PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thurgood Jenkins (ranked 745 p4p, 78 weight class) and Joao Sousa (ranked 1194 p4p, 126 weight class). Sousa has chosen Beat It as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Joao Sousa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Jenkins
vs
Sousa

165 cm
22
150 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
157 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q
Fanatic Inc.

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thurgood Jenkins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joao Sousa!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jenkins throws out a loose jab but Sousa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sousa lands with an overhand left.
Jenkins moves out of range of the strikes.
Jenkins missing with a left hand there. Sousa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jenkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sousa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Jenkins avoids the body shot from Sousa.
Jenkins feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Jenkins.

Sousa scores with a takedown into Jenkins's guard.

Jenkins manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sousa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jenkins backwards.
I was talking to Jenkins's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Jenkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jenkins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Sousa.
Jenkins misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Jenkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sousa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jenkins misses with a body punch.
Sousa lands a right hand.
Jenkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Sousa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jenkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Sousa.
Jenkins pushes Sousa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jenkins lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short left from Sousa.
Sousa misses with a punch on the inside.
Jenkins throws a head punch that misses.
Sousa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jenkins's elbow.
Jenkins misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jenkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Sousa.
Jenkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jenkins lands a shot to the body.
Jenkins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sousa's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sousa.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sousa.
Jenkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sousa swings wildly with an uppercut but Jenkins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sousa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Sousa fails to land.
Jenkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sousa cracks Jenkins with a nice body shot.
Jenkins lands a nice uppercut.

Sousa decides to pull guard.
Sousa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jenkins manages to get himself to full guard.

Sousa wants to control from the top but Jenkins keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jenkins seems keen to control Sousa's posture.
Sousa stopping the sweep attempt from Jenkins.
Sousa passes Jenkins's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Sousa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jenkins is just riding it out for now. Sousa eventually gives up the hold.
Sousa trying to control the pace.
Sousa is keen to just control but Jenkins is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sousa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Sousa is trying to work for a kimura but Jenkins is defending well.
Sousa passes to full mount!
Jenkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jenkins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Jenkins keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sousa cracks Jenkins with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Sousa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jenkins throws a looping overhand right but Sousa ducks down to avoid it.
Jenkins misses with a series of wild punches.
Jenkins walks into a jab.

Sousa gets a takedown into half guard.

Jenkins pushes Sousa off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jenkins misses with a head kick.
Sousa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jenkins defends it well.
Sousa with a jab.
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!
Sousa moves out of range of the strikes.
Jenkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sousa.
Jenkins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sousa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sousa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jenkins was covering up waiting for the punch and Sousa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jenkins is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sousa dives into side control.

Jenkins is looking for a sweep.
Jenkins wants to get back to his feet but Sousa drags him back down.
Jenkins is not content to let Sousa control the position.
Jenkins is trying to get back to half guard.
Joao Sousa has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sousa goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Jenkins has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sousa but great work by Jenkins.
Sousa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Sousa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jenkins is keen to just control but Sousa is a slippery customer.
Sousa works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sousa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jenkins defends it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sousa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jenkins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jenkins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins looking to pass the guard.
Sousa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jenkins is not content to let Sousa control the position.

Sousa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jenkins is just riding it out for now. Sousa eventually gives up the hold.
Sousa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is looking to advance position but Jenkins won't allow it.
Jenkins wants to improve his position but Sousa is controlling well.
Sousa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jenkins is refusing to be controlled, as Sousa sits in half guard.
Jenkins gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joao Sousa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jenkins connects with a leg kick. Sousa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sousa scores with a sloppy right hand. Jenkins should have avoided that one.
Sousa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jenkins defends it nicely.
Jenkins lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sousa takes one on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sousa lands with a straight right. Jenkins didn't see that one coming.
Sousa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jenkins throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sousa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jenkins defends it well.

Sousa gets a clinch.
Sousa scores with a shot to the side of Jenkins's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins misses with some punches.
A short left from Jenkins.
Jenkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sousa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sousa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sousa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sousa throws a head punch that misses.
Jenkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Sousa controls his hands.
Jenkins lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sousa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jenkins is working Sousa over against the cage.
Jenkins blocking some punches.
Jenkins softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sousa throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sousa.
Sousa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jenkins just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sousa misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sousa.
Jenkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Sousa.
Sousa lands with a left to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Sousa.
Sousa blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins can't find room to land a body shot as Sousa controls the action.
Jenkins blocking some punches.
Sousa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jenkins's elbow.
Sousa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jenkins can't find room to land a body shot as Sousa controls the action.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short right from Jenkins.
Jenkins digs a right hand underneath Sousa's ribcage. Sousa let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sousa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jenkins misses with the head strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jenkins.
Sousa working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Jenkins fails to land.
Sousa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jenkins blocking some punches.
Jenkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Sousa.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jenkins.
Sousa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thurgood Jenkins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jenkins.
Jenkins tries to work over Sousa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sousa has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Jenkins seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Sousa can turn it around.
Sousa misses with a punch on the inside.
Jenkins working aggressively here.
Jenkins is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Sousa's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jenkins.
Jenkins stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jenkins lands with a light punch inside.
Jenkins blocks an uppercut.
Sousa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Jenkins misses with the head strike.

Jenkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sousa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jenkins cracks Sousa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Jenkins scores with a one two! Sousa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Joao Sousa has been cut.
Jenkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Sousa feints the counter takedown.
Sousa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jenkins was well out of range. Poor timing from Sousa.
Sousa tries for a takedown but Jenkins circles away easily
and Jenkins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thurgood Jenkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Sousa.
Sousa throws a shot from downtown. Jenkins moves away and avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sousa misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Sousa.
Sousa slips a jab from Jenkins.
Donk. Jenkins catches Sousa right on the button with a cross.
A jab from Jenkins does it's job there.
Jenkins misses with a hook.
Jenkins throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sousa.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sousa.

Jenkins bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Sousa connects with a crisp jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sousa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thurgood Jenkins clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Sousa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jenkins throws a big shot that misses.
Sousa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jenkins.
Jenkins needs to keep his hands up - Sousa had a free shot at his head there.
Sousa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jenkins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sousa on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Jenkins needs to keep his hands up - Sousa had a free shot at his head there.
Sousa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jenkins defends well and Sousa ends up having to push Jenkins into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jenkins misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A cross from Jenkins lands.
Jab, jab by Jenkins - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins throws a looping overhand right but Sousa ducks down to avoid it.
Thurgood Jenkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jenkins feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sousas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Donk. Sousa catches Jenkins right on the button with a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jenkins. Sousa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sousa throws a hook to the side of Jenkins's head but Jenkins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jenkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sousa with the counter takedown but Jenkins avoids it easily.
A big right from Jenkins misses.
Sousa throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jenkins on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Jenkins feints and then cracks Sousa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sousa down.
Sousa works the jab nicely.
Sousa shoots in and drives through. Jenkins sprawls well.
Jenkins misses with a low kick as Sousa jumps back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins connects with a body shot.
Sousa misses with an uppercut. Jenkins saw that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slow jab from Jenkins misses its intended target.
Jenkins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sousa.
Sousa with a poor takedown
and Jenkins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thurgood Jenkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Sousa.
A slow jab from Jenkins misses its intended target.
Jenkins takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sousa is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jenkins. Sousa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sousa blocks a head kick by Jenkins.
Sousa slips a straight right by Jenkins.
Sousa lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Sousa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sousa throws a right hand that misses
and Jenkins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sousa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jenkins.
And Sousa tries to counter it with a takedown but Jenkins pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Jenkins fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sousa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The fighters circling - Sousa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jenkins swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sousa takes one to the side of the head.
Jenkins misses with a body shot.
Jenkins throws a sloppy head kick and Sousa moves out of range easily.
Jenkins misses with a looping right.
Sousa lands a nice shot that snaps Jenkins's head back.
Jenkins cracks the inside of Sousa's front leg.
Sousa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jenkins ducks under a wild hook from Sousa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins misses with a looping left.
Sousa connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sousa throws a shot from downtown. Jenkins moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Jenkins on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sousa throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sousa is defended easily by Jenkins.
The fighters circling - Sousa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice shot lands for Jenkins.
Jenkins throws a hook but Sousa avoids it easily.
Sousa misses with a looping left.
Jenkins throws a hook to the side of Sousa's head but Sousa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thurgood Jenkins had his way with Joao Sousa in that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Sousa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Jenkins.
Jenkins lands a jab.
Jenkins throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sousa on the side of the head.
Jenkins tests Sousa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sousa lands a lovely overhand right.
Jenkins's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sousa under the eye.
Sousa moves away from the strike by Jenkins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sousa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sousa defending well as Jenkins loads up on a big left hand.
Jenkins scoring well with a low kick there.
Sousa lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jenkins.
Thurgood Jenkins is winning the standup battle so far.
Jenkins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sousa connects with a single shot there.
Jenkins throws the left hand but Sousa avoids the punch easily.
Good shot there by Sousa.

Sousa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Jenkins napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jenkins is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sousa cracks Jenkins with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Jenkins sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sousa trying to control but Jenkins is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sousa forces his way into half guard.
Jenkins wants to get back to full guard.
Jenkins trying to control but Sousa postures up.
Jenkins is not content to let Sousa control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins wants to control but Sousa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jenkins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sousa is taking a breather. Jenkins 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.

Sousa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sousa wants to take a breather but Jenkins is having none of it.

That's four 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jenkins throws out a loose jab but Sousa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sousa misses with a left hand
and Jenkins counters with an inside leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jenkins throws the left hand but Sousa avoids the punch easily.
Sousa throws the left hand but Jenkins avoids the punch easily.
Sousa looks to throw the jab but Jenkins is out of range.
A cross from Sousa lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thurgood Jenkins.
I think Jenkins 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 48:47
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 48:48
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Thurgood Jenkins!
Thurgood Jenkins retains his featherweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Thurgood Jenkins thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.