PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tigo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tigo Souza has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Souza
vs
Steele

173 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tigo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Steele!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Souza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steele, pushing him back against the cage.
Steele tries to pull guard but Souza won't allow it.
Souza lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Souza gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Steele trying to get back to full guard but Souza takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Souza fails to take his opponent's back.
Steele really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Souza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Souza prevents Steele from getting the reversal.
Souza unloads with some shots from mount but Steele bucks and avoids them well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele tries to improve his position but instead Souza has taken his back!
Souza is hanging on to Steele's back as he tries to escape.
Souza is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Souza looking for the choke from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Souza misses with an elbow to the head.
Steele covering up well under a series of strikes from Souza.
Steele is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Steele is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Steele just trying to survive but Souza is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Steele is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Souza throwing sloppy strikes.
Steele trying to control the hands but Souza won't let him.
Souza throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Steele tries to roll but Souza sticks to his back.
Steele trying to get back to his feet but Souza is in full control for now.
Steele tries to roll but Souza sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Souza looking for the choke but no joy.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Steele just trying to survive but Souza is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Steele wants to escape the position.
Souza is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele breaks Souza's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Souza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Steele trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steele might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Souza kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.

Souza is looking for a triangle but Steele pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tigo Souza dominated that round.
That's time! Souza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Souza moves into the clinch successfully.
Souza avoiding damage as Steele throws knees to the body.
Souza makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Steele can't break the clinch.
Souza lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Souza scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steele tries for a takedown but Souza manages to get underhooks.
Souza is working for takedown but Steele is calmly controlling the position for now.

Souza tightens his grip and picks Steele up, before dumping him to the ground. Steele manages to land in guard.

Souza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Steele fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Souza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Souza looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Steele looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Souza puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Steele is breathing heavily.
Souza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza prevents Steele from standing back up.
Souza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steele's head.
Souza is taking a breather. Steele says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

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.
Souza'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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Tigo Souza just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Steele is looking to land body kicks.

Souza gets the takedown into side control.
Souza in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Steele is not content to let Souza control the position.
Steele tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Steele is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Souza tries for a kimura but Steele is defending well.
Souza controlling the position from side mount.

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.
Souza scoring with punches from side control.
Souza controlling the position.
Souza scores with punches from side control.
Tigo Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steele tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Steele stops Souza from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tigo Souza dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Steele shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense.

Steele gets caught flat footed, as Souza shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Souza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Souza forces Steele back against the cage and clinches.
Souza leaning his opponent against the cage.
Steele looking to stall.
Souza stalling.
Souza can't find room to land a body shot as Steele controls the action.
Steele tries to break the clinch but Souza is controlling the position.
Souza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Steele drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Souza gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Steele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Souza throws and low kick but Steele moves out of range easily.

Souza drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steele looking to hit a scissor sweep but Souza is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza pushes down on Steele's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Steele trying to control but Souza postures up.
Souza wants to control but Steele is keeping him busy.
Souza stops Steele from getting back to his feet.
Steele wants to control but Souza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Steele slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steele is trying to control the position but Souza postures up.

That's two 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.
Steele is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Souza is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Steele gets a clinch.
Steele tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tigo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Steele.
Steele works on Souza's body with a couple of short punches.

Steele breaks the clinch.
Souza takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Steele looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Souza tries to roll over but Steele keeps him under control.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Souza controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to get to full guard but Steele has control of the leg.
Souza is pressing down on Steele's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Steele wants to pass the guard but Souza is keeping the position.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.
Steele tries to stand but Souza is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Souza is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Steele's guard.
Steele wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Souza is now in half guard.
Steele is trying to get back to full guard.
Steele slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steele looking to control but Souza passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tigo Souza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Souza, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tigo Souza!