PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathaniel Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Souza
vs
Armstrong

185 cm
26
185 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
179 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Machiavelli Boutique

Sun-Tzu

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathaniel Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong scores with a punch to the head.
Armstrong scores with a hook to the body. Souza takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Armstrong fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Souza to the ground. Armstrong is now in Souza's guard.
Armstrong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Souza is keeping the position for now.

Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Armstrong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Armstrong from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza keeping full guard, as Armstrong tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Souza is on top in guard.

Souza slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Souza swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Armstrong is now in Souza's guard. A big mistake from Souza there, giving up the dominant position!

Armstrong drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Souza manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Armstrong has Souza in his guard.

Souza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Armstrong swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Souza trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armstrong is keeping the position for now.

Armstrong looking for subs off his back but Souza has passed one foot through into half guard.

Armstrong actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong looking for submissions off his back.
Armstrong is refusing to be controlled, as Souza sits in half guard.

Souza seems to be looking for submissions.
Souza thows a huge punch but Armstrong dodges it nicely.

Armstrong is defending against the submission attempts here by Souza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Armstrong is trying to stand back up but Souza is controlling him
Souza works his way into side control.
Armstrong is trying to improve his position.
Souza is looking to take a break and control but Armstrong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Souza in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ronaldo Souza will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A slapping leg kick lands for Armstrong.
Nathaniel Armstrong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Armstrong scores with the left hand. Souza knows he should have avoided that one.
Armstrong lands with a hook. Souza tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
No joy there for Armstrong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Souza ducks under a wild hook from Armstrong.
Souza ducks under a wild hook from Armstrong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong goes for a double leg but Souza avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Souza continues to drive forward.
Souza half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Armstrong dives in and grabs Souza's left leg, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes down on Armstrong's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza leaves Armstrong with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Souza tries to counter with a takedown but Armstrong is quick to defend against it.
Ronaldo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathaniel Armstrong.
A jab from Armstrong misses.
A jab from Armstrong misses.
Souza appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A lazy left from Armstrong finds it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Armstrong. Those never looked like landing.
Souza feinted with a counter takedown.
Armstrong throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Souza on the side of the head.
Armstrong misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong scores with a jab to the jaw.
Armstrong misses with a few strikes there.
Armstrong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Armstrong tries for a takedown but Souza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Armstrong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice uppercut there from Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a leg kick but Souza sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Souza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Souza changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Armstrong.

Armstrong shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Souza is trying to defend but Armstrong finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Souza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Armstrong pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Armstrong is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Souza defends it well.
Ronaldo Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souza moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Armstrong trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Armstrong forces his way into half guard.

Souza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Armstrong pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Armstrong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Armstrong misses the shot to the body.
Armstrong looks to throw the jab but Souza is out of range.
Souza changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice uppercut there from Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a chopping leg kick but Souza manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Armstrong looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Souza!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza manages to work his way to half guard, despite Armstrong's best efforts.
Armstrong trying to mount his opponent but Souza defends it.

Armstrong seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Armstrong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Souza gets full guard.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Souza looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Armstrong puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Armstrong is working for a kimura but Souza is defending it quite comfortably.
Souza trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Armstrong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Souza is working hard here to advance position.
Souza trying to control from the bottom.
Armstrong is looking to take a break and control but Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Armstrong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Armstrong is working for a submission of some sort.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Souza gets caught flat footed, as Armstrong shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Armstrong's guard.

Souza wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.
Souza scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong looking for a guillotine here but Souza defends easily.
Souza slips nicely into half guard.
Souza with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Souza wants to control but Armstrong is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Souza not doing much here.

Armstrong looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathaniel Armstrong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Armstrong has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathaniel Armstrong!