PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pharaoh Nagada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ronaldo Souza has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Souza
vs
Nagada

185 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Pharaoh Nagada!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nagada darts in and clinches Souza up against the cage.
Souza fails to pull guard.
Souza has Nagada pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nagada manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Nagada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Souza shoots in and drives through. Nagada sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Souza scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nagada is trying to control Souza's posture but Souza avoids it.

Souza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nagada tries to bench press Souza off him but Souza keeps the position.
Souza really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nagada stops Souza from passing to mount.
You can see the frustration on Nagada's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nagada tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagada is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Souza's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Souza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nagada keeps working.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nagada!

Nagada changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Souza looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nagada just content to control the position.
Nagada working away.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Souza is looking for a sweep.
Souza manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nagada looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nagada stalling away here and it's allowed Souza to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Nagada from controlling successfully.
Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Souza wants to sweep here but Nagada controlling him for the moment.
Souza trying to strike off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt
and Nagada counters with a series of strikes. Souza will be more careful next time no doubt.

Nagada shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Souza's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Souza keeping busy on the bottom but Nagada has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to get to full guard but Nagada has control of the leg.
Souza trying to control here.
Souza tries to get to full guard but Nagada has control of the leg.
Souza is refusing to be controlled, as Nagada sits in half guard.

That's four 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt

and Nagada counters with a single leg into guard. Souza didn't expect that.
Nagada advances position into side control!
Souza sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Souza actively working from the bottom here.
Nagada seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Souza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Souza is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nagada pulls his head out easily.
Nagada tries to pass to full mount but Souza defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nagada trying to control the action but Souza is working from the bottom.
Souza works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pharaoh Nagada dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nagada has managed to clinch.
Souza wants a takedown but no success here.
Nagada looking to slow down the pace here.
Souza jumps guard but Nagada stands there with Souza around his waist. Souza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Souza tries to pull guard but Nagada holds him up against the cage and eventually Souza drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nagada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nagada counters by clinching up.
Souza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nagada just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nagada is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Souza is keeping busy.
Souza blocks an elbow strike.

Nagada pulls Souza into guard.
Nagada is breathing heavily.
Souza postures up and lands a big shot to Nagada's brow.
Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nagada is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Souza trying to control but Nagada is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza looking to pass the guard.
Nagada wants to sweep here but Souza controlling him for the moment.

Nagada working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Souza has passed into half guard!

Souza is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Still in half guard, Souza seems content to control.
Souza wants to free his trapped foot but Nagada is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Souza is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Souza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nagada keeps working.
Souza trying to control the pace.
Nagada is refusing to be controlled, as Souza sits in half guard.
Souza seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nagada is not content to let Souza control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagada is trying to get back to full guard.
Nagada wants to get back to full guard but Souza has mounted him!
Souza throwing strikes but Nagada bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nagada is keeping the position for now.

Souza drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Souza jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Souza controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Souza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nagada swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Souza controls from within his opponent's guard.
Souza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nagada swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Souza won't allow Nagada to sweep him here.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Souza feints and as Nagada raises his hands in defense, Souza changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nagada is trying to control the position but Souza postures up.
Souza pushes down on Nagada's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Souza working the head and body with strikes.
Souza is looking to take a break and control but Nagada is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Souza there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Souza dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Souza drives through with a takedown into guard.
Souza trying to control but Nagada is working from the bottom.

Nagada has his feet on Souza's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Nagada takes the fight into the clinch.

Nagada breaks from the clinch.

Souza looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Souza trying to control but Nagada is working from the bottom.
Souza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Nagada is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Souza is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Souza won't allow Nagada to sweep him here.
Nagada working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souza.

Nagada is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ronaldo Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt

and Nagada counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nagada is tying to control. Souza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Souza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nagada is working away from the top position though.
Nagada wants to take a breather but Souza is having none of it.

Nagada looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nagada is pressing down on Souza's thigh, looking to free his foot. Souza is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagada takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nagada prevents Souza from improving his position.
Nagada stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nagada instigates a clinch.
Souza tries for a takedown but Nagada manages to get underhooks.
Souza fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Souza has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nagada avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Nagada breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Souza shoots and misses

and Nagada counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagada content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
It looks like Nagada is going to stand back up.

Nagada is trying to work for a kimura but Souza is defending well.
Souza moves into full guard.
Souza working a defensive guard here.
Souza pulls Nagada in close to his closed guard and prevents Nagada from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Souza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Souza keeping full guard, as Nagada tries to pass.

Nagada avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nagada stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Nagada counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The is referee keeping an eye on Nagada - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Souza is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pharaoh Nagada comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nagada has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pharaoh Nagada!