PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Azevedo Souza (ranked 294 p4p, 387 weight class) and Magnus Larsen (ranked 50 p4p, 60 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Azevedo Souza
vs
Larsen

176 cm
35
150
29 - 14 - 0

175 cm
28
157
12 - 8 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

NARCOS

Shadow Realm Apparel
Savage Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miguel Azevedo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 2, fighting out of London, Magnus Larsen!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsen lands a head shot.
Azevedo Souza throws an overhand right that lands on Larsen's shoulder, as Larsen tries to avoid the shot.
Larsen connects with a leg kick.
Larsen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Larsen looks for the body kick but Azevedo Souza saw that one coming.
Azevedo Souza moves out of range as Larsen strikes.
Azevedo Souza scores with a jab to the head.
Larsen is looking to chop away at Azevedo Souza's legs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Azevedo Souza checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo Souza blocks a head kick by Larsen.
Azevedo Souza changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Larsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Larsen throws a looping overhand right but Azevedo Souza ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen misses the jab.
Larsen misses with a low kick.
Azevedo Souza throws the left hand but Larsen avoids the punch easily.
Magnus Larsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Azevedo Souza fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Azevedo Souza throws a hook but Larsen blocks it.
Azevedo Souza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Larsen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Larsen misses with a body kick.
Larsen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Azevedo Souza's hands.
Larsen looks to land a body kick but Azevedo Souza moved away.
Larsen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Azevedo Souza to score with a decent uppercut.
Azevedo Souza looks to land a combination but Larsen avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Azevedo Souza tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Azevedo Souza avoids the head kick by Larsen.
Larsen thumps Azevedo Souza with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azevedo Souza moves out of range of the body kick from Larsen.
Azevedo Souza tries to counter with a takedown but Larsen is quick to defend against it.
Larsen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Larsen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Larsen slips under a jab.
Azevedo Souza misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larsen.
Azevedo Souza misses with a hook.
Larsen misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azevedo Souza throws out the jab.
Larsen follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Azevedo Souza throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice defenses there by Azevedo Souza.
Larsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azevedo Souza.
Larsen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Larsen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Larsen misses with a double jab.
Larsen walks into a left hand.
Larsen misses with a two punch combination.
Azevedo Souza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsen throws a low kick but Azevedo Souza moves out of range easily.
Larsen throws a hook but Azevedo Souza blocks it.
Azevedo Souza loads up on a big right hand but Larsen slips the punch.
Azevedo Souza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Larsen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larsen throws a body kick that misses.
Larsen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Azevedo Souza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Azevedo Souza uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Larsen looks to throw a body kick

and Azevedo Souza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Azevedo Souza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Magnus Larsen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A telegraphed right hand from Larsen misses the target.
Azevedo Souza half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Azevedo Souza takes a swing at Larsen's ribcage but misses.
Larsen tries a quick counter leg kick but Azevedo Souza is wise to it.
Larsen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Azevedo Souza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Larsen is trying to counter with his kicks.
Larsen ducks under a wild hook from Azevedo Souza.
Larsen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Azevedo Souza lands a nice hook to Larsen's body. Larsen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larsen throws a good cross that connects.
Larsen throws a body shot but no joy.
Azevedo Souza misses with an uppercut. Larsen saw that one coming.
A big right from Azevedo Souza misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Larsen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Larsen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Azevedo Souza fails to land with a series of punches.
Azevedo Souza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larsen.
Magnus Larsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Larsen walks into a left hand.
Azevedo Souza tries for a takedown but Larsen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Larsen lands a slapping body shot.
Larsen throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azevedo Souza has closed the distance and engaged Larsen in a clinch.
Larsen misses with a punch to the body.
Azevedo Souza tries to pull guard but Larsen holds him up against the cage and eventually Azevedo Souza drops back down to his feet.
Larsen misses with a hook from the clinch.

Azevedo Souza manages to pull guard.
Azevedo Souza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Azevedo Souza wants to control the position but Larsen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larsen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Larsen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Azevedo Souza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Azevedo Souza actively working from the bottom here.
We've been hearing good reports from Azevedo Souza'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.

Azevedo Souza actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Azevedo Souza trying to control here.

Azevedo Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Azevedo Souza wants to control but Larsen is keeping busy.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Azevedo Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Larsen.
Azevedo Souza throws a body punch but Larsen moves out of range.
Azevedo Souza wants to clinch up but Larsen keeps it at a distance.
Larsen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azevedo Souza.
Larsen lands a really nice looking cross but Azevedo Souza seems unphased.
Azevedo Souza walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larsen scores with a jab.
Azevedo Souza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larsen manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Larsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Larsen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A solid leg kick lands there for Larsen.
Azevedo Souza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Larsen can pounce on him.
Larsen throws a looping overhand right but Azevedo Souza ducks down to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Azevedo Souza slips a jab from Larsen.
Azevedo Souza misses with a right hand
and Larsen counters with a straight right hand.
Horrible takedown attempt by Azevedo Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Larsen, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Larsen sprawls well. He's pushed Azevedo Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Larsen thumps Azevedo Souza with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Azevedo Souza. Azevedo Souza circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Azevedo Souza is defended easily by Larsen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Azevedo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Larsen.
Larsen scores with a hook.
Azevedo Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Azevedo Souza wants to clinch up but Larsen keeps it at a distance.
Miguel Azevedo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azevedo Souza changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Larsen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Azevedo Souza wants to control but Larsen is keeping him busy.
Azevedo Souza misses with the ground and pound.

Azevedo Souza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Larsen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Miguel Azevedo Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen is looking for a sweep.
Larsen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Larsen is not content to let Azevedo Souza control the position.
Azevedo Souza creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Larsen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Azevedo Souza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Azevedo Souza trying to control the position but Larsen is working away.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Azevedo Souza thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Azevedo Souza working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Magnus Larsen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Azevedo Souza tries for a kimura but Larsen is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Larsen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Larsen 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Larsen!
Magnus Larsen thanked the fans post fight for their support.