PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rum Shaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Shaker
vs
Souza

183 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rum Shaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Souza!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shaker fails with an attempt to clinch.
A slow jab from Souza misses its intended target.
Souza tries to clinch but Shaker moves out of range.

Souza darts in and clinches Shaker up against the cage.

Souza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Andre Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Souza rushes Shaker and presses him up against the cage.

Souza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shaker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shaker throws a series of punches but Souza moves out of range.
Shaker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Souza tries to clinch
and Shaker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Souza shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shaker's guard.

Souza stands up and waves to Shaker to follow him.
Souza has a takedown stuffed.
Souza tries to clinch up.
Shaker misses with a wild combination.
Shaker throws a right and a left that Souza avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza tries to clinch but Shaker is having none of it.
Souza swats away the attempt to clinch by Shaker.
Souza tries to clinch but Shaker is having none of it.

Souza forces Shaker back against the cage and clinches.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shaker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shaker wants to clinch up but Souza keeps it at a distance.
Shaker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Souza clinches but Shaker breaks the clinch
and Shaker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Souza tries to clinch
and Shaker counters with a series of strikes. Souza will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shaker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Souza decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Souza looks gassed!

Shaker kicks off Souza and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Souza clinches up against the cage.
Shaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Souza won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaker can't break the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Souza tries for a takedown but Shaker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Shaker's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Shaker duly obliges.
Shaker moves in looking to clinch but Souza pushes him off.
Shaker goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Shaker tries to clinch up.
Souza tries to clinch there but Shaker circles away.

Souza clinches with his opponent.
Shaker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Souza breaks from the clinch.
Shaker circles away from the clinch attempt

and Shaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shaker prevents Souza from breaking the clinch.

Shaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Souza clinches but Shaker breaks the clinch
and Shaker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shaker looks to land a combination. Souza sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaker throws a series of punches but Souza avoids them all with ease.
Shaker doesn't manage to clinch there - Souza circles away.
Shaker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Shaker bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shaker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Shaker tries to bum rush Souza with a series of wild strikes but Souza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shaker with a jab.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Shaker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rum Shaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Souza.
Shaker tries to clinch but Souza is having none of it.
Souza takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Souza tries to clinch but Shaker moves away

and Shaker counters by moving into the clinch.
Shaker has had enough of the clinch but Souza keeps him there for the moment.
Shaker is trying to break free.
Shaker is trying to break the clinch but Souza has him pressed against the cage.
Souza is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shaker has had enough of the clinch but Souza keeps him there for the moment.
Shaker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Souza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shaker has him pressed against the cage.
Shaker can't break the clinch.

Shaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Souza misses with a takedown
and Shaker counters with a stiff right hand.
Shaker scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shaker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shaker stuffs the takedown.
Souza closes the distance and clinches up with Shaker, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes Shaker against the cage but Shaker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Souza looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Souza tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Shaker counter with a right hand.
Shaker is working the combinations to good effect here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shaker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rum Shaker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souza.
Shaker throws a series of punches but Souza avoids them all with ease.
Souza closes the distance and clinches up with Shaker, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes Shaker against the cage but Shaker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Shaker which made him look bad.
Rum Shaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Souza.
Shaker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Souza has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Souza swats away the attempt to clinch by Shaker.
Shaker throws a nice looking combination but Souza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Souza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shaker, pushing him back against the cage.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Souza on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Souza is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shaker.
Souza has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Souza tries to keep at a distance but Shaker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shaker has had enough of the clinch but Souza keeps him there for the moment.
Souza is trying to break the clinch but Shaker has him pressed against the cage.
Souza wants to get back to striking at distance but Shaker won't allow it.
Shaker wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shaker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Souza has him pressed against the cage.
Shaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Souza tries to break the clinch but Shaker is controlling the position.
Souza keeps control of Shaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shaker is trying to break free.
Shaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Souza won't allow it.

Souza breaks from the clinch.
Shaker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Souza has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shaker tries to break the clinch but Souza is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Souza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice combination there by Shaker.

Souza clinches with his opponent.
Shaker can't break the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Souza misses with a head kick.

Souza moves into the clinch.
Shaker can't break the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shaker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Shaker moves into the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch.
Shaker throws a series of strikes that have Souza backpedaling.
Souza tries to clinch up but Shaker circles away and keeps his distance.
Shaker lands a jab-cross combination.
Souza tries to clinch but Shaker is having none of it.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shaker as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Shaker as Souza shoots in.
Souza has a takedown stuffed.
Shaker wants to clinch up but Souza keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Shaker does no damage.
Souza throws an overhand right that lands on Shaker's shoulder, as Shaker tries to avoid the shot.
Souza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Shaker counters by clinching up.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shaker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Souza tries to clinch up.
Souza tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Shaker as Souza shoots in.
Shaker scores with a punch to the head.
Shaker wants to clinch.

That's four 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 takes a swing at Shaker's ribcage but misses.
Shaker moves in looking to clinch but Souza pushes him off.
Rum Shaker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shaker closes the distance and clinches.

Souza breaks from the clinch.
Shaker lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Souza darts in trying to clinch
and Shaker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Souza swats away the attempt to clinch by Shaker.
Souza closes the distance looking to clinch
and Shaker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shaker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rum Shaker dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shaker blocks a head kick by Souza.
Shaker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Souza lands with a slapping head kick.

Souza moves into the clinch.
Shaker can't break the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch.
Souza swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Shaker to counter with a crisp jab.
Shaker tries to clinch up.
Shaker doesn't manage to clinch there - Souza circles away.

Shaker gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Souza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shaker lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Souza backs up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shaker circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Shaker to counter with a crisp jab.

Souza moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Souza wants to clinch but Shaker slips to the side
enabling Shaker to counter with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Souza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shaker goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rum Shaker is winning the standup battle so far.
Shaker scores with a one two! Souza had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Souza tries to clinch but Shaker moves away

and Shaker moves into the clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Shaker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shaker bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Souza's head.
Souza closes the distance but Shaker moves to the side
and Shaker counters with a three punch combo that has Souza backing up. Souza nods at Shaker to acknowledge the strikes.
Souza wants to clinch but Shaker slips to the side
and Shaker counters with a left and a right that stings Souza.
Souza darts in trying to clinch
and Shaker counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaker lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown. Shaker tries to sprawl out of it but Souza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shaker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shaker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shaker lands a really nice looking cross but Souza seems unphased.
Shaker fails to land with a series of punches.

Souza pushes Shaker up against the cage in a clinch.

Souza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rum Shaker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Souza throws a jab when Shaker was well out of range.
Shaker is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Shaker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Souza has his takedown stuffed
and Shaker counters with a three punch combo that has Souza backing up. Souza nods at Shaker to acknowledge the strikes.
Souza is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shaker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza clinches but Shaker breaks the clinch
and Shaker counters with a series of strikes. Souza will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shaker misses with the combination.
Shaker is looking to clinch but Souza is avoiding it.

Souza moves into range and clinches up with Shaker.

Souza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shaker misses with the combination.
Shaker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shaker misses with a double jab.

Souza darts in and clinches Shaker up against the cage.
Shaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Souza won't allow it.

Souza manages to break the clinch.
Shaker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Souza circles away quickly and effectively.
Souza tries to clinch but Shaker moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Souza closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shaker to the mat! Shaker manages to get full guard.
Shaker wants to stand and escape but Souza is having none of it.

Souza drops back looking for a leg! Shaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shaker manages to kick Souza off! Souza jumps back into Shaker's guard.
Souza prevents Shaker from getting back to his feet.

Souza gets to his feet - Shaker follows without any prompting.
Nice sprawl there from Shaker as Souza shoots in.
Rum Shaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Souza.
Souza is looking to clinch.

Souza gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Shaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Souza moves into range and clinches up with Shaker.
Andre Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rum Shaker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Souza manages to break the clinch.
Souza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shaker moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andre Souza.
I think Shaker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rum Shaker!