PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joao Sousa (ranked 833 p4p, 97 weight class) and Esteban San Pedro (ranked 697 p4p, 79 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sousa might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Beat It. The crowd seem to be enjoying San Pedro's choice of entrance music: Gunman. Esteban San Pedro has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joao Sousa's chin.

Sousa
vs
San Pedro

180 cm
23
157 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

168 cm
24
147 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Voodoo 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 - 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 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Esteban San Pedro!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
San Pedro slips a jab from Sousa.
San Pedro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
San Pedro tries to move into range but Sousa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sousa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from San Pedro.
San Pedro misses with an uppercut. Sousa saw that one coming.
Sousa is looking to counter punch.
Sousa walks into a jab.

It looks like Joao Sousa has been cut.
San Pedro looks to throw the jab but Sousa is out of range.
San Pedro ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A jab from San Pedro misses.
San Pedro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sousa.
San Pedro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from San Pedro enables Sousa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. San Pedro manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
San Pedro is pulling down on Sousa's head. It's preventing any offense from Sousa, at least for the moment.
Sousa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. San Pedro swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Pedro seems keen to control Sousa's posture.
San Pedro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
San Pedro is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sousa throws a big right hand that misses.
Sousa wants to pass the guard but San Pedro is keeping the position.
San Pedro trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
San Pedro lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sousa at a distance.
San Pedro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sousa.
San Pedro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Sousa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into San Pedro's guard.
Sousa is standing up over San Pedro. San Pedro looks to escape but Sousa dives into side control.
San Pedro has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

San Pedro is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
San Pedro is looking for a sweep.
The strikes coming from Sousa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa wants to lay and pray for a moment but San Pedro keeps working.
San Pedro defending against the ground and pound.
San Pedro 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.
An elbow from Sousa crashes against the mat.
San Pedro manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sousa trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
San Pedro takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sousa wants to improve his position but San Pedro is controlling well.
San Pedro trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is looking for a sweep. San Pedro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
San Pedro wants to pass the guard but Sousa is defending well.

Sousa actively working from the bottom here.

Sousa looking for subs from the bottom but San Pedro mounts him!
San Pedro wants to take Sousa's back but he can't do it this time.
Sousa has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
San Pedro mounts Sousa! Really nice guard pass there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esteban San Pedro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joao Sousa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

San Pedro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Sousa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. San Pedro was covering up waiting for the punch and Sousa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sousa stopping the sweep attempt from San Pedro.
Sousa slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San Pedro looking for a sweep. Not yet San Pedro, not yet.
San Pedro keeping moving, preventing Sousa from controlling successfully.
San Pedro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sousa is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa wants to control from the top but San Pedro keeps moving.
San Pedro trying to keep a closed guard but Sousa is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
San Pedro scores with a head kick.
Sousa connects with a crisp jab.

Sousa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Joao Sousa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sousa trying to control the action but San Pedro is working from the bottom.
San Pedro parries the strikes from Sousa easily there. Sousa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable San Pedro to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sousa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
San Pedro tries to improve position but can't.
Sousa wants to lay and pray for a moment but San Pedro keeps working.
San Pedro can't do much from the bottom here.
Sousa trying to control the action but San Pedro is working from the bottom.
San Pedro is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt San Pedro will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
San Pedro manages to get back to half guard.
Sousa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sousa is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sousa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
San Pedro moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San Pedro being controlled here, momentarily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now San Pedro is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
San Pedro engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
San Pedro postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Esteban San Pedro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joao Sousa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sousa throws a sloppy body shot
and San Pedro counters with a nice uppercut.
San Pedro scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sousa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Joao Sousa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good standup being displayed there by San Pedro as he connects with a hook.
Sousa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sousa slips under a jab.
Nice shot by San Pedro.
San Pedro throws out a loose jab but Sousa uses good head movement to avoid it.
San Pedro misses with a right hand
and Sousa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sousa is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
San Pedro changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
San Pedro misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Pedro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sousa.
Sousa lands a jab to San Pedro's midsection.
San Pedro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sousa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
San Pedro takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sousa throws a right hand that misses
and San Pedro counters with a left to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for San Pedro.
Sousa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sousa misses with a hook. San Pedro ducked under it nicely.
Sousa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
San Pedro cracks Sousa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Esteban San Pedro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sousa misses with a straight left.
Sousa jabs San Pedro right on the nose. San Pedro blinks but takes it well.
Sousa misses with an uppercut. San Pedro saw that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sousa cracks San Pedro with a right hand to the side of the head.
San Pedro jabs Sousa right on the nose. Sousa blinks but takes it well.
A nice inside leg kick there by San Pedro. That's going to slow Sousa down.
San Pedro moves out of range as Sousa strikes.
Sousa avoids the head kick by San Pedro.
Sousa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
San Pedro throws a right hand that misses

and Sousa counters by clinching up.

San Pedro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but San Pedro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from San Pedro misses the target.
A slow jab from Sousa misses its intended target.
San Pedro throws out a counter right but Sousa avoids it with no problem.
San Pedro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from San Pedro enables Sousa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. San Pedro manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sousa controls from within his opponent's guard.
San Pedro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
San Pedro keeping moving, preventing Sousa from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San Pedro is controlling Sousa's posture.
San Pedro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sousa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sousa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
San Pedro keeping moving, preventing Sousa from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Esteban San Pedro just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Joao Sousa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jab, jab by Sousa - just one landing.
Sousa throws a hook but San Pedro avoids it easily.
San Pedro appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Sousa tests San Pedro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sousa misses with an uppercut
and San Pedro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sousa or perhaps it was just good defense by San Pedro, which made it look bad.
Sousa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little jabbing left from San Pedro on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
San Pedro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sousa.
San Pedro ducks under a wild hook from Sousa.
Esteban San Pedro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A lazy left from San Pedro finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Pedro lands the left hand.
San Pedro lands with an uppercut that bounces Sousa off the cage and back into range.

San Pedro darts in and clinches Sousa up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Sousa fails to land.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, San Pedro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sousa.
Sousa lands with a left to the head.
Sousa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sousa just leaning against San Pedro, taking a breather.
San Pedro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sousa's elbow.
San Pedro lands with a left to the head.
Sousa misses with some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from San Pedro.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sousa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Sousa.
Sousa gets through San Pedro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
San Pedro lands with a right to the head.

Sousa is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sousa misses with some punches.
San Pedro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sousas head.
Oh Sousa is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Still in the clinch, San Pedro scores with a nice short uppercut.
San Pedro pushes Sousa against the cage. San Pedro is working some dirty boxing. San Pedro pushes off with a quick right hook! Sousa goes down! Sousa tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! San Pedro moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:15 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Esteban San Pedro!
Esteban San Pedro is the new featherweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Esteban San Pedro thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.