PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Kearney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Joseph Kearney enters the cage!

Souza
vs
Kearney

168 cm
18
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

166 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pedro Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joseph Kearney!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza misses with a wild body shot.
Kearney lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kearney.
Souza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kearney was well out of range. Poor timing from Souza.
It seemed like Kearney was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Souza misses with a looping left.
Kearney fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Souza manages to avoid it.
Kearney misses with a looping right.
Kearney misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kearney defends well and Souza ends up having to push Kearney into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Souza looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kearney swings for the body but Souza moves out of range.
Kearney throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kearney scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Souza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kearney.
Souza throws a jab but it's blocked by Kearney.
Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kearney.
Kearney throws a right and a left that Souza avoids nicely.
Nice defenses there by Souza.
Souza half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Kearney with a hook.
Kearney is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Souza rather than just go for the knockout.
Kearney darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kearney slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kearney.
Pedro Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Souza. Kearney does a little dance to reset his feet.
Souza just misses with a punch to the body.

Souza drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Kearney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kearney preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kearney controlling Souza's posture.
Kearney trying to keep a closed guard but Souza is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kearney keeping full guard, as Souza tries to pass.
Kearney controls Souza momentarily but Souza frees himself.
Souza throws a big elbow that misses.
Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Souza trying to control but Kearney is working from the bottom.
Souza passes Kearney's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kearney avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Souza.

Kearney is defending against the submission attempts here by Souza.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kearney manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kearney utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Souza connects with a couple of short punches.
Kearney is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Souza is looking to work some ground and pound but Kearney has wrist control.
Kearney seems keen to control Souza's posture.

Souza drops back looking for a leg! Kearney is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kearney manages to kick Souza off! Souza jumps back into Kearney's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joseph Kearney will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kearney leaves Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kearney stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kearney wants it to stay on the feet.
Jab by Kearney.
Kearney will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kearney lands the left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Souza. Kearney does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Kearney.
Kearney misses with a looping right.
Kearney throws a shot from downtown. Souza moves away and avoids it.
Kearney throws a hook but Souza avoids it easily.
Souza throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Joseph Kearney is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza throws a hook to the side of Kearney's head but Kearney sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kearney scores with a shot to the body.
Souza misses with an uppercut. Kearney saw that one coming.
Kearney looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kearney defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Souza.
Kearney appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pedro Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws an overhand right that lands on Kearney's shoulder, as Kearney tries to avoid the shot.
Kearney looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kearney dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Souza throws a hook to the side of Kearney's head but Kearney sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
As Souza backs off Kearney throws a huge counter combo but Souza manages to avoid it all.
Souza throws a sloppy body shot
and Kearney counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Souza slips under a jab.
A combination from Kearney does no damage.
Souza misses with a left hand
and Kearney counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kearney misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza fails with the takedown.
Souza looks to score with a jab to the body but Kearney is just out of range.
Kearney misses with a hook.
Souza changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Souza lands a slapping body shot.
Souza just misses with a punch to the body.
Kearney has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kearney scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kearney throws a looping overhand right but Souza ducks down to avoid it.
Souza attempts a counter takedown but Kearney avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kearney lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice defenses there by Souza.
Souza attempts a counter takedown but Kearney avoids it well and moves away.
Kearney looks to land a right hand but Souza moved out of range.
Souza feinted with a counter takedown.
Souza misses with a wild body shot.
Souza tries to move into range but Kearney moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Souza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kearney.
Kearney throws a hook but Souza blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kearney throws a hook to the side of Souza's head but Souza sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Souza tries to counter with a takedown but Kearney is quick to defend against it.
Kearney lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Kearney showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Souza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kearney.
Kearney with a jab.

Kearney gets caught flat footed, as Souza shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kearney working a defensive guard here.
Souza preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza landing some decent shots from guard.
Pedro Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kearney keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kearney is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Souza 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.
Kearney avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kearney keeping full guard, as Souza tries to pass.
Souza trying to move into half guard but instead Kearney has managed to sweep!

Souza looking for a guillotine here but Kearney defends easily.
Kearney trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza pulls Kearney in close to prevent any damage.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kearney is fighting to break Souza's control of his arms but Souza is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kearney wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.

Souza is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Kearney has his hands clasped together but Souza extends and breaks Kearney's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Souza.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pedro Souza!
Our winner, Pedro Souza, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.