PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between CM Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcos Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcos Souza acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Punk
vs
Souza

178 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
142 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, CM Punk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcos Souza!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Punk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Souza has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Souza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Souza wants it to stay on the feet.
Souza lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Punk at a distance.
A jab from Souza misses.
Souza lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Punk shoots in and drives through. Souza sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CM Punk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Punk shoots for a double leg takedown but Souza sprawls well. He's pushed Punk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Souza tries to counter by closing the distance.
Souza throws a jab when Punk was well out of range.
Punk has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
CM Punk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza throws a body punch but Punk moves out of range.
Punk appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Punk shoots in and drives through. Souza sprawls well.
Punk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Souza is fending him off so far but Punk persists. Nope, Souza circles away and we're back to standing.
Punk sets himself, and Souza steps forward looking for the clinch! Punk avoids it this time.
Punk shoots in but Souza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Punk sets himself, and Souza steps forward looking for the clinch! Punk avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza missing with a left hand there. Punk was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Punk shoots for a takedown but Souza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Souza steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Punk.
Punk gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Punk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Souza as he jumps to the side.
Souza tries to counter with a clinch but Punk shakes him off and moves away.
Punk has a takedown stuffed.
Souza steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Punk.
Souza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Souza.
Punk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Souza's waist but Souza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Punk off to one side.
Marcos Souza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Punk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Punk is defended easily by Souza.
Nice takedown defense from Souza. No joy for Punk on that attempt.
Punk sets himself, and Souza steps forward looking for the clinch! Punk avoids it this time.
Souza throws a jab but it's blocked by Punk.
Nice uppercut there from Souza.
Punk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Souza but Souza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Punk ducks under a wild hook from Souza.
Souza loads up on a big right hand but Punk slips the punch.
Souza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Souza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Souza avoids it really well and circles away.
Punk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Souza as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Punk.
Souza throws the left hand but Punk avoids the punch easily.
Souza scores with a shot to the body.
Punk is breathing heavily.
Punk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Souza is fending him off so far but Punk persists. Nope, Souza circles away and we're back to standing.
Punk tries for a takedown but Souza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Souza is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Souza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Punk appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Souza buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws a shot from downtown. Punk moves away and avoids it.
Punk changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Punk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Punk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Souza defends well and Punk ends up having to push Souza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Souza stuffs the takedown.
Souza wants to counter with a clinch but Punk pushes him away.
Souza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Souza digs a good body shot into Punk's ribs.
Punk walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Punk takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Punk slips a jab from Souza.
Souza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Punk stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Souza throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Punk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Punk takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Punk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Souza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Punk is defended easily by Souza.
Souza wants to counter with a clinch but Punk pushes him away.
Souza throws a leg kick which misses Punk's front leg but catches the back leg as Punk tries to avoid it.
Souza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza misses with a body shot.
Souza misses with the combination.
Marcos Souza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Souza throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk shoots in and drives through. Souza sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CM Punk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Punk tries for a takedown but Souza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Souza wants to counter the offense by Punk and move into the clinch position.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Punk.
Souza tries to counter by closing the distance.
Souza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Souza lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Punk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Souza tries to counter by closing the distance.
Punk dives in and grabs Souza's left leg, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes down on Punk's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Punk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Souza as he avoids it easily.
Souza wants to counter with a clinch but Punk pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Souza lands a jab to the nose.
Punk shoots for a double leg takedown but Souza sprawls well. He's pushed Punk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Souza scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Souza throws a head kick but Punk moves out of range.
Punk takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Punk ducks right into an uppercut from Souza.
A nice inside leg kick there by Souza. That's going to slow Punk down.
Souza cracks Punk with an open hand slap.
Punk closes this distance looking for a takedown but Souza circles away.
Souza looks to score with a jab to the body but Punk is just out of range.
Souza misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza misses with a few strikes there.
Souza stuffs the takedown.
Souza stuffs the takedown attempt from Punk. Punk gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Souza. No joy for Punk on that attempt.
Souza wants to counter the offense by Punk and move into the clinch position.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Punk.
Souza steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Punk.
Souza looks to throw the jab but Punk is out of range.
Punk shoots in and drives through. Souza sprawls well.
Souza lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Punk at a distance.
Souza lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws out a loose jab but Punk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Punk tries to counter with a takedown but Souza is quick to defend against it.
Souza throws a hook but Punk blocks it.
Punk shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Punk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Souza tries to avoid it but Punk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Souza to the ground. Souza escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Souza wants to counter the offense by Punk and move into the clinch position.
Souza scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Souza lands a nice looking body shot.
Punk fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Souza avoids it really well and circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souza throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Punk.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcos Souza 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Souza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Punk doesn't seem bothered though.
Punk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Souza is fending him off so far but Punk persists. Nope, Souza circles away and we're back to standing.
Punk sets himself, and Souza steps forward looking for the clinch! Punk avoids it this time.
Souza looks to land a left hand but Punk moved out of range nicely.
Punk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Punk shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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.
Punk passes to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza can't escape the position.
Punk takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Punk looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Punk avoids the attempt from Souza to control.
Souza is looking to get to half guard.
Punk trying to control but Souza is having none of it.

Punk wants to finish this one by submission but Souza is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Punk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Punk trying to keep a closed guard but Souza is proving a slippery customer.
Punk 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.
Punk is working hard here to advance position.
Souza trying to control but Punk is working from the bottom.

Punk is looking for a triangle but Souza pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza looking to pass the guard.

Punk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
CM Punk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souza trying to stand up but can't free himself from Punk's guard.
Souza postures up.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Punk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Souza wanted to stand there but Punk had control of the position.
Punk 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.
Punk trying to control the position.
Souza wants to control from the top but Punk keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Souza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Punk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Souza has managed to get both his arms back between Punk's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
CM Punk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Souza has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 26:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 26:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:29

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