PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josue Souza (ranked 3660 p4p, 1669 weight class) and Ville Valo (ranked 189 p4p, 108 weight class). Ville Valo will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Souza
vs
Valo

200 cm
25
290
5 - 8 - 0

225 cm
33
300
8 - 15 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josue Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ville Valo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Valo looks to move away, Souza throws a big counter combo but Valo just gets out of the way.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Souza shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Valo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Valo can't do much from the bottom here.

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

Souza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Valo, who protects the arm well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Souza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Souza has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Souza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Valo has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Souza works to advance to full mount. Valo defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Valo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Souza.

Souza is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Valo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Valo!

Valo stands and steps away. Souza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Souza somewhat.
Souza looks for a takedown but Valo sprawls well.
Valo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josue Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Valo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valo lands with a right hand.
Souza with a lazy takedown attempt

and Valo lands a stunning uppercut that sends Souza to the mat!

Souza is rocked!

It looks like Josue Souza has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Valo is keen to just control but Souza is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza is looking to escape.
Valo 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.

Souza actively working from the bottom here.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Valo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Valo has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at St Petersburg MMA Center. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Valo throws a strike but Souza avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Valo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josue Souza's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Souza shoots in and drives through. Valo sprawls well.
Souza avoids a kick to the body.
A cross from Valo lands.
Souza blocks a head kick by Valo.

Souza shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Valo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Valo pushes Souza off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Valo lands a high kick to the side of Souza's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Valo dives into guard, looking to finish.
Josue Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Souza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valo defends it easily.
Valo trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souza throws his legs up looking for a submission but Valo uses it to pass to side control.
Souza tries to bench press Valo off him but Valo keeps the position.
Souza tries to escape but Valo is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Souza manages to work his way to half guard, despite Valo's best efforts.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.

Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Souza actively working from the bottom here.

Souza looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Valo pushes past his half guard into mount!
Souza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valo with shots to the head and body - Souza looks very uncomfortable down there.
Valo landing strikes from the mount and Souza is in trouble!
Oh Souza is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Josue Souza's cut is getting worse.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Valo! Souza is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ville Valo!
Ville Valo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.