PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joao Sousa (ranked 1157 p4p, 114 weight class) and Scuba Chris (ranked 1623 p4p, 165 weight class). Sousa's entrance music is Beat It. A fine choice. Joao Sousa could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Scuba Chris's chin.

Sousa
vs
Chris

180 cm
23
157 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

173 cm
23
144 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joao Sousa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Scuba Chris!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sousa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Sousa takes the fight into the clinch.
Chris blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sousa 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.
Sousa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sousa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sousa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sousa lands an uppercut.

Sousa has clasped his hands together around Chris's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Sousa landing a few strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chris is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sousa asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sousa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Chris is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Chris throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Sousa with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa moves out of range of the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sousa. Chris does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice side step and Chris releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sousa misses with a wild body shot.
Chris keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chris uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sousa.
Sousa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chris moves away.
A jab lands there for Sousa.
Chris keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice cross by Sousa.
Chris throws a jab when Sousa was well out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Sousa there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chris slips under a jab from Sousa.
Sousa misses the shot to the body.

Sousa moves into the clinch.
Sousa tries a body shot but Chris blocks it.
Chris wants to break the clinch but can't.

Chris breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sousa scores with a sloppy right hand. Chris should have avoided that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sousa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Chris on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Scuba Chris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Chris!
Chris misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chris falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sousa counters by moving into the clinch.
Sousa gets through Chris's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sousa misses with the head strike.
A short body shot lands from Chris as the two fighters clinch.
Sousa is trying to pull guard but Chris has him pressed against the cage.
Chris is trying to push Sousa away but Sousa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Chris blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sousa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Chris manages to break the clinch.
Chris gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sousa.
Chris keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sousa.
Nice shot by Chris.
Chris lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa misses with a double jab
and Chris counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sousa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sousa slips under a jab.
Sousa walks into a left hand.
Chris cracks Sousa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sousa misses with a body shot.
Sousa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Chris keeps the fight on the outside.
Chris appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chris throws a hook to the side of Sousa's head but Sousa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sousa dodges the punch combination from Chris.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sousa moves out of range of the strikes.
Chris drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Chris misses with a right hand

and Sousa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sousa prevents Chris from getting back to his feet.

Chris has his feet on Sousa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Joao Sousa is winning the standup battle so far.
Sousa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Chris avoids it really well and circles away.
Chris throws out a counter right but Sousa avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sousa tries to clinch but Chris moves out of range.
Chris tries to bum rush Sousa with a series of wild strikes but Sousa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Chris slips a jab from Sousa.
Sousa misses with a right hand
and Chris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chris's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sousa under the eye.
A punch combination from Chris misses.
Sousa lands a lovely overhand right.
Sousa is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Chris keeps the fight on the outside.
Sousa lands with a good body shot.
Sousa throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Chris to counter with a crisp jab.
Sousa lands a jab to the nose.
Sousa slips a jab and a cross from Chris.
Chris tries to move into range but Sousa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Chris walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A punch combination from Chris misses.

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!
Jab from Sousa.
Chris throws a big shot that misses.
Sousa misses with a looping right.
Sousa misses with a straight left.
Sousa is looking to clinch.
Sousa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Chris counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Chris pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Chris uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sousa.
Chris misses with an uppercut. Sousa saw that one coming.
Sousa throws a body punch but Chris moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Chris on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Sousa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chris is trying to stand up here but Sousa is controlling him well.
Chris is positioning himself well to prevent Sousa advancing to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chris is looking to control Sousa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Chris avoid being mounted?
Chris 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.
Joao Sousa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chris controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Chris makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Chris.
Sousa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Chris manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sousa manages to get himself to full guard.

Chris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sousa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chris controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Sousa looking for a guillotine here but Chris defends easily.
Sousa keeping moving, preventing Chris from controlling successfully.

Chris drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chris jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Chris trying to control but Sousa is working from the bottom.
Sousa working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Scuba Chris will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sousa misses the shot to the body.
Sousa misses with a series of wild punches.
Sousa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It seemed like Chris was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sousa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chris misses with an uppercut.

Sousa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Chris, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chris breaks the clinch.
Chris throws a sloppy body shot
and Sousa counters with a straight right hand.
Sousa dips to his left and cracks Chris with an uppercut!
Nice defenses there by Chris.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Chris! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chris misses with a hook.
Sousa looks for a takedown but Chris sprawls well.
Chris let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Chris tests Sousa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Chris throws a one two combo.

Sousa takes the fight into the clinch.

Chris manages to break the clinch.
Sousa lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Sousa.
Sousa throws a series of punches but Chris moves out of range.
Chris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Sousa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chris slaps away a takedown attempt from Sousa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sousa throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Chris to counter with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sousa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chris.
Chris misses with a wild combination.
Chris scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chris sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chris let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sousa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sousa misses with the head strike.
Sousa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Chris's efforts to push away.
Chris wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Chris blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Chris has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Chris escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Chris avoids the body shot from Sousa.
Chris takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chris avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Chris misses with a straight left.

Sousa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sousa being controlled here momentarily.
Sousa trying to control the position from guard on top but Chris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sousa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Chris wants to control the position but Sousa says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Chris tries to roll over but Sousa keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Sousa clearly takes that round.
That's time! Sousa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Chris connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sousa momentarily.
Chris throws a jab but it's blocked by Sousa.
Sousa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Chris lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sousa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Chris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Scuba Chris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sousa slips a straight right by Chris.
Nice defenses there by Sousa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chris misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Sousa counters with a takedown into side control.
Chris tries to escape but Sousa is in control.
Sousa is putting a hurting on Chris here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chris tries to escape but Sousa is in control.
Chris struggling a bit here.
Sousa prevents Chris from escaping the position.
Chris wants to control but Sousa postures up.
You can see the frustration on Chris's face as Sousa controls the position.
Chris takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Chris throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Sousa clinches.
Sousa pushes Chris back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sousa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Chris wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chris wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sousa is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Chris can't fight it off and eventually Sousa manages to take the fight to the floor. Chris looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sousa trying to control but Chris is working from the bottom.
Chris is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sousa is controlling him.

Sousa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Chris has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sousa has managed to get both his arms back between Chris's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sousa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chris had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sousa defends it easily.
Sousa landing with the ground and pound.
Sousa wants to control from the top but Chris keeps moving.
Sousa works over Chris with some ground and pound from guard.
Sousa tries to free his leg and advance position but Chris is retaining full guard.
Sousa forces his way into half guard.
Sousa winds up and cracks Chris with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chris tries to roll over but Sousa keeps him under control.
Chris is trying to stand back up but Sousa is controlling him
Sousa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chris wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Sousa had his way with Scuba Chris in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Good shot there by Sousa.
Chris swats away the attempt to clinch by Sousa.
Sousa misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Chris counters with a nice uppercut.

Sousa closes the distance and clinches.
Chris tries a body shot but Sousa blocks it.
Sousa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Chris smiles and moves away.
Chris might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sousa jabs Chris to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sousa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chris manages to avoid it.
Chris takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Chris falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sousa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sousa cracks Chris with a good jab.
Sousa cracks Chris with a right hand to the side of the head.

Chris is rocked!
Chris ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sousa digs a good body shot into Chris's ribs.
Chris takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Chris is still on wobbly legs! Can Sousa finish him?
Sousa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Chris manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa throws out a loose jab but Chris uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chris looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sousa wants to clinch.
Chris seems to have recovered his senses.
Chris swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Chris displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sousa.
A little jabbing left from Chris on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sousa tests Chris's chin there with a solid looking shot.
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 throws out a loose jab but Chris uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sousa. Chris does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sousa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sousa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Chris looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Sousa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sousa lands a body punch.
Sousa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Chris.
Sousa is trying to pull guard but Chris has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Sousa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sousa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Chris momentarily.
Chris moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sousa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chris can do to turn this around?
Chris takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Joao Sousa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sousa blocks a head kick by Chris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chris lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sousa backs up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sousa with a jab.
Chris shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sousa eats them both and turns towards Chris to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sousa throws a lazy right hand but Chris sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Chris takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sousa misses with an uppercut
and Chris counters with a left and a right that stings Sousa.
Scuba Chris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sousa moves in looking to clinch but Chris pushes him off.
Chris looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sousa fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Chris on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Chris shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Sousa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sousa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 49:46
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 49:46
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Sousa!
Joao Sousa is the new featherweight champion!
Joao Sousa seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.