PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Souza (ranked 1951 p4p, 240 weight class) and Matheo Rojas (ranked 1480 p4p, 186 weight class). Souza comes to the cage accompanied by Gwen Stefani-Luxurious. Matheo Rojas told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Souza
vs
Rojas

170 cm
24
159 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

182 cm
22
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ritchie Souza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matheo Rojas!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A right-left combo lands from Rojas.
Rojas clobbers Souza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rojas throws a leg kick which misses Souza's front leg but catches the back leg as Souza tries to avoid it.
Rojas connects with a leg kick. Souza looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rojas.
Souza takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rojas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rojas throws a nice head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rojas.
Souza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rojas.
Souza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Souza on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Souza takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rojas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Souza's calf.
Matheo Rojas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rojas tests Souza's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rojas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rojas cracks Souza with an open hand slap.
Nice body kick there by Rojas.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rojas.
Rojas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Souza has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rojas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A jab lands there for Rojas.
Rojas throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.
Souza takes one on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some wild striking there from Rojas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Souza takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rojas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rojas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rojas feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Souzas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Souza is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Souza walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rojas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rojas is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Souza with a body shot.
Souza takes a jab right on the kisser.
Souza has been working on his balance at , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Rojas.
Rojas pushes Souza away with a front kick.
Rojas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rojas is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Souza had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rojas jabs Souza right on the nose. Souza blinks but takes it well.
Rojas throws a head kick that Souza semi-blocks.
Souza has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rojas.
Rojas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Souza on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rojas bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Souza misses with a lunging right hand
and Rojas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Souza takes a jab right on the kisser.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Souza crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rojas - the referee stops the clock and Souza gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rojas. Souza manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Matheo Rojas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!
Rojas connects with a crisp jab.
Rojas throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Souza tries to clinch up.
A solid body kick from Rojas.
A head kick from Rojas lands but Souza takes it in his stride.
Souza drops his hands momentarily and Rojas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rojas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rojas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Souza takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rojas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rojas scoring well with a low kick there.
Rojas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheo Rojas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rojas throws a head kick that half lands.
Souza thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rojas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rojas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rojas.
Souza comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ritchie Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Matheo Rojas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rojas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Souza's calf.
Both fighters circling a little - Rojas finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rojas lands a nice looking body shot.
Horrible takedown attempt by Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Rojas, which made it look bad.
Rojas lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas cracks a nice hook into Souza's ribs.
Souza moves in looking to clinch but Rojas pushes him off.
Rojas thumps Souza with a low kick.
Souza tries a head kick but it misses.
Rojas thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Souza if he has to take too many more of those.
Rojas misses with a head kick.
Souza drops his hands momentarily and Rojas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rojas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Souza throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rojas counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Souza will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Souza walks into a stiff left hand from Rojas.
Rojas fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Souza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rojas tries to avoid it but Souza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rojas to the ground. Rojas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Souza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Souza takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Souza takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Souza might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Rojas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rojas lands with a cross.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rojas sprawls well. Rojas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ritchie Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rojas lands a jab to Souza's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas sizes up Souza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Souza walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rojas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rojas misses with a head kick.
A solid body kick from Rojas.
Rojas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Souza circles away quickly and effectively.
Rojas connects with a looping right hand.
Rojas throws a head kick that misses.
Souza swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Souza looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rojas throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.
Rojas connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas throws a front kick that sends Souza stumbling back into the cage.
Rojas avoids the head kick by Souza.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A solid leg kick lands there for Rojas.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rojas sprawls well. Rojas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice body kick there by Rojas.
Souza tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Souza manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rojas on his heels. He'll look to pass Rojas's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheo Rojas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rojas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rojas lands with a nice body kick.
Rojas throws a leg kick which misses Souza's front leg but catches the back leg as Souza tries to avoid it.
Rojas lands with a good body shot.
Souza takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rojas works over Souza's head and body with a nice combination.
Rojas lands a head shot.
Rojas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rojas lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rojas jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rojas lands a leg kick that knocks Souza off balance momentarily.
Rojas throws a head kick that Souza semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rojas counters with a good low kick that Souza was not able to check.
Souza throws a series of punches but Rojas moves out of range.
Souza moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromRojas.
Souza takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice cross by Rojas.
Rojas scores with a head kick. Souza tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rojas with a nice cross.
Souza moves out of range as Rojas throws a body kick.
Souza was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Souza thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rojas lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rojas cracks a nice hook into Souza's ribs.
Souza takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Souza shoots in but Rojas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ritchie Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rojas scores with a shot to the body.
Rojas throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rojas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rojas.
Souza steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rojas. That one must have hurt.
Rojas lunges at Souza with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Souza's hand.
Rojas jabs at Souza's body.
Rojas tries a head kick but it misses.
Souza takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rojas misses with a wild body shot.
Rojas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rojas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rojas just misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rojas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Souza's sensitive parts.

Souza has managed to clinch.
Souza tries to pull guard but Rojas holds him up against the cage and eventually Souza drops back down to his feet.
Souza tries to pull guard but Rojas holds him up against the cage and eventually Souza drops back down to his feet.

Rojas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheo Rojas really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rojas 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.
Souza tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souza is defended easily by Rojas.
Souza's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rojas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Rojas.
Rojas throws a head kick that misses.
Rojas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rojas cracks Souza with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rojas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rojas connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Souza's hands.
Rojas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little feinted left hand from Souza on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rojas takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rojas throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rojas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rojas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rojas. That's going to slow Souza down.
A head kick by Rojas misses
and Souza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza throws a series of punches but Rojas avoids them all with ease.
Rojas throws a body punch but Souza moves out of range.
Souza avoids the head kick by Rojas.
A little feinted left hand from Souza on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rojas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Souza's head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Souza crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rojas - the referee stops the clock and Souza gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rojas. Souza manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rojas throws a head kick that misses.
Rojas is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Souza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rojas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rojas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Souza throws a head kick but Rojas moves out of range.
Rojas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rojas misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rojas scores with a leg kick.
Rojas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rojas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rojas lands a nice looking kick to the body. Souza takes a step back to recover.
Rojas tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rojas.
Souza takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rojas. That's going to slow Souza down.
Souza takes one on the button.
Rojas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Souza takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souza tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Souza on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rojas. Rojas obviously looking to wear him down.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rojas - that will leave a mark!
Rojas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rojas cracks Souza with a good jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheo Rojas dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rojas fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rojas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Souza's sensitive parts.
Rojas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Souza stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Souza fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Souza.
Rojas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rojas.
Rojas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rojas lands with a nice body kick.
Souza throws an overhand right that lands on Rojas's shoulder, as Rojas tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas throws a sloppy head kick and Souza moves out of range easily.
Rojas fakes the leg kick and cracks Souza in the body.
Souza misses the jab.
Souza takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Souza throws a series of punches but Rojas moves out of range.
Rojas thows a body kick. Souza tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rojas scores with a punch to the head.
Rojas thumps Souza with a low kick.
Rojas lands a jab to the head.
Rojas pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas thumps Souza with a low kick.
Sloppy strikes from Souza. Those never looked like landing.
Rojas scores with a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rojas lunges at Souza with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Souza's hand.
Souza tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rojas lands with a kick to the temple. Souza shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rojas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Souza takes a swing at Rojas's ribcage but misses.
Souza goes for a double leg but Rojas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rojas continues to drive forward.
Rojas lets loose with a powerful body kick. Souza will feel that in the morning.
Rojas moves away from the strike by Souza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas sizes up Souza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rojas lands a leg kick that knocks Souza off balance momentarily.
Rojas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Souza has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rojas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Souza circles away quickly and effectively.
Souza was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rojas scores with a hook.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rojas.
Rojas lands with a straight right. Souza didn't see that one coming.
Souza misses with a body kick.
A little jabbing left from Rojas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rojas thuds a left hand into Souza's body.
Souza 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.
Souza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Souza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A solid body kick from Rojas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rojas misses with a head kick.
It looked like Souza was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rojas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Souza.
Souza throws a right and a left that Rojas avoids nicely.
Rojas lands a head kick!
Rojas feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Souzas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rojas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ritchie Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rojas works over Souza's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheo Rojas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rojas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Gold scores the fight 43:50
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 43:50
Judge James Glass scores the fight 43:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matheo Rojas!
Matheo Rojas is the new lightweight champion!
Our winner, Matheo Rojas, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Ritchie Souza was interviewed post fight and said 'That dude is on PED's he needs to be tested ASAP. Cheater...'.