PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Azevedo Souza (ranked 189 p4p, 27 weight class) and Carwyn Cain (ranked 1043 p4p, 128 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Azevedo Souza
vs
Cain

174 cm
26
149 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
154 lbs
7 - 2 - 2

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

ZZ POPS

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gabriel Azevedo Souza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 2, fighting out of The Island, Carwyn Cain!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cain looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cain trying to control from half guard but Azevedo Souza is working away.
Azevedo Souza tries to get to full guard but Cain has control of the leg.
Azevedo Souza is looking to control Cain's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Azevedo Souza avoid being mounted?
Cain looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Azevedo Souza tries to roll over but Cain keeps him under control.
Cain thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Azevedo Souza's head.
Azevedo Souza is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at ELITE Island Gym - 19 Elite Coaches, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cain looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Azevedo Souza with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cain slips a nice elbow through Azevedo Souza's hands, connecting with Azevedo Souza's forehead.
Cain lands with a punch from half guard.
Cain working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Azevedo Souza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cain's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cain's back!

Azevedo Souza is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cain looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Azevedo Souza looking for the RNC.
Cain wants to escape the position.

Cain defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Cain tries to roll but Azevedo Souza sticks to his back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cain looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cain fending off the submission attempt from Azevedo Souza.
Cain trying to control but not successfully.

Azevedo Souza has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Cain has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cain's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Azevedo Souza doesn't have the hooks in and Cain manages to turn into his guard.

Azevedo Souza has his foot on Cain's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cain works his way back into a safe position though.
Cain content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Cain got a little sloppy there for a moment and Azevedo Souza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cain has managed to get both his arms back between Azevedo Souza's legs - danger averted.
Cain chips away with some ground and pound.
Cain makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cain working some strikes from top position.
Azevedo Souza looking for a sweep. Not yet Azevedo Souza, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Azevedo Souza is on top in guard.

Azevedo Souza won't allow Cain to sweep him here.
Azevedo Souza slips nicely into half guard.
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!
Cain is controlling Azevedo Souza's trapped leg to prevent Azevedo Souza from advancing to side control.
Azevedo Souza works his way into side control.

Azevedo Souza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Azevedo Souza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Azevedo Souza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Azevedo Souza misses with a straight right.
Azevedo Souza avoids the head kick by Cain.
Cain is trying hard to land a takedown here. Azevedo Souza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cain misses with a kick to the body.
Azevedo Souza misses with a looping left.
Azevedo Souza throws a jab but it's blocked by Cain.
Cain shoots in and drives through. Azevedo Souza sprawls well.
Cain closes this distance looking for a takedown but Azevedo Souza circles away.
Gabriel Azevedo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carwyn Cain.
Azevedo Souza fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cain bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo Souza misses with a body shot.
Azevedo Souza looks to throw the jab but Cain is out of range.
Azevedo Souza scores with a jab to the body.
Azevedo Souza looks to land a right hand but Cain moved out of range.
No luck for Cain with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azevedo Souza scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Azevedo Souza throws a big shot that misses.
Cain fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cain shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Azevedo Souza pinned against the cage. Azevedo Souza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Azevedo Souza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cain can do to turn this around?
Cain takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Azevedo Souza throws a body shot but no joy.
Azevedo Souza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cain manages to avoid it.
And Cain tries to counter it with a takedown but Azevedo Souza pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gabriel Azevedo Souza is winning the standup battle so far.
Cain throws a lazy head kick
and Azevedo Souza counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cain.
Cain misses with a takedown
and Azevedo Souza counters with a straight right hand.
Cain shoots for a double leg takedown but Azevedo Souza sprawls well. He's pushed Cain's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Cain throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Azevedo Souza was covering up waiting for the punch and Cain finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azevedo Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cain's guard.

Azevedo Souza advances position into side control!
Azevedo Souza tries to advance to mount but Cain denies him.
Azevedo Souza has knee on belly and moves into mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cain can do anything to dispel that myth.
Azevedo Souza takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Cain is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Azevedo Souza off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain is in bad spot here.

Cain defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Cain looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Azevedo Souza has managed to slip his arm under Cain's chin. This could be all over... yep, Cain is tapping out! Submission win for Azevedo Souza.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gabriel Azevedo Souza!
Gabriel Azevedo Souza retains his lightweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Gabriel Azevedo Souza thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.