PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam O Brien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Brien is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" by Dropkick Murphys. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Souza
vs
O Brien

180 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

The Fighter's Ultimate Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Liam O Brien!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza lands a right hook to the body.
A head kick misses from O Brien.

Souza gets in close and instigates a clinch.
O Brien throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Souza blocks it with crossed arms.
O Brien dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Souza lands on the inside with an uppercut.
O Brien is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Souza tightens his grip and picks O Brien up, before dumping him to the ground. O Brien manages to land in guard.
Souza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

O Brien looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
O Brien looking to hit a scissor sweep but Souza is one step ahead there.

Souza gets to his feet. O Brien looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
O Brien looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
O Brien lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Carlos Souza has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Souza scores a takedown into full mount!
O Brien is in all sorts of trouble here.
Souza won't let O Brien get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza controlling from mount.
O Brien tries to hold on but Souza pushes him away.
Souza controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
O Brien is looking to improve his position but Souza isn't that keen on the idea.
O Brien regains half guard.
Souza content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Carlos Souza just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
O Brien shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Souza defends it nicely.
O Brien shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
O Brien has his takedown stuffed
and Souza counters with a stiff right hand.
Carlos Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam O Brien.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Souza lands in his opponent's guard.
Souza is stalling in the full guard.

O Brien is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Souza sitting in guard, not really doing much.

O Brien has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.
O Brien looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

O Brien is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Souza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for O Brien on the ground.

Souza gets to his feet - O Brien follows without any prompting.
Souza cracks O Brien with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Souza scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Souza.
O Brien tries to clinch up
and Souza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Souza scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
O Brien has his takedown stuffed
letting Souza counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent O Brien stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Souza rushes O Brien and presses him up against the cage.
O Brien misses with an elbow strike.
Souza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Souza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Souza's cut.
That's time! Souza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Souza scores with a takedown into O Brien's guard.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. O Brien is keeping the position for now.
O Brien doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Souza controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

O Brien working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Souza doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Souza manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Souza sitting in guard here, content to control.
Souza wants to stand but O Brien has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

O Brien looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Souza passes into half guard.
O Brien is breathing heavily.
Souza not doing much here.
Souza stops O Brien from getting back to his feet.
Souza performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
O Brien is trying to stand up here but Souza is controlling him well.
Souza trying to control the pace.

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.
O Brien gets back to full guard.
O Brien keeping full guard, as Souza tries to pass.

O Brien has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.
O Brien being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Souza wants to pass the guard but O Brien is keeping the position.

O Brien throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Souza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Souza's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Carlos Souza just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
O Brien tries to clinch

and Souza counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Souza.
O Brien being controlled here, momentarily.
Souza throws a big right hand that misses.

O Brien is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Souza gets to his feet - O Brien follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Brien shoots in but no luck this time.

Souza moves into the clinch.
Souza stops a takedown attempt from O Brien.
O Brien gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Souza.
Souza has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. O Brien is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Souza prevents a takedown attempt there.
Carlos Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam O Brien.
Souza drops to a knee looking for a takedown but O Brien gets the underhooks and prevents it.
O Brien throws an elbow but it's blocked.
O Brien has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Souza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
O Brien stalling in the clinch but Souza improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Souza dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Souza's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

O Brien tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
O Brien looks to clinch
enabling Souza to counter with a crisp jab.
O Brien has his takedown stuffed
and Souza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Souza has managed to clinch.
O Brien unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Souza works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Souza drops down looking for an ankle pick but O Brien pulls his leg out and moves away.
Souza lands a straight punch to the body, keeping O Brien at a distance.
O Brien fails with the takedown

and Souza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
O Brien is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Souza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Carlos Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam O Brien.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Souza has O Brien pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Souza pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending O Brien tumbling to the mat - Souza dives into O Brien's guard.
Souza is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

O Brien is working an open guard so Souza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Souza has managed to clinch.
O Brien drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Souza gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Souza breaks from the clinch.
Souza is looking to clinch but O Brien is avoiding it.
Souza connects with a nice looking jab.
Souza takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
O Brien defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Souza.
Souza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that O Brien can do to turn this around?
O Brien tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and O Brien takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Souza swats away the attempt to clinch by O Brien.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza misses with a series of wild punches.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as O Brien sprawls well. O Brien wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
O Brien shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Souza pinned against the cage. Souza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Souza wants to clinch up but O Brien keeps it at a distance.
Liam O Brien is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
O Brien tries for a takedown but Souza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Souza feints and as O Brien raises his hands in defense, Souza changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
O Brien is looking to stand up but Souza isn't so interested in that idea.

O Brien has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.
Souza is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza pushes down on O Brien's leg and manages to get into half guard.

O Brien looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
O Brien punching from the bottom.
Souza slows the pace down in half guard.
O Brien tries to kick Souza off but Souza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Souza working the head and body with strikes.
It looks like Souza is going to stand back up.
Carlos Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
O Brien trying to control but Souza postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Souza avoids the head kick by O Brien.
Souza lands a body shot.
Liam O Brien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
O Brien wants to clinch

and Souza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Souza.
O Brien tries to stall but Souza uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Souza just leaning against O Brien, taking a breather.
O Brien tries for a takedown. No joy.
O Brien is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
O Brien has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Souza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Souza is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Souza avoiding damage as O Brien throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Souza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Souza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Souza!