PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between victo dantas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Soares de Sousa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Rafael Soares de Sousa was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

dantas
vs
Soares de Sousa

192 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, victo dantas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Soares de Sousa!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
dantas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Soares de Sousa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts dantas as he jumps to the side.

dantas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
dantas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Soares de Sousa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Soares de Sousa works his way to full guard. Good work.

Soares de Sousa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. dantas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
dantas prevents Soares de Sousa from getting back to his feet.
Soares de Sousa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Soares de Sousa keeping moving, preventing dantas from controlling successfully.
Soares de Sousa looking for a sweep. Not yet Soares de Sousa, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares de Sousa keeping moving, preventing dantas from controlling successfully.

Soares de Sousa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
dantas tries to free his leg and advance position but Soares de Sousa is retaining full guard.
Soares de Sousa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for dantas!
dantas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soares de Sousa is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. dantas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
dantas takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Soares de Sousa looking to secure an arm triangle but dantas defends it well.
dantas is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Soares de Sousa get's back to his feet.

Soares de Sousa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dantas is looking for a sweep. Soares de Sousa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Soares de Sousa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
dantas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soares de Sousa.
dantas landing strikes from the bottom.

Soares de Sousa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

dantas kicks off Soares de Sousa and gets to his feet.
Soares de Sousa shoots for a double leg takedown but dantas sprawls well. He's pushed Soares de Sousa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares de Sousa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? dantas is fending him off so far but Soares de Sousa persists. Nope, dantas circles away and we're back to standing.
victo dantas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Soares de Sousa.
Soares de Sousa tries to clinch but dantas moves out of range.
Soares de Sousa tries to clinch but dantas is having none of it.
Soares de Sousa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has dantas pinned against the cage. dantas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
dantas has a takedown stuffed.
Soares de Sousa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big left from Soares de Sousa misses.
Soares de Sousa shoots in for a double leg but dantas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
dantas fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Soares de Sousa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

dantas misses with a takedown attempt

and Soares de Sousa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for dantas!
Soares de Sousa scoring with strikes but dantas is staying in there.
Soares de Sousa avoids the attempt from dantas to control.

Soares de Sousa gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
victo dantas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
dantas wants to clinch but Soares de Sousa slips to the side
and Soares de Sousa counters with a good low kick that dantas was not able to check.
Soares de Sousa wants to clinch up but dantas keeps it at a distance.
Good standup being displayed there by dantas as he connects with a hook.
Soares de Sousa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but dantas was well out of range. Poor timing from Soares de Sousa.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from dantas.
dantas shoots and misses

and Soares de Sousa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for victo dantas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

dantas jumps into guard, dragging Soares de Sousa to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dantas working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soares de Sousa stands and throws dantas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
dantas sneaks back into half guard.
Soares de Sousa tries to stand but his hand is stuck under dantas.
dantas manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soares de Sousa looking to pass the guard.

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.

Soares de Sousa stands up from guard. Let's bang!
dantas tries for a takedown but Soares de Sousa circles away easily

so Soares de Sousa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Soares de Sousa wants to pass the guard but dantas is keeping the position.
dantas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Soares de Sousa gets to his feet - dantas follows without any prompting.
Soares de Sousa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but dantas swivels and escapes.
dantas doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Soares de Sousa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in dantas's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares de Sousa tries to free his leg and advance position but dantas is retaining full guard.
Soares de Sousa postures up.

Soares de Sousa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but dantas manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Soares de Sousa has dantas in his guard.
dantas prevents Soares de Sousa from getting back to his feet.
dantas trying to control the position from guard on top but Soares de Sousa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
dantas stays in close to Soares de Sousa's body and controls the position.
dantas wants to control from the top but Soares de Sousa keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Soares de Sousa wants to stand but dantas is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
dantas ducks under a wild hook from Soares de Sousa.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
dantas misses with a takedown attempt

and Soares de Sousa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Soares de Sousa wants to stand but dantas is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Soares de Sousa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

dantas tries to clinch up but Soares de Sousa circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Soares de Sousa.

dantas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Soares de Sousa, pushing him back against the cage.
Soares de Sousa stalling the fight.
Soares de Sousa tries to pull guard but dantas holds him up against the cage and eventually Soares de Sousa drops back down to his feet.

dantas pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soares de Sousa won't allow dantas to sweep him here.
Soares de Sousa advances to half guard.
dantas tries to get to full guard but Soares de Sousa has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Soares de Sousa wants to work for an arm triangle but dantas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rafael Soares de Sousa has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dantas lands a couple of sideways elbows.
dantas tries to kick Soares de Sousa off but Soares de Sousa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Soares de Sousa decides to stand up.
Soares de Sousa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soares de Sousa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
dantas pushes Soares de Sousa away with a front kick.
dantas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Soares de Sousa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soares de Sousa fails to land the takedown.
Soares de Sousa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Soares de Sousa gets the takedown into side control.
Soares de Sousa is working dantas over with some ground and pound from side control.

Soares de Sousa stands up and beckons dantas to his feet.
Soares de Sousa tries to close the distance and clinch but dantas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
dantas tries to clinch but Soares de Sousa moves away

and Soares de Sousa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares de Sousa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
dantas stops a takedown attempt from Soares de Sousa.
victo dantas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Soares de Sousa.
Soares de Sousa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but dantas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
dantas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Soares de Sousa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Soares de Sousa throws a half hearted mid kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by dantas.
Soares de Sousa wants to get back to his feet but dantas drags him back down.

dantas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Soares de Sousa to his feet.
dantas takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
dantas throws the kick towards the body but Soares de Sousa avoids it.
dantas wants to clinch

and Soares de Sousa moves into the clinch.
dantas has had enough of the clinch but Soares de Sousa keeps him there for the moment.
dantas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
dantas tries to pull guard but Soares de Sousa won't allow it.
Nice body punch from dantas.
dantas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Soares de Sousa prevents it.
Soares de Sousa avoiding damage as dantas throws knees to the body.
Soares de Sousa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. dantas just stands there and leans against the cage.
dantas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
victo dantas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Soares de Sousa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Soares de Sousa breaks from the clinch.

Soares de Sousa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. dantas sprawls well initially but Soares de Sousa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Soares de Sousa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Soares de Sousa 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Soares de Sousa!