PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andre Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Walian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souza kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Brazil National Anthem. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Andre Souza
vs
Walian

165 cm
27
145 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

169 cm
32
152 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

PED Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andre Souza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Walian!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walian throws a head kick but Souza moves out of range.
Walian is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Souza.
Souza scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Walian throws a sloppy head kick
and Souza counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Walian thinking.
Souza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Walian throws out the jab.
Souza connects with a crisp jab.
Walian lands a jab to the head.
Walian on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Souza. Souza obviously looking to wear him down.
Souza throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Walian pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Souza pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Walian is trying to counter with his kicks.
Walian throws a leg kick that is checked
and Walian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Souza throws a wild body kick that Walian sees coming a mile off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walian shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Souza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Souza moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walian throws the left hand but Souza avoids the punch easily.
Souza connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Walian throws a head kick but Souza moves out of range.
Walian lands with a straight right. Souza didn't see that one coming.
Souza on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Souza closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Walian's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walian is trying to control the position but Souza postures up.
Souza looking to pass the guard.
Souza wants to control from the top but Walian keeps moving.

Souza is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Walian lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.

Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Souza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Walian controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Walian landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza working for submissions but it's allowed Walian to get to half guard.
Souza is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Souza is refusing to be controlled, as Walian sits in half guard.
Walian scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walian trying to mount his opponent but Souza defends it.
Walian trying to control the action but Souza is working 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 wants to improve his position but Walian is controlling well.
Walian working the head and body with strikes.
Walian performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Walian wants to pass the guard but Souza is defending well.
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 Andre Souza will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice sprawl there from Souza as Walian shoots in.
A low kick from Walian misses
and Souza counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Walian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Souza.
Souza lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Walian at a distance.
Walian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Souza.
Walian looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Souza feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Walians jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Walian throws a right hand that misses
and Souza counters with a stiff right hand.
Souza scores with a jab to the head.
Walian thows a leg kick but Souza checks it
and Souza counters with a nice uppercut.
A decent looking cross lands there for Souza.
Souza defending well as Walian loads up on a big left hand.
Souza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Walian was well out of range. Poor timing from Souza.
Andre Souza is winning the standup battle so far.
Walian tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Souza is able to avoid easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Walian paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jack Walian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walian with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Souza to score with a decent uppercut.
Walian fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Souza has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza lands with an overhand left.
Walian shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Souza as he avoids it easily.
Walian lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Walian throws a head kick but Souza moves out of range.
Souza is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Walian throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Souza makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Souza gets tackled into the cage by Walian. Walian maintains the clinch.
Walian misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Walian fails to land.
Souza prevents a body shot from Walian.
Souza lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Walian backwards.
Souza misses with the head strike.
Walian prevents the takedown attempt.
Souza blocks a body shot from Walian.
Souza is looking for a takedown.
Souza lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walian throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walian lands a left hand.
Souza lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Walian or not.
Walian blocks an uppercut.

Souza is fighting off a takedown attempt but Walian is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Souza to the mat. Souza regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Walian sitting in guard here, content to control.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Walian from controlling successfully.
Walian throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souza 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.
Walian tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.
Souza trying to keep a closed guard but Walian is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Souza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Walian trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Jack Walian has got the better of the ground game so far.
Souza wants to control the pace but Walian is squirming around nicely.
Walian is desperately trying to improve his position but Souza has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Souza takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Souza goes for an armbar but Walian turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Walian.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Walian defends well.
Walian wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Souza dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Souza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Souza stuns Walian with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Souza connects with a body shot that sends Walian's belly button to the back.
Walian takes one to the chin there.
Souza scores with a one two! Walian had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Walian connects with the punch.
Souza takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Souza throws a looping overhand right but Walian ducks down to avoid it.
Walian tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Souza is able to avoid easily.
Walian throws a lazy right hand but Souza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Souza lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza throws a good cross that connects.
Walian lands with an uppercut that bounces Souza off the cage and back into range.
Souza moves out of range of the strikes.
Souza ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Souza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza scores with a nice strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Souza. Walian does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick from Walian misses.
Souza went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Souza jabs Walian right on the nose. Walian blinks but takes it well.
Souza jabs at Walian's body.
Souza lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Souza checks a leg kick.
Souza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Walian doesn't seem bothered though.
Walian misses with an uppercut
and Walian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Walian moves forwards but Souza connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab from Walian misses.
Jab by Souza.
Souza stuns Walian with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Souza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Walian can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walian takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Souza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walian darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Souza. That snapped Walian's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Souza. Walian does a little dance to reset his feet.
Walian misses with an attempted mid kick.
Souza appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Walian throws a half hearted mid kick.
Walian has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Walian throws a push kick but Souza slaps the foot to one side.
Walian tries to work over Souza's front leg with a kick but Souza checks it.
Souza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Souza lands with a right hand.
A big left from Souza misses.
A slow jab from Walian misses its intended target.
Souza swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Souza stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Souza misses with a looping right.
Souza misses with a looping left.
Souza moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromWalian.
Walian swings for the body but Souza moves out of range.
Souza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza digs a good hook to Walian's body.
Souza throws a hook but Walian blocks it.
Walian cracks the inside of Souza's front leg.
Souza throws a hook to the side of Walian's head but Walian sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Souza moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick by Walian misses
and Souza counters with a nice leg kick.
Souza cracks Walian with a right hand to the side of the head.
Souza throws a body kick that misses.
Souza tries a low kick but Walian avoids it.
Souza moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Souza throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Walian counters with a nice uppercut.
Souza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Walian manages to avoid it.
Walian throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Souza slips a straight right by Walian.
The fighters circle, before Walian throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Souza's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Walian lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Jack Walian!
Jack Walian is the new featherweight champion!