PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rolando Souto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Safdar Al Razi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souto comes to the cage accompanied by Jorge Quintero - 300 violin orchestra. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Souto
vs
Al Razi

184 cm
33
185 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

191 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rolando Souto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Safdar Al Razi!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Souto takes the fight into the clinch.
Souto is trying to drag Al Razi to the mat but Al Razi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Al Razi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Souto's face.
Al Razi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Al Razi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Al Razi looking to throw knees to the head but Souto is blocking nicely.
Souto gets underhooks to prevent Al Razi's takedown attempt.

Al Razi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Souto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Al Razi but Al Razi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Al Razi shoots in and drives through. Souto sprawls well.
Souto wants to clinch up but Al Razi keeps it at a distance.

Souto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Souto scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Al Razi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Souto blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Razi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Souto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Al Razi circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolando Souto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Al Razi tries to sprawl but Souto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Souto wants to pass to mount but Al Razi is defending the position.

Al Razi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Al Razi actively working from the bottom here.
Souto with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Al Razi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Al Razi is not content to let Souto control the position.

Al Razi looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souto seems to be working for a kimura but Al Razi defends the submission attempt.
Souto trying to control from half guard but Al Razi is working away.

Souto is looking for a kimura but Al Razi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Souto to get the leverage.
Souto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Razi keeps working.

Al Razi actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Al Razi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souto pulls his head out easily.
Souto working Al Razi over with strikes.
Souto winds up and cracks Al Razi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Souto working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Al Razi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Al Razi is not content to let Souto control the position.

Al Razi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Souto is looking to take a break and control but Al Razi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Al Razi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souto pulls his head out easily.
Souto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Souto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Souto connects with a nice short shot to Al Razi's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souto pulls his head out easily.
Al Razi is looking to improve his position.

Al Razi actively working from the bottom here.
Souto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Al Razi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Al Razi actively working from the bottom here.
Al Razi looks winded!

Souto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Al Razi is just riding it out for now. Souto eventually gives up the hold.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Souto connects with a nice short shot to Al Razi's temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Al Razi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolando Souto dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Al Razi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Souto is looking to clinch.
Souto feints and then cracks Al Razi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Al Razi down.
Al Razi throws a head kick but Souto moves out of range.
Souto moves in looking to clinch but Al Razi pushes him off.
Souto misses with a low kick.

Al Razi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Souto to the mat! Souto manages to get full guard.
Souto trying to control the position.
Al Razi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Souto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Al Razi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Souto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Al Razi, into his guard.

Al Razi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souto wants to control from the top but Al Razi keeps moving.

Al Razi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Souto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Souto's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Al Razi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Souto defends well.
Souto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Al Razi is keeping the position for now.
Souto chips away with some ground and pound.
Souto is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Al Razi keeping moving, preventing Souto from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Souto trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Razi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Al Razi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Souto slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rolando Souto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souto is in close to Al Razi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Al Razi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Al Razi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Souto uses it to pass to side control.
Al Razi on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Al Razi is looking to reverse the position.
Al Razi sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Razi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Al Razi is breathing heavily.

Al Razi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Souto working Al Razi over with strikes.
Souto is trying to control. Al Razi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Al Razi actively working from the bottom here.
Souto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Souto looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Al Razi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Souto has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Al Razi is looking to improve his position but Souto isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souto looking to finish Al Razi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Al Razi!
Al Razi wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Souto patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Al Razi is trying to break free.

Al Razi is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Souto has the hooks in. Al Razi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Souto is looking for the choke from the back position but Al Razi is controlling his hands well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Al Razi can't escape the position.
Al Razi is keeping busy.

Souto working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Al Razi is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Souto has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Al Razi taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rolando Souto!
An out of breath Rolando Souto thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.