PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Azevedo Souza (ranked 3042 p4p, 338 weight class) and Ryo Tanaka (ranked 2247 p4p, 241 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Azevedo Souza
vs
Tanaka

174 cm
25
149 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

ZZ POPS

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gabriel Azevedo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ryo Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka loads up on a big right hand but Azevedo Souza slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Azevedo Souza misses the target.
Tanaka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Azevedo Souza is out of range and Tanaka settles back down.
Azevedo Souza definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters circling - Tanaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Azevedo Souza pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tanaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Azevedo Souza avoids it really well and circles away.
Tanaka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Azevedo Souza but Azevedo Souza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo Souza checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tanaka fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Azevedo Souza looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tanaka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Tanaka has Azevedo Souza up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tanaka. Azevedo Souza does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tanaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tanaka moves out of range as Azevedo Souza strikes.
Tanaka throws a wild body kick that Azevedo Souza sees coming a mile off.
Azevedo Souza throwing a counter right hand but Tanaka manages to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tanaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Azevedo Souza.
Azevedo Souza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tanaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ryo Tanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azevedo Souza circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka tries to land a front kick but Azevedo Souza steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Tanaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Azevedo Souza working aggressively here.
Azevedo Souza has a couple of punches blocked by Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza working aggressively here.
Tanaka is pushing Azevedo Souza up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tanaka stalling.
The crowd are getting on Tanaka's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Azevedo Souza letting Tanaka take a breather here.
Tanaka continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tanaka.
Tanaka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Azevedo Souza swings wildly with an uppercut but Tanaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tanaka blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gabriel Azevedo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Tanaka.
Azevedo Souza working aggressively here.
Tanaka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ryo Tanaka.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Azevedo Souza checks a leg kick.
Tanaka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Azevedo Souza tries to avoid it but Tanaka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Azevedo Souza to the ground. Azevedo Souza escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tanaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tanaka throws a lazy uppercut
and Azevedo Souza counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Tanaka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Azevedo Souza wants to improve his position but Tanaka is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza gets back to full guard.
Tanaka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Azevedo Souza is controlling Tanaka's posture.

Azevedo Souza is looking for a triangle but Tanaka pushes his legs off easily.
Tanaka looking to sit in guard and control but Azevedo Souza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tanaka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Azevedo Souza is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gabriel Azevedo Souza will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Azevedo Souza thows a left - swing and a miss!
Azevedo Souza looks to land a left hand but Tanaka moved out of range nicely.

Tanaka looking to score a takedown here. Azevedo Souza is defending well but Tanaka drives through and ends up in Azevedo Souza's guard.

Azevedo Souza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tanaka defends it easily.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Azevedo Souza keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Azevedo Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Azevedo Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Azevedo Souza has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Tanaka should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Azevedo Souza has tightened it up now! Tanaka should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gabriel Azevedo Souza!
An out of breath Gabriel Azevedo Souza thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.