PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Littel Big (ranked 22497 p4p, 557 weight class) and Ronaldo Souza (ranked 22874 p4p, 601 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?

Big
vs
Souza

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
6 - 17 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Littel Big!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ronaldo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Hemmingworth and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Big closes the distance and pushes Souza back into the cage.
Souza is looking to control Big's arms but Big gets an underhook and turns him. Now Souza has his back to the cage.
Big blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A frustrated look appears on Big's face as he tries to break the clinch.
I was talking to Big's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Big pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the liver by Big. Beautiful body shot.
A clash of legs there as Big blocks the low kick.
Big dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Big lands a leg kick that knocks Souza off balance momentarily.
Big digs a good body shot into Souza's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Souza moves to clinch but Big breaks away
and Big counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Big as he avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souza gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Big.
Souza tries for a takedown but Big sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A jab from Big does it's job there.
Big cracks Souza with a right hand to the side of the head.
A lazy left from Big finds it's target.
Big connects with a body shot that sends Souza's belly button to the back.
Souza misses with a body kick.
Souza wants to clinch up but Big keeps it at a distance.
Big lands a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Big swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Big avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Big works over Souza's head and body with a nice combination.
Big throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Big shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Souza as he jumps to the side.
Souza with the counter takedown but Big avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to clinch.
Souza wants to clinch.

Big clinches with his opponent.
Big drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Souza gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Big is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza keeps control of Big as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Big tries to land a knee to the head but Souza blocks with his arms.
Big gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Souza.
Littel Big has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.

Big's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Big!
Big lands a glancing blow to the side of Souza's head.
Big thuds a left hand into Souza's body.
Big goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Big throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Big scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Souza with that takedown attempt.
Big swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Big stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Big lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Big does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Big has Souza up against the cage in a clinch.
Big can't break the clinch.
Souza is working for takedown but Big is calmly controlling the position for now.
Souza tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Big manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Souza with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Big to score with a decent uppercut.
A head kick by Souza misses
and Big connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Big closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Souza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Big stuffs the takedown attempt from Souza. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
Souza walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Littel Big is winning the standup battle so far.
Big lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Big avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Big.
Littel Big seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souza takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Big cracks Souza with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Big clinches with his opponent.
Souza is trying to pull guard but Big has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Big smiles and moves away.
Littel Big has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.
Souza takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Big jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Big scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Big looking to score a takedown here. Souza is defending well but Big drives through and ends up in Souza's guard.
Big wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Big trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Big from controlling successfully.
Big sitting in guard here, content to control.
Big is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Souza can do to turn this around?
Big throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Big trying to move into half guard but instead Souza has managed to sweep!

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Big pulls Souza in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Big looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Souza wants to control from the top but Big keeps moving.
Big on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Big tries to get out of the position.
Big looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A shot to the liver by Big. Beautiful body shot.

Souza gets caught flat footed, as Big shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Big knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Souza on the ground.
Big controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Big is looking to work some ground and pound but Souza has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Big passes into half guard.
Big trying to control the action but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Souza is trying to control but Big passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Littel Big dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Souza doesn't manage to clinch there - Big circles away.
Big lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Big, as that shot connected.
Souza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Big counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Big scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Littel Big is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza misses with a lunging right hand
and Big counters with a nice uppercut.

Big clinches up with Souza and pushes him back against the cage.
Souza is trying to drag Big to the mat but Big just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Souza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Souza fails to pull guard.
Littel Big has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza drops down looking for an ankle pick but Big pulls his leg out and moves away.
Big scores with a decent looking hook.
Souza tries to clinch but Big moves out of range.
Big changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Souza checks a low kick from Big.
Big lands a head shot.
Souza shoots for a takedown but Big saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Big scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Souza doesn't seem bothered though.
Souza has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Souza doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Big fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Big scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Souza is trying desperately to land a takedown but Big is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Souza.
Big cracks a nice hook into Souza's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Big stalks Souza and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Souza's face. Souza staggers backwards, shaken.
Big goes for a double leg but Souza avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Souza continues to drive forward.
Souza misses with a head kick.
Donk. Big catches Souza right on the button with a cross.
Big catches Souza with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Souza walks into a jab.
Big lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Souza backs up against the cage.
Big moves into range and connects with a jab.
Big connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Big scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Big has taken the fight to the clinch.
Souza is trying to push Big away but Big has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Souza tries to work over Big's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Big tries to circle away but Souza has him pinned against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Big just misses with a elbow thrown towards Souza's brow.
Souza is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Big is keeping busy.
Souza has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Big avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Big looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Big lands a left hand that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Souza looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Souza is trying to drag Big to the mat but Big just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Big's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Littel Big is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Big pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Souza back to the cage. Big follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Big scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Big lands with a nice body punch.
Ronaldo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souza takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
Littel Big showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Big has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:25
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:25
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Littel Big!