PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Page (ranked 5113 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Souza (ranked 24719 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Page
vs
Souza

191 cm
20
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Page !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronaldo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Page throws a leg kick

and Souza counters with a single leg into guard. Page didn't expect that.
Souza 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.

Page throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Souza escapes and throws Page 's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Souza cracks Page with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Souza slows the pace down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Page struggling a bit here.

Souza decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Page connects with a body shot.
Page scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Souza shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Page wants to improve his position but Souza is controlling well.
Souza looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Page with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Souza works his foot free and advances to mount.
Souza controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Page wants to control but Souza is having none of it.
Souza with a couple of short strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza working the ground and pound effectively.
Souza takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Page keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Souza content just to control the position here.
Page tries to lock up and control but Souza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Page working to try and regain half guard.
Page throwing hammer fists to the chest of Souza. What's that going to do exactly?
Page working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Page sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Page looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Souza wants to work for an arm triangle but Page is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Souza is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Page makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Souza dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Page sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Page tries a head kick but it misses.
Page looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Souza is fending him off so far but Page persists. Nope, Souza circles away and we're back to standing.
Page pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Souza back to the cage. Page follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Souza stuffs the takedown attempt from Page . Page gets slowly back to his feet.
Souza steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Page .

Souza pushes Page up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Page manages to pull guard.
Page is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Page wants to hit a switch here but Souza passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Page there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Page working to try and regain half guard.
Souza really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Page . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Souza content just to control the position here.
Page tries to hold on but Souza pushes him away.

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.
Souza controlling the position easily from mount.
Page working to try and regain half guard.
Souza lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Page has given up his back here.
Souza lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Souza is not going to allow Page to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is trying to stick to Page 's back but Page is turning into Souza. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Souza's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Page .
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Souza pulls Page in close to prevent any damage.
Page throws an elbow that misses. Souza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Page 's guard. Nice move by Souza!

Page throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Page wants to sweep here but Souza controlling him for the moment.

Souza drops back, looking for a kneebar! Page looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Page looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Page !

Souza has one of Page 's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Souza is not content to let Page control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ronaldo Souza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Page tries a head kick but it misses.
Page pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Page tries to clinch but Souza is having none of it.
Souza stuffs the takedown attempt from Page . Page gets slowly back to his feet.
Donk. Page catches Souza right on the button with a cross.
Page dives in for a single leg takedown but Souza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Souza feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good leg kick by Page there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Page lands a two punch combo.
Page thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Souza if he has to take too many more of those.
Page tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Souza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It seemed like Souza was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Souza controls the position.
Souza lands an elbow.

Souza decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Page is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Page shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Souza as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Page . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Page shoots in looking for a takedown. Souza tries to sprawl out of it but Page keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Souza manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Page scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Page throws a sloppy head kick

and Souza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Page looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Souza connects with a couple of short punches.
Souza controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Page trying to keep a closed guard but Souza is proving a slippery customer.
Souza sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Page will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Souza closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Page 's guard.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Page lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Page trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Souza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Page .
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Page trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza looking for a sweep. Not yet Souza, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ronaldo Souza.
I've got Souza 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Souza!