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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 183 cm
27
184 lbs
7 - 2 - 0 |
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183 cm
25
186 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Souza.
Maia with a poor takedown
and Souza counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souza with a nice head shot there.
Maia working a defensive guard here.
Souza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Souza won't allow Maia to get back to his feet.
Souza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Souza throwing strikes but missing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maia is on top in guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza looking for a sweep. Not yet Souza, not yet.
Souza pulls Maia in to control the position.
Maia lands a couple of digs.
Souza has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Maia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maia postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Souza kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza wriggles free and stands up.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt - Souza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Souza shoots in but Maia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Souza closes the distance and clinches up with Maia, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes Maia against the cage but Maia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Souza's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maia throwing shots but Souza is blocking nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia working over Souza with some ground and pound. Souza looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maia is looking for a kimura here.
Souza wants to get back to full guard.
Maia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza is holding on to half guard well.
Maia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Souza defending well though.
Souza wants to get back to full guard.
Maia is stalling here. Souza is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Maia seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Souza has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Souza keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza lands a decent elbow from side control.
Maia is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Ronaldo Souza will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souza.
Maia swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Souza.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Souza leaves Maia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maia closes the distance and clinches up with Souza, looking for a takedown. Maia pushes Souza against the cage but Souza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ronaldo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
Maia shoots in but no luck this time.
Maia fails to land the takedown.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.
Souza changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Maia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza is working Maia over with some ground and pound from side control.
Souza scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Maia to see if he's OK.
Souza postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Souza creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Souza working the body and head with strikes.
Maia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Souza is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maia tries to bench press Souza off him but Souza keeps the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is working to avoid the ground and pound but Souza connects with a decent elbow.
Maia taking a bit of punishment here - Souza scoring with strikes.
Souza looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Maia is avoiding damage well.
Maia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maia is trying to control Souza's posture but Souza avoids it.
Souza working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Souza scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Maia to see if he's OK.
Maia takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Souza cracks Maia with a big right hand but Maia just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia can't do much from the bottom here.
Souza tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Souza thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Maia is looking for a sweep.
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!
Maia is trying to control Souza's posture but Souza avoids it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Souza lands a decent elbow from side control.
Maia is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Maia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souza prevents Maia from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ronaldo Souza dominated that second round.
That's time! Souza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Maia shoots in for a double leg but Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Souza sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Souza misses with a looping left.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maia.
Ronaldo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Souza lands a high kick!
It looks like Demian Maia has been cut.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense.
Souza scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown. Maia tries to sprawl out of it but Souza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maia.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Souza counters with a takedown into side control.
Souza lands a nice forearm strike.
Maia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza working the body and head with strikes.
Souza is chipping away with strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Souza cracks Maia with a big right hand but Maia just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Souza lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Maia down.
Souza is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Check out the look on Souza's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Souza lands a few punches from side control.
Souza cracks Maia with a big right hand but Maia just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Maia is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Souza asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Souza working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza working the ground and pound.
Souza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.
Maia takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Souza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maia, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Souza are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Souza working the head with strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard.
Souza working the ground and pound from side control.
Souza scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Maia to see if he's OK.
Souza looks up at the clock and then as Maia takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Souza smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Souza working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Souza working the ground and pound but Maia is defending the strikes.
Maia takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maia takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Souza is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ronaldo Souza clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Demian Maia's cut.
That's time! Souza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Souza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maia's guard now.
Souza postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Souza throwing strikes but missing.
Souza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Maia's head.
Maia is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Souza throws and elbow that misses. Maia uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Souza's guard. Nice move by Maia!
Maia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Souza has wrist control.
Souza wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Souza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maia postures up in Souza's guard and throws a big left but Souza blocks it.
Maia trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Souza pinned against the cage. Souza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ronaldo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Maia shows good takedown defense.
Maia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maia thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Souza's head.
Souza keeping hold of Maia's head, controlling as best he can.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Souza to regain full guard.
Maia throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Souza wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ronaldo Souza had his way with Demian Maia in that round.
The cut man is working on Demian Maia's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.
Maia jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ronaldo Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Maia or perhaps it was just good defense by Souza which made him look bad.
Maia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.
Ronaldo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maia.
Maia is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maia is defended easily by Souza.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia avoids a kick to the body.
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown but Maia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Souza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maia keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Maia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Souza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ronaldo Souza is winning the standup battle so far.
Maia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maia stuffs the takedown attempt from Souza. Souza gets slowly back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense.
Souza shoots in and drives through. Maia sprawls well.
Souza tries for a takedown but Maia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck for Maia with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Souza or perhaps it was just good defense by Maia which made him look bad.
Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Maia sprawls well. He's pushed Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maia showed some decent athleticism there.
Ronaldo Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maia is just content to waste time from the top position. Souza takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Maia not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Souza managing to control the position.
Souza controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Ronaldo Souza wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Souza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maia but Maia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that's the end of the fight!
Demian Maia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 49:47
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 48:47
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Souza!
Ronaldo Souza retains his middleweight title!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
77% |
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