PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Saudade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saudade is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Marcelo D2 - desabafo. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Souza
vs
Saudade

180 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Saudade!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saudade swivels and escapes.
Rafael Saudade seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saudade looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Souza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saudade is fending him off so far but Souza persists. Nope, Saudade circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saudade stuffs the takedown.

Souza drives through with a takedown into guard.
Souza seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saudade is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Souza trying to control but Saudade is working from the bottom.
Saudade being controlled here, momentarily.
Souza pushes down on Saudade's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza controlling the action here.
Saudade looks like he's trying to stand up.
Saudade is not content to let Souza control the position.

Souza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Saudade is just riding it out for now. Souza eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Souza seems to be looking for submissions.
Souza wants to take a breather but Saudade is having none of it.
Souza controlling the pace.
Saudade wants to control but Souza is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Souza trying to control from half guard but Saudade is working away.
Souza slows the pace down in half guard.
Souza tries to pass the half guard into mount. Saudade knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Saudade keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Saudade is refusing to be controlled, as Souza sits in half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Thiago Souza just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Souza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saudade is fending him off so far but Souza persists. Nope, Saudade circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saudade as he avoids it easily.
Souza looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Souza shoots in for a double leg but Saudade sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.

Souza closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Saudade gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Souza working for a guillotine from mount but Saudade is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza controlling the pace for now.

Souza goes for an armbar but Saudade turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Saudade.
Saudade stopping the sweep attempt from Souza.
Souza pulls Saudade in close to prevent any damage.
Saudade must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Saudade throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Souza is on top in guard.
Saudade working a defensive guard here.
Saudade looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Souza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Souza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saudade pinned against the cage. Saudade gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Souza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Saudade drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Souza is pulling down on Saudade's head. It's preventing any offense from Saudade, at least for the moment.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Saudade from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza working a defensive guard here.
Saudade throwing strikes but missing.
Saudade landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza looking to control.
Saudade trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Saudade counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Souza is working hard here to advance position.
Souza holds of for dear life.
Souza bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Saudade is looking for a triangle but Souza pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza advances to half guard.
Saudade is staying active underneath Souza, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Souza seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Souza is keen to just control but Saudade is a slippery customer.
Souza content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Thiago Souza just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt

and Saudade counters with a shoot takedown. Souza fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saudade wants to pass the guard but Souza is keeping the position.

Souza has his foot on Saudade's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saudade works his way back into a safe position though.
Saudade stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saudade stopping the sweep attempt from Souza.
Saudade is pushing down on Souza's leg trying to pass to half guard. Souza is fighting to maintain full guard but Saudade has managed to sneak the leg through.
Souza manages to get to full guard.
Thiago Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saudade slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Souza is trying to keep Saudade in close.
Saudade stopping the sweep attempt from Souza.
Saudade trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Saudade stopping the sweep attempt from Souza.

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.
Souza controls Saudade momentarily but Saudade frees himself.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Souza wants to sweep here but Saudade controlling him for the moment.
Souza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saudade manages to get himself to full guard.
Souza passes into half guard.
Souza content to control rather than advance.
Souza has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saudade is refusing to be controlled, as Souza sits in half guard.

Saudade is defending against the submission attempts here by Souza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Saudade will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Souza fails with the takedown.
Souza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saudade is fending him off so far but Souza persists. Nope, Saudade circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thiago Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza tries for a takedown but Saudade circles away easily

and Saudade counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Souza's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Souza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saudade doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saudade manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saudade is looking to stand up but Souza won't let him.
Souza working a defensive guard here.
Saudade being controlled here momentarily.
Saudade wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
Souza controlling the position.
Saudade postures up.
Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Saudade is posturing up here but Souza has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Saudade tries to roll out but it's too tight and Saudade has to tap! Slick submission there by Souza!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thiago Souza!