Souza trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Santos Kazashi is thwarting Souza's attempts to control the position.
Santos Kazashi working Souza over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza trying to control but Santos Kazashi postures up.
Santos Kazashi scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Santos Kazashi postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Souza to stand up.
Souza is breathing heavily.
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!

Souza dives in and scores a takedown into Santos Kazashi's guard.
Santos Kazashi is pulling down on Souza's head. It's preventing any offense from Souza, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos Kazashi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Souza off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Santos Kazashi forces Souza back against the cage and clinches.
Souza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Santos Kazashi has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Souza is trying to keep an underhook but Santos Kazashi manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Santos Kazashi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Santos Kazashi wants to take a breather but Souza is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza manages to get to full guard.
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.
Santos Kazashi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Santos Kazashi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Souza's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos Kazashi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Souza knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Santos Kazashi content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Santos Kazashi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Santos Kazashi fails with a takedown attempt.
Santos Kazashi swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Santos Kazashi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Souza sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Santos Kazashi's guard.
Santos Kazashi trying to control from the bottom.

Souza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Santos Kazashi is just riding it out for now. Souza eventually gives up the hold.
Santos Kazashi wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi is trying to get back to full guard.

Santos Kazashi manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Souza keeps the fight on the outside.
Souza tries to clinch but Santos Kazashi moves out of range.

Souza throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Santos Kazashi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Souza is in Santos Kazashi's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Santos Kazashi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Souza working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza pushes down on Santos Kazashi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Souza throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Souza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Santos Kazashi defends it well.
Souza throwing shots but Santos Kazashi is blocking nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza wants to stand up but Santos Kazashi manages to regain full guard.
Souza preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Santos Kazashi stands up from half guard.

Souza shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Souza was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Santos Kazashi gets back to half guard.
Souza tries to stand but can't do so whilst Santos Kazashi controls his leg.
Santos Kazashi manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza looking to pass the guard.
Santos Kazashi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza wants to control but Santos Kazashi is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Souza dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Santos Kazashi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Souza as he jumps to the side.

Souza closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santos Kazashi to the mat! Santos Kazashi manages to get full guard.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos Kazashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos Kazashi is trying to keep Souza in close.
Souza connects with a couple of short punches.
Santos Kazashi wants to sweep here but Souza controlling him for the moment.
Souza trying to control but Santos Kazashi is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Souza manages to get himself to full guard.
Santos Kazashi wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Souza being controlled here, momentarily.
Santos Kazashi throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.
Santos Kazashi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Santos Kazashi postures up.

Souza is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santos Kazashi is aware though and is defending well.
Santos Kazashi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Souza's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos Kazashi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Santos Kazashi shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Santos Kazashi shoots in and bounces Souza off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Santos Kazashi is in close to Souza's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos Kazashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.
Santos Kazashi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Souza's head.

Santos Kazashi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Souza, up you get!
Alexandre Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Santos Kazashi counters by clinching up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza tries to circle away but Santos Kazashi has him pinned against the cage.

Santos Kazashi decides to pull guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos Kazashi managing to control the position.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santos Kazashi is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Santos Kazashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santos Kazashi 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Santos Kazashi!
Michael Santos Kazashi decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.