PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Donaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Nevin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souza comes into the arena with Sex Dwarf blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Nevin's choice of entrance music: Twin Atlantic - Free. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Souza
vs
Nevin

162 cm
24
146 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

169 cm
21
142 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donaldo Souza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bill Nevin!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.
Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Nevin sprawls well. He's pushed Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Souza finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Souza shoots in for a double leg but Nevin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Souza swings for the body but Nevin moves out of range.
Souza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nevin but Nevin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nevin sprawls well. Nevin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
Nevin wants to land a leg kick but Souza is out of range.
Nevin throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza tries for a takedown but Nevin circles away easily
and Nevin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bill Nevin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Nevin thows a body shot but no joy.
Nevin wants to slow Souza down by chopping away at his legs.
Souza is looking to land body kicks.
Nevin swings for the body but Souza moves out of range.
Souza keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nevin throws an overhand right that lands on Souza's shoulder, as Souza tries to avoid the shot.

Souza shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nevin is trying to defend but Souza finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Souza not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza trying to control from half guard but Nevin is working away.
Souza is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Donaldo Souza wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Souza lands a two punch combo.
Souza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nevin circles away.
Souza blocks a low kick nicely.

Souza drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nevin is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza is looking to advance position but Nevin has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nevin is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Nevin trying to control but Souza is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza tries to lock up and control but Nevin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donaldo Souza dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Souza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nevin circles away.
Nevin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Horrible takedown by Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Nevin which made him look bad.
Nevin throws a lazy right hand but Souza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nevin is looking to land body kicks.
Nevin is looking to slow Souza down with leg kicks.
Nevin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Souza moves away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Souza throws a series of punches but Nevin moves out of range.

Souza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Souza showed some decent athleticism there.
Nevin wants 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 one minute gone in the round.
Souza wants to take a breather but Nevin is having none of it.
Nevin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Souza has his takedown stuffed
and Nevin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza motions for Nevin to come forward. Souza throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nevin misses the shot to the body.
Nevin thows a leg kick but Souza checks it

and Souza decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nevin's guard.
Nevin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Souza puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza moves nicely into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nevin regains half guard there - taking advantage of Souza's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nevin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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 keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Souza is looking to advance position but Nevin won't allow it.
Souza looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nevin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Nevin throws a hook but Souza avoids it easily.
Nevin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Souza shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Souza wants to pass the guard but Nevin is defending well.
Nevin tries to get to full guard but Souza has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nevin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nevin.
Souza looking to sit in guard and control but Nevin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souza is working an open guard so Nevin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Donaldo Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Souza looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Souza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nevin.
Nevin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Souza.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souza.
Nevin throws a hook but Souza avoids it easily.
Souza scores with a hook to the body. Nevin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nevin misses with a looping right.
Souza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nevin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Souza somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Souza shoots in for a double leg but Nevin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nevin slaps away a takedown attempt from Souza, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Souza jabs Nevin right on the nose. Nevin blinks but takes it well.
Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nevin.
Souza dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Souza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nevin pinned against the cage. Nevin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nevin misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nevin defends it nicely.
Nevin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nevin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Souza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Souza drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Souza passes Nevin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nevin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Donaldo Souza did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Souza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nevin as he avoids it easily.
Nevin throws a lazy uppercut
and Souza counters with a one-two to the body.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nevin as he avoids it easily.
Souza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Souza scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Souza just content to control the position.
Nevin defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Souza advances to full mount.
Nevin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nevin avoids a series of strikes thrown by Souza.
Donaldo Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souza sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza controlling the pace for now.
Souza breaks from Nevin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Souza tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nevin is looking to improve his position but Souza isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to control but Nevin wriggling away.
Nevin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Souza looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nevin can't escape the position.
Souza looking to control and managing it successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donaldo Souza had his way with Bill Nevin in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Souza throws a right and a left that Nevin avoids nicely.

Souza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Souza showed some decent athleticism there.
Nevin is trying to maintain the position but Souza is very close to passing his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Souza in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nevin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nevin scores with a body shot.
Nevin is looking to land body kicks.
Nevin throws a right hand that misses

and Souza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Souza looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nevin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nevin tries to get to full guard but Souza has control of the leg.
Souza is looking to advance position but Nevin won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza is controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Souza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Souza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Donaldo Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Souza checks the leg kick.
Souza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nevin but Nevin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Souza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nevin pinned against the cage. Nevin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bill Nevin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some bone on bone action there as Souza checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nevin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nevin misses with an uppercut. Souza saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza works the jab nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Nevin. That's going to slow Souza down.
Nevin slaps away a takedown attempt from Souza, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Souza shoots in but Nevin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Souza checks a low kick from Nevin.
Nevin lands with an uppercut that bounces Souza off the cage and back into range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nevin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Souza's head backwards.
Horrible takedown by Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Nevin which made him look bad.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nevin throws a quick inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Donaldo Souza.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Souza, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Donaldo Souza!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Donaldo Souza!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Donaldo Souza!

Donaldo Souza wins by unanimous decision!
Donaldo Souza is the new bantamweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Donaldo Souza started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.