PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Souza (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.

Gonzalez
vs
Souza

183 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Ricardo Gonzalez!
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, Thiago Souza!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Souza gets a double leg takedown into Gonzalez's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Souza decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gonzalez, up you get!
Gonzalez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gonzalez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gonzalez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gonzalez throws a head kick that half lands.
Gonzalez tries a head kick but it misses.
Souza blocks a head kick by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Souza circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gonzalez clobbers Souza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Souza blocks a head kick by Gonzalez.
A punch combination from Souza misses.
Souza misses with a few strikes there.

Souza forces Gonzalez back against the cage and clinches.
Souza slows down the pace here.

Gonzalez jumps guard and drags Souza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gonzalez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Souza passes into half guard.
Souza keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Gonzalez actively working from the bottom here.

Souza stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gonzalez to get to his feet.

Souza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Souza showed some decent athleticism there.

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.
Souza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gonzalez defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gonzalez has a hand on Souza's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Souza takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Souza tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Let's hope that Souza has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gonzalez is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is working hard here to advance position.
Gonzalez squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Souza controlling from mount.
Gonzalez tries to buck Souza off but Souza takes his back!
Can Gonzalez hold on?! Souza is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Gonzalez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gonzalez trying to get back to his feet but Souza is in full control for now.
Souza gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Gonzalez tries to roll but Souza sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Souza trying to control momentarily.
Souza has good solid back control here.

Souza working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Souza looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gonzalez controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Souza looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gonzalez looking very determined here, making life difficult for Souza.

Gonzalez fending off the submission attempt from Souza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gonzalez throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.
Souza blocks a head kick by Gonzalez.
Nice cross by Souza.
Souza blocks a head kick by Gonzalez.
Souza looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Souza looks for a takedown but Gonzalez sprawls well.
Ricardo Gonzalez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gonzalez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gonzalez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Decent striking displayed by Gonzalez there.

Souza gets a takedown into half guard.

Gonzalez actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza stalling.
Gonzalez is trying to stand.
Souza wants to control but Gonzalez is keeping him busy.

Souza gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Souza is breathing heavily.
Souza dives in and grabs Gonzalez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gonzalez pushes down on Souza's head and hops out.
Gonzalez throws a right hand that Souza ducks under and follows up with a left that Souza also avoids with ease.

Souza closes the distance and clinches.
Gonzalez tries to circle away but Souza has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to pull guard but Souza has him pressed against the cage.
Gonzalez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Souza is working for takedown but Gonzalez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ricardo Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Souza.
Gonzalez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Souza has him pressed against the cage.
Souza tries to land a knee to the head but Gonzalez blocks with his arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gonzalez obliges.

Gonzalez breaks from the clinch.
Gonzalez throws a head kick but Souza moves out of range.
Souza blocks a head kick by Gonzalez.
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!
Gonzalez lands a head kick. Souza smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gonzalez lands a head kick!

Souza shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez looking for submissions off his back.

Gonzalez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souza pulls his head out easily.
Gonzalez is looking to improve his position.

Gonzalez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souza pulls his head out easily.
Gonzalez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Souza on the ground.
Souza keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Gonzalez actively working from the bottom here.

Gonzalez looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez actively working from the bottom here.
Souza is nestled in close to Gonzalez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Souza controlling the pace.

Gonzalez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souza pulls his head out easily.

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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thiago Souza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gonzalez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Souza closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gonzalez's guard.

Gonzalez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Souza is aware though and is defending well.
Souza is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Gonzalez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Gonzalez has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.

Gonzalez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Souza can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Souza pushing down on Gonzalez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza stands up from half guard.
Gonzalez avoids the head kick by Souza.

Souza clinches up against the cage.
Gonzalez jumps guard but Souza stands there with Gonzalez around his waist. Gonzalez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gonzalez lands a knee to the body.

Souza manages to pull guard.
Thiago Souza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Souza pulls Gonzalez in close to prevent any damage.
Souza looking to control.
Gonzalez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is looking to stand up but Souza won't let him.
Souza working a defensive guard here.
Gonzalez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Thiago Souza has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gonzalez throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Ricardo Gonzalez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gonzalez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ricardo Gonzalez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Souza looking to score a takedown here. Gonzalez is defending well but Souza drives through and ends up in Gonzalez's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gonzalez has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.

Souza is posturing up here but Gonzalez has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Souza tries to roll out but it's too tight and Souza has to tap! Slick submission there by Gonzalez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ricardo Gonzalez!