PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joao Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Borys Szymanski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joao Sousa could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Borys Szymanski's chin.

Sousa
vs
Szymanski

180 cm
20
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
167 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joao Sousa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Borys Szymanski!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szymanski stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sousa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Szymanski is fending him off so far but Sousa persists. Nope, Szymanski circles away and we're back to standing.
Sousa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Szymanski pinned against the cage. Szymanski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Szymanski with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sousa to score with a decent uppercut.
Szymanski lands a jab.
Szymanski scores with a jab to the head.
Sousa throws a body punch but Szymanski moves out of range.
Szymanski lands a jab to the head.
Sousa digs a good hook to Szymanski's body.
Sousa lunges at Szymanski with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Szymanski's hand.
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!
Szymanski fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sousa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Szymanski counters with a stiff right hand.
Sousa throws a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Szymanski misses.
Sousa connects with a body shot that sends Szymanski's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa just misses with a punch to the body.
Szymanski ducks under a wild hook from Sousa.
Sousa throws out a powerful jab.
Sousa throws a sloppy body shot
and Szymanski counters with a straight right hand.
Szymanski getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Szymanski connects with a right hand. Sousa shakes it off.
Szymanski lands a lovely overhand right.
Sousa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Szymanski.
Szymanski misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Sousa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Szymanski pushes Sousa off but Sousa dives into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szymanski is not content to let Sousa control the position.

Sousa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Szymanski knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Szymanski felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Sousa is looking to take a break and control but Szymanski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Szymanski is looking for a sweep.
We've been hearing good reports from Sousa's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Sousa trying to control the action but Szymanski is working from the bottom.

Sousa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sousa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa wants to control but Szymanski is keeping him busy.
Szymanski regains half guard.
Szymanski is trying is best to control the position here.
Well, if Sousa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sousa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

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.

Sousa is looking for a kimura here.
Sousa works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sousa prevents Szymanski from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Borys Szymanski will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Szymanski connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Borys Szymanski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sousa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sousa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Szymanski throws a fast counter high kick but Sousa manages to duck under it in time.
Szymanski throws a right and a left that Sousa avoids nicely.
Sousa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Szymanski manages to avoid it.
Sousa throws a body punch but Szymanski moves out of range.
Szymanski lands a body shot.
Sousa throws a big shot that misses.
A nice side step and Szymanski releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sousa has his takedown stuffed
and Szymanski counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sousa thinking.
Szymanski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sousa was well out of range. Poor timing from Szymanski.
Sousa missing with a left hand there. Szymanski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Szymanski catches Sousa right on the button with a cross.
Sousa misses with a hook. Szymanski ducked under it nicely.
Sousa throws an overhand right that lands on Szymanski's shoulder, as Szymanski tries to avoid the shot.
Szymanski takes one to the chin there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szymanski moves out of range of the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Szymanski on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Szymanski paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sousa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Szymanski's guard.
Szymanski is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sousa dives into side control.

Szymanski tries to escape but Sousa is in control.
Sousa trying to control the position but Szymanski is working away.
Szymanski gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szymanski stops Sousa from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa tries to control but Szymanski wriggling away.
Szymanski sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Sousa is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Szymanski doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sousa.
Sousa controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is looking to advance position but Szymanski won't allow it.
Sousa works his way into side control.
Sousa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Szymanski keeps working.
Szymanski tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sousa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sousa happy to just control the position for now.
Szymanski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
Sousa trying to control the position but Szymanski is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Szymanski can do anything to dispel that myth.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sousa trying to control the action but Szymanski is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Szymanski gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joao Sousa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sousa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sousa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Szymanski counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sousa thinking.
Szymanski ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A good leg kick by Szymanski.
Szymanski scores with a sloppy right hand. Sousa should have avoided that one.
Sousa throws a shot from downtown. Szymanski moves away and avoids it.
Szymanski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Szymanski fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Szymanski throws a shot to the body.
Szymanski with a nice cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed right hand from Sousa misses the target.
Sousa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sousa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab from Szymanski.
Szymanski ducks under a wild hook from Sousa.
A jab from Sousa misses.
Szymanski connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sousa drives through with a takedown into Szymanski's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Szymanski managing to control the position.
Szymanski wants to sweep but no luck.
Sousa wants to pass the guard but Szymanski is keeping the position.
Sousa advances to half guard.
Szymanski has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sousa is working away from the top position though.

Sousa seems to be working for a kimura but Szymanski defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa wants to pass the guard but Szymanski is defending well.
Szymanski wants to control but Sousa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sousa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Szymanski does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sousa is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Szymanski trying to keep a closed guard but Sousa is proving a slippery customer.
Sousa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski can't keep his opponent in guard - Sousa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Sousa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Szymanski is just riding it out for now. Sousa eventually gives up the hold.
Szymanski controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

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.
Sousa trying to control from half guard but Szymanski is working away.
Szymanski has his hands clasped together around Sousa's back. He's all about the action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sousa has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Szymanski.
Szymanski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sousa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Szymanski scores with the left hand. Sousa knows he should have avoided that one.
Sousa takes one on the button.
Sousa wants to clinch but Szymanski slips to the side
letting Szymanski counter with a right hand.
Sousa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Szymanski uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sousa has time to react.

And that's the end of the fight!
Borys Szymanski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Szymanski 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Borys Szymanski!