PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brenen Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brenen Phillips had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Phillips
vs
Souza

182 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brenen Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Souza!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Phillips shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Souza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Phillips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Souza somewhat.

Phillips 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.

Phillips is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Souza wants to stand and escape but Phillips is having none of it.
Phillips trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.

Phillips thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Phillips defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Phillips drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Phillips jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Phillips controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Phillips trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.

Phillips drops back looking for a leg! Souza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Souza manages to kick Phillips off! Phillips jumps back into Souza's guard.

Phillips gets to his feet - Souza follows without any prompting.
Phillips closes the distance and clinches up with Souza, looking for a takedown. Phillips pushes Souza against the cage but Souza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Phillips shoots in but Souza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Souza lands a nice looking body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to clinch but Phillips moves out of range.

Phillips closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Souza did well to prevent Phillips getting side control.

Phillips is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souza tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Souza wants to improve his position but Phillips is controlling well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Phillips is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Souza sees it coming and defends easily.
Phillips landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips is looking to take a break and control but Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to control but Phillips is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Phillips works his foot free and advances to mount.

Phillips with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Phillips jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Souza is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Souza and Phillips has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Phillips tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is trying to get an arm triangle but Souza is defending well.

Phillips is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Souza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Phillips working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brenen Phillips dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Souza tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Phillips swivels and escapes.
Phillips shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Souza defends it nicely.
Phillips showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Souza.
Phillips throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Souza's waist but Souza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Phillips off to one side.
Phillips looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brenen Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips slaps away a takedown attempt from Souza, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Souza as he avoids it easily.
Phillips fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Souza tries to land a front kick but Phillips steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown but Phillips manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Souza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Souza rushes Phillips and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phillips turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Phillips is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Souza has escaped the position, nice work there.
Phillips working away.
Souza tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Phillips wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Phillips decides to stand up, so the ref orders Souza to his feet.
Souza shoots for a takedown but Phillips saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Brenen Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips shoots and misses
and Souza counters with a big head kick but Phillips shrugs it off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souza.

Phillips gets the takedown into side control.
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 is trying to control Phillips's posture but Phillips avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Phillips stands up.
Phillips really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Phillips shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Phillips thows a huge punch but Souza dodges it nicely.
Phillips is keen to just control but Souza is a slippery customer.
Souza is trying to maintain the position but Phillips is very close to passing his half guard.
Phillips landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Souza is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Brenen Phillips!