PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Malakai Rios (ranked 3178 p4p, 1460 weight class) and Duane Souza (ranked 297 p4p, 147 weight class). Malakai Rios could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Duane Souza's chin.

Rios
vs
Souza

175 cm
26
155
5 - 6 - 0

172 cm
27
165
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

BANZAI NUTRITION

BANZAI NUTRITION
Squirrel Sportswear 🐿️ (Laundry)

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Malakai Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Duane Souza!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Rios.
Rios looks to land a left hand but Souza moved out of range nicely.

Souza manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rios on his heels. He'll look to pass Rios's guard now, I'm sure.
Souza passes into half guard.
Souza working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Rios's thigh. Rios counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Souza landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Souza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rios is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Souza slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza pushes down on Rios's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Souza tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rios knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Souza is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rios!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Souza cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rios tries to reverse the position but Souza maintains control.

Souza working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza cracks Rios with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rios knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Souza on the ground.
Souza wants to control the pace but Rios is squirming around nicely.
Rios's coaches at Rising Sun Training have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Souza lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rios hang on?
Souza lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souza prevents Rios from getting the reversal.
Rios in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Souza scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Rios is rocked!
Souza tries to control but Rios wriggling away.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Souza working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza unloading with bombs!
Oh Rios is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Souza is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Souza extends the arm and Rios is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Duane Souza!
After winning the bout, Duane Souza thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.