PBP Commentary

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

Smithson
vs
Souza

190 cm
22
270 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

193 cm
31
265 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Willy Smithson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paolo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smithson shoots in but Souza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Souza dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Souza thows a body shot but no joy.
Souza misses with a body shot.
Smithson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Souza digs a good body shot into Smithson's ribs.
Souza throws a right and a left that Smithson avoids nicely.
Smithson fails to land the takedown.
Paolo Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Souza with a nice cross.

It looks like Willy Smithson has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smithson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Souza misses with a double jab.
Souza falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smithson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Smithson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Souza regains half guard there - taking advantage of Smithson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Smithson is trying to control. Souza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Smithson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Smithson is trying to control the action in half guard but Souza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souza kicks Smithson off and gets back to his feet.
Smithson slips a jab from Souza.
Souza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smithson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Souza lands with a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smithson avoids the body shot from Souza.
Smithson slaps away a takedown attempt from Souza, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Souza misses with a wild combination.
Souza digs a good body shot into Smithson's ribs.
Souza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza shoots in and drives through. Smithson sprawls well.
A slow jab from Smithson misses its intended target.
Smithson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Souza counters with a left to the body.
Souza throws a right hand that Smithson ducks under and follows up with a left that Smithson also avoids with ease.

Smithson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Smithson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Smithson throws some wild stikes that Souza manages to avoid easily.
Souza is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Smithson has control of Souza's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Souza regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Souza is looking to improve his position but Smithson isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Smithson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Souza is wriggling around trying to escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Souza is trying to stand up.
Smithson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Smithson trying to control but Souza is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Souza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Willy Smithson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Souza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smithson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Souza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smithson.
Smithson tries to move to full mount but Souza actually manages to regain half guard.
Smithson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smithson 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.
Smithson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.
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 pushes Smithson off and gets back to his feet.
Souza thows a left - swing and a miss!

Souza gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smithson pushing down on Souza's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Souza is trying to escape back to his feet but Smithson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Souza's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Smithson is trying to get an arm triangle but Souza is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Smithson off and has taken his back!
Smithson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Souza's guard. Nice work there by Smithson.
Smithson passes Souza's left leg - he's now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smithson is trying to control the action in half guard but Souza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smithson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Smithson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Smithson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Souza is just riding it out for now. Smithson eventually gives up the hold.
Souza is looking for a sweep. Smithson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smithson prevents Souza from standing back up.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.
Smithson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Souza is staying active underneath Smithson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Willy Smithson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souza tries to get to full guard but Smithson has control of the leg.

Smithson is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Smithson is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smithson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Souza.

Smithson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Smithson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smithson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smithson taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Souza's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Smithson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smithson is looking to take a break and control but Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Souza tries to buck Smithson off but Smithson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza dodges the ground and pound from Smithson.

Smithson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Souza has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smithson but great work by Souza.
Souza working the body and head with strikes.
The ground and pound from Souza seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smithson struggling a bit here.
The ground and pound from Souza seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Souza is working Smithson over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Souza lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza taking a break here but Smithson is having none of it and regains half guard.

Souza is looking for a kimura here.

Souza wants to work for an arm triangle but Smithson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smithson is trying to control but Souza passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza working the ground and pound.
Souza looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smithson is avoiding damage well.
Souza scoring with punches and elbows.
Smithson wants to control but Souza postures up.
Smithson parries the strikes from Souza easily there. Souza is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smithson to escape.
Smithson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Souza.
Smithson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Souza's best efforts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smithson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Souza.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paolo Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Souza has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Paolo Souza!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Paolo Souza!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Paolo Souza!

Paolo Souza wins by unanimous decision!