PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nir Sosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Waits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Waits's choice of entrance music: What A Waste. 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.

Sosa
vs
Waits

180 cm
30
191 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

183 cm
31
193 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nir Sosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Waits!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waits throws a body punch but Sosa moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sosa.
Waits defending well as Sosa loads up on a big left hand.

Waits gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Waits pulls Sosa in close to prevent any damage.
Waits tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sosa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Waits is trying to keep Sosa in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waits keeping moving, preventing Sosa from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sosa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Waits is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sosa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Waits counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Waits misses with a low kick.
Waits misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sosa throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nir Sosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Waits.
Sosa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sosa misses with a hook
and Waits counters with a nice uppercut.
Sosa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Waits throws a low kick, looking for Sosa's leg but Sosa calmly moves out of range.
Sosa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Waits checks it well.
Sosa moves forwards but Waits connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Waits takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A slapping leg kick lands for Sosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Waits at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sosa.
Tom Waits is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sosa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Waits fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sosa on the side of the head.
Sosa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Waits.
Waits swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Waits dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Waits swings for the body but Sosa moves out of range.
Waits throws a leg kick that misses.
A shot to the liver by Sosa. Beautiful body shot.
Sosa scores with a head kick. Waits tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Sosa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sosa lands in his opponent's guard.
Sosa wants to control from the top but Waits keeps moving.
Waits managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sosa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Waits working a defensive guard here.
Waits controlling the position.
Sosa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sosa trying to control but Waits is working from the bottom.
Waits avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sosa preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Waits is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Waits tries to land a front kick but Sosa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Waits throws a hook to the side of Sosa's head but Sosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sosa misses with a body shot.
Sosa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Waits tries to score with a low kick but Sosa moves his leg out of the way.
A good leg kick by Sosa.
The fighters circling - Waits throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Waits misses the shot to the body.
Sosa throws a jab but it's blocked by Waits.
Waits appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Waits is looking to slow Sosa down with leg kicks.
Waits on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sosa. Sosa obviously looking to wear him down.
Waits throws a head kick but Sosa moves out of range.
Sosa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sosa.
Waits looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sosa throws a body punch but Waits moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A solid leg kick lands there for Sosa.
Waits throws a low kick, looking for Sosa's leg but Sosa calmly moves out of range.
Waits attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sosa drops down looking for a counter takedown but Waits sprawls and moves away.
Waits misses with a low kick as Sosa jumps back.
Waits misses with a body shot.
Sosa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sosa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Waits but Waits pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Waits lands a body shot.
Waits looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Waits rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sosa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Waits misses its intended target.
Waits feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sosa's calf.
Sosa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Waits.
Sosa connects with a solid leg kick.
Waits takes one to the chin there.
Sosa throws a chopping leg kick but Waits manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa digs a good body shot into Waits's ribs.
Sosa works Waits's body with a nice hook.
Sosa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Waits swivels and escapes.
Waits avoids the head kick by Sosa.
Sosa scores with a shot to the body.
Waits's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Waits cracks Sosa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A punch combination from Sosa misses.
Waits motions for Sosa to come forward. Waits throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sosa throws out a loose jab but Waits uses good head movement to avoid it.
Waits throws a hook to the side of Sosa's head but Sosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sosa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sosa takes a swing at Waits's ribcage but misses.
Waits throws a leg kick which misses Sosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Sosa tries to avoid it.
Sosa scores with a nice head shot.
A left and a right from Waits both land. Nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sosa is looking to chop away at Waits's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sosa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sosa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Waits but Waits pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nir Sosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sosa moves out of range as Waits throws a body kick.
Nir Sosa is winning the standup battle so far.
Good leg kick by Waits there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Waits misses with a low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sosa.
Sosa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sosa throws out a leg kick but Waits moves out of range and Sosa only half commits.
Sosa throws a lazy right hand but Waits sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Waits now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sosa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Waits misses the shot to the body.
Sosa misses the shot to the body.
Sosa goes for a double leg but Waits avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Waits continues to drive forward.
Waits digs a good body shot into Sosa's ribs.
Waits connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sosa. Sosa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waits scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Waits throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Waits moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sosa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Waits throws a sloppy head kick

and Sosa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Waits!
Waits is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Waits on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Waits sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sosa 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.
Waits slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sosa throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sosa is working Waits over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sosa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Waits looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Waits not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 Nir Sosa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sosa scores with a hook to the body. Waits takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A telegraphed right hand from Waits misses the target.
Waits looks to score with a jab to the body but Sosa is just out of range.
Sosa lands a leg kick that knocks Waits off balance momentarily.
Waits tried to score with a low kick but Sosa checks it.
Sosa attempts a counter takedown but Waits avoids it well and moves away.
Waits throws a leg kick that is checked

and Sosa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Waits wants to get back to full guard.
Sosa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Waits with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Waits is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Sosa jumps into side control!
The strikes coming from Sosa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Waits parries the strikes from Sosa easily there. Sosa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Waits to escape.
An elbow from Sosa crashes against the mat.

Sosa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Waits, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa is looking to take a break and control but Waits is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Waits gets back to half guard.
Waits is concentrating on defense, preventing Sosa from advancing position.
Waits tries to get to full guard but Sosa has control of the leg.
Sosa lands with a punch from half guard.
Tom Waits has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sosa is pressing down on Waits's thigh, looking to free his foot. Waits is holding on for now.
Sosa prevents Waits from improving his position.
Sosa is trying to control the action in half guard but Waits is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sosa is thwarting Waits's attempts to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sosa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Waits back to the cage. Sosa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sosa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Waits. Waits circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
An inside leg kick lands from Sosa.
Waits moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waits avoids the body shot from Sosa.
Waits keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Waits ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Waits misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sosa.
Sosa throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Waits, as that shot connected.
Sosa connects with a nice looking jab.
Waits sizes up Sosa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sosa shoots in for a takedown but Waits shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Waits misses with a hook.

Sosa tries to keep at a distance but Waits has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Waits pushes Sosa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Waits throws a knee to the head but misses.
Waits lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sosa throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sosa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sosa blocks an elbow strike.
Waits landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sosa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Waits is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sosa is defending well for now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Waits.
Waits fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sosa lands with a light punch inside.
Waits lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sosa is leaning against Waits and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Waits lands a nice elbow.
Sosa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Waitss head.
Sosa swings wildly with an uppercut but Waits uses good head movement to avoid it.
Waits misses with a punch to the body.
Waits lands a damaging elbow.
Sosa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

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 Nir Sosa.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sosa, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nir Sosa!
An out of breath and clearly excited Nir Sosa thanked Fury Nutrition Inc. for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).