PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rory Baldwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Fernandes De Souza Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Baldwin
vs
Fernandes De Souza Junior

201 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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, Rory Baldwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Fernandes De Souza Junior!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Souza Junior gets the takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Baldwin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Baldwin is working hard here to advance position.
De Souza Junior misses with the ground and pound.
Baldwin tries to buck De Souza Junior off but De Souza Junior is having none of it.
De Souza Junior trying to control the action but Baldwin is working from the bottom.
Baldwin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
De Souza Junior in the domination position with Baldwin hanging on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldwin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Baldwin is looking for a sweep. De Souza Junior is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

De Souza Junior is trying to work for a kimura but Baldwin is defending well.
Baldwin is trying to get back to full guard.
De Souza Junior seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Souza Junior thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
De Souza Junior is looking to take a break and control but Baldwin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
De Souza Junior is thwarting Baldwin's attempts to control the position.
De Souza Junior sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baldwin defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baldwin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Baldwin pulls De Souza Junior in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Souza Junior wants to control from the top but Baldwin keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baldwin avoids the head kick by De Souza Junior.
Baldwin lands a nice looking kick to the body. De Souza Junior takes a step back to recover.
Baldwin is looking to clinch.
Baldwin is looking to clinch but De Souza Junior is avoiding it.

De Souza Junior moves into the clinch.
Baldwin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin trying to stall but De Souza Junior improves his position.

De Souza Junior has picked Baldwin up - he's going for a ride! De Souza Junior dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Baldwin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Baldwin striking off his back but it's not causing De Souza Junior any problems.
Baldwin keeping moving, preventing De Souza Junior from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

De Souza Junior decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Baldwin, up you get!
Jose Fernandes De Souza Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

De Souza Junior darts in and clinches Baldwin up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

De Souza Junior gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Baldwin looking for a sweep. Not yet Baldwin, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jose Fernandes De Souza Junior will probably get the nod.
That's time! Baldwin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

De Souza Junior drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Baldwin tries to buck De Souza Junior off but De Souza Junior is having none of it.
De Souza Junior in side control, throwing shots but Baldwin defends.
Jose Fernandes De Souza Junior has got the better of the ground game so far.

De Souza Junior decides to stand back up.

Baldwin moves into the clinch successfully.
De Souza Junior trying to control the position but instead, Baldwin has worked for underhooks and has pushed De Souza Junior into the cage.
De Souza Junior with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Baldwin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of De Souza Junior backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baldwin drags the fight down to the ground.
De Souza Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Baldwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baldwin has control of De Souza Junior's left arm, preventing De Souza Junior from doing any damage.
Baldwin 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.
Baldwin keeping moving, preventing De Souza Junior from controlling successfully.
De Souza Junior is fighting to break Baldwin's control of his arms but Baldwin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jose Fernandes De Souza Junior wasn't active enough on the ground.

De Souza Junior closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - De Souza Junior lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin striking from the bottom here.
Baldwin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. De Souza Junior manages to get himself to full guard.
De Souza Junior is trying to hold Baldwin in close to prevent damage but Baldwin has managed to pass into half guard.
Baldwin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Souza Junior is looking to escape.
De Souza Junior is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldwin not doing much here.
Baldwin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
De Souza Junior trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baldwin in particular looking to stall.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

De Souza Junior shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baldwin's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Souza Junior trying to control but Baldwin is working from the bottom.
Baldwin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Baldwin thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Baldwin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. De Souza Junior manages to get himself to full guard.
Baldwin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed De Souza Junior's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baldwin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rory Baldwin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Baldwin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Baldwin moves in looking to clinch but De Souza Junior pushes him off.

De Souza Junior drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
De Souza Junior trying to control the position but Baldwin is working away.
Baldwin stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Baldwin wants to control but De Souza Junior postures up.
Baldwin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Souza Junior working the ground and pound.
Baldwin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

De Souza Junior stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from De Souza Junior.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

De Souza Junior is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Baldwin's half guard.
Baldwin trying to get back to full guard but De Souza Junior takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
De Souza Junior landing shots from mount.

Baldwin is rocked!

Baldwin is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. De Souza Junior locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Baldwin is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jose Fernandes De Souza Junior!