PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sauvo Korhonen (ranked 3354 p4p, 3587 weight class) and Jose Souza (ranked 448 p4p, 474 weight class). Jose Souza struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Sauvo Korhonen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Korhonen
vs
Souza

190 cm
26
200
2 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
198
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sauvo Korhonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Souza!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Korhonen thinks about countering with a body kick.
Souza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Korhonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Souza.

Souza decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Korhonen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Souza is looking to take a break and control but Korhonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Souza really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Korhonen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Korhonen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souza pulls his head out easily.

Korhonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza is pressing down on Korhonen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Korhonen is holding on for now.

Korhonen looking for submissions off his back.
Souza looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Korhonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza wants to stand up but Korhonen has a hold of him and won't allow it.
We've been hearing good reports from Korhonen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Korhonen looking for submissions off his back.

Korhonen looking for a kimura from the bottom but Souza passes into side control!
Korhonen is breathing heavily.
A lull in the action here.
Korhonen stops Souza from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Souza working the head and body with strikes.
Souza is looking to take a break and control but Korhonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Korhonen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Korhonen actively working from the bottom here.
Korhonen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Korhonen actively working from the bottom here.
Souza with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Korhonen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Souza pulls his head out easily.

Souza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Korhonen sees it coming and defends easily.
Souza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Korhonen defending well though.

Korhonen is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Souza is tapping! Great win for Korhonen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sauvo Korhonen!
Sauvo Korhonen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.