PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gilberto Da Souza (ranked 2961 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Linwood (ranked 6030 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Linwood has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Da Souza
vs
Linwood

181 cm
26
156 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

178 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gilberto Da Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Linwood!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Linwood fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Souza sprawls well initially but Linwood persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Linwood takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Linwood working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Souza misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Souza moves into full guard.
Souza throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Souza throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Linwood throwing strikes from guard but Souza blocks nicely.
Linwood is in close to Souza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Linwood trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Linwood wants to pass the guard but Souza is keeping the position.

Linwood postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Souza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Linwood, into his guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Linwood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza slips nicely into half guard.
Souza looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Linwood with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Linwood tries to roll over but Souza keeps him under control.
Linwood really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Souza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Linwood looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Souza lands strikes from half guard.

Souza seems to be working for a kimura but Linwood defends the submission attempt.
Linwood makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Linwood.
Souza scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linwood is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Souza lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Linwood lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Souza misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Souza flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Souza has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Linwood looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Linwood lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Linwood is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Souza reverses the position - he's now on top in Linwood's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza tries to stand but Linwood is controlling from the bottom.

Linwood is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Souza is aware though and is defending well.
Linwood looks winded!
Souza connects with a couple of short punches.
Linwood throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Souza scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linwood looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Souza keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Linwood's head.
Souza stands and throws Linwood's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Souza connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Linwood some visible discomfort.
Souza lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Linwood down.
Souza lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Linwood down.
Souza lands a nice forearm strike.
Linwood tries to bench press Souza off him but Souza keeps the position.

Souza has an Americana. Linwood didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Souza is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Souza hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Gilberto Da Souza!