PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drake Retso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paolo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the ring it seems that Drake Retso has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Drake Retso seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Retso
vs
Souza

175 cm
30
270 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

193 cm
28
265 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Drake Retso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paolo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza throws a right hand that Retso ducks under and follows up with a left that Retso also avoids with ease.
Souza misses with a two punch combination.
Souza waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Retso.
Souza throws a right and a left that Retso avoids nicely.
Retso keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big left from Souza misses.
Retso thuds a left hand into Souza's body.
Retso shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Souza defends it nicely.
Souza connects with a body shot.
Retso throws a body punch but Souza moves out of range.
Retso lands an overhand right.
A nice combination there by Souza.
Paolo Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Retso shoots in and drives through. Souza sprawls well.
Retso throws a series of punches but Souza avoids them all with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza throws a series of punches but Retso avoids them all with ease.
Retso chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Retso.
Souza fails to land with a series of punches.
Souza displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Drake Retso has been cut.
Retso throws the kick towards the body but Souza avoids it.
Souza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Retso lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Retso looks to land a combination. Souza sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Souza ducks under a wild hook from Retso.

Retso darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Retso thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Souza's head.
Retso throwing shots but Souza is blocking nicely.
Retso is stalling here. Souza is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Retso 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Retso tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Souza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Retso, who protects the arm well.
Retso is trying to get back to half guard.

Souza is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Retso knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Souza working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Souza crashes against the mat.
Souza working the ground and pound.
Retso struggling a bit here.
Souza tries to score with some ground and pound. Retso controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Retso gets back to half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Souza tries to pass the half guard into mount. Retso knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Retso trying to control from the bottom.
Retso gets back to full guard.
Souza lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Retso working a defensive guard here.
Retso keeping full guard, as Souza tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Retso wants to control the position but Souza says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Retso manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Souza trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Retso manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Retso wants to pass the guard but Souza is keeping the position.
Souza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Retso is looking to work some ground and pound but Souza has wrist control.
Retso pushing down on Souza's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Retso not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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 Drake Retso will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Drake Retso's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Souza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Souza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Retso manages to avoid it.

Retso shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Souza has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Retso is working away from the top position though.
Souza has hold of Retso's hands but Retso slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Drake Retso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souza blocking the ground and pound attempt from Retso.
Souza is trying to maintain the position but Retso is very close to passing his half guard.
Retso drops an elbow to the side of Souza's head.
Retso is keen to just control but Souza is a slippery customer.
Retso misses with a head shot. Souza uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Retso throws and elbow that misses. Souza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Retso's guard. Nice move by Souza!
Retso is adopting a defensive guard.
Souza won't allow Retso to sweep him here.
Souza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Retso is on top in guard.

Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Retso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Retso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Retso won't allow Souza to get back to his feet.
Retso trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Retso lands a couple of digs.
Retso wants to pass the guard but Souza is keeping the position.
Retso thows a big elbow that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Retso throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Retso with a flurry of punches that miss.
Retso landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Retso trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza trying to control the position here.
Retso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Retso preventing the sweep.
Retso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Souza working for a triangle but Retso defends it easily.
Retso in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Retso trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Retso throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Retso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Retso has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Retso is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Retso's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Retso in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Retso with a flurry of punches that miss.
Retso throws a big right hand that misses.
Retso missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Retso dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Drake Retso's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Souza scores with a one two! Retso had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Retso lands with a straight right. Souza didn't see that one coming.
Retso throws an overhand right that lands on Souza's shoulder, as Souza tries to avoid the shot.
Retso changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Souza. Beautiful body shot.
Souza lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Retso. That snapped Souza's head back.
Souza looks to score with a jab to the body but Retso is just out of range.
Souza lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Retso backs up against the ropes.
Retso has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Souza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Retso swinging wildly here.
Jab by Retso.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Retso gets the takedown into side control.
Retso working the strikes but Souza uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Souza moves into full guard.
Souza wants to sweep here but Retso controlling him for the moment.
Retso is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Retso throws a big right hand that misses.
Souza managing to control the position.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Retso is one step ahead there.
Drake Retso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Retso from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Drake Retso wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Retso dodges the punch combination from Souza.

Retso darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Retso with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Retso is thwarting Souza's attempts to control the position.
Retso with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Retso thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Souza's head.
Souza is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. Souza manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Souza is trying to keep Retso in close.
Retso wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
Paolo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Retso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Retso controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Souza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Retso manages to avoid it.
Retso moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Paolo Souza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Souza walks into a left hand.
Retso lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Retso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Souza with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Retso fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Souza avoids it really well and circles away.
Retso misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paolo Souza.
I think Retso has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Drake Retso!