PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Midick Aiken (ranked 783 p4p, 88 weight class) and Joao Sousa (ranked 2114 p4p, 224 weight class). 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?

Aiken
vs
Sousa

160 cm
21
145 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
157 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Dauntless

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Midick Aiken!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joao Sousa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Aiken has managed to clinch.
Sousa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Aiken smiles and moves away.
Sousa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Aiken's hands.

Aiken moves into range and clinches up with Sousa.
Sousa lands a nice uppercut.
Sousa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aiken walks away with a smile on his face. Sousa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A cross from Sousa lands.
Sousa takes a swing at Aiken's ribcage but misses.
Aiken uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sousa.

Aiken takes the fight into the clinch.
Aiken lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Aiken dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Aiken misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sousa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sousa as Aiken tries to tie him up.
Sousa swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aiken blocks an uppercut.
Aiken lands with a right to the head.
Aiken lands with a left to the head.
Aiken trying to stall but Sousa improves his position.
Sousa blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Sousa jumps guard and drags Aiken to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Aiken trying to control the position from guard on top but Sousa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aiken is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sousa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Aiken slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sousa looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sousa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Aiken defends it easily.
Sousa is trying to control the position but Aiken postures up.

Sousa looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Aiken has picked Sousa up and slammed him! Sousa can't keep hold of the triangle and Aiken manages to pass to side control!
Aiken staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sousa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Aiken wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sousa wants to control but Aiken postures up.
Sousa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Aiken off and has taken his back!

Sousa is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Aiken is defending well though. Sousa let's go of the attempt for now.
Sousa wants to control but Aiken is keeping busy.

Sousa is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Sousa is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Aiken is defending well though. Sousa let's go of the attempt for now.
Our spies down at at Urban Achievers inform us that Sousa has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sousa looking to break Aiken's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Aiken remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sousa will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Aiken defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Well, with Sousa on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Aiken is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Sousa tightening his grip on Aiken, looking for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sousa working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Sousa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sousa darts in looking for a takedown but Aiken gets double underhooks and turns Sousa into the cage.
Aiken smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Aiken has closed the distance and engaged Sousa in a clinch.
Sousa scores with a shot to the side of Aiken's head.
Aiken blocking some punches.
Sousa has a couple of punches blocked by Aiken.
A body shot lands from Aiken.
A short right from Aiken on the inside.
Sousa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Aiken walks away with a smile on his face. Sousa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sousa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aiken.

Aiken takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sousa.
Aiken scores with an uppercut up the middle.

It looks like Joao Sousa has been cut.
Sousa has a couple of punches blocked by Aiken.
Sousa struggles to land a body shot inside as Aiken controls his hands.
Aiken scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Aiken.
Aiken lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sousa backwards.
Sousa lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sousa takes a shot to the head.
Aiken blocking some punches.
Aiken holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Aiken works on Sousa's body with a couple of short punches.
Sousa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Aiken has him pressed against the cage.
Sousa wants to get back to striking at distance but Aiken won't allow it.
Sousa has had enough of the clinch but Aiken keeps him there for the moment.

Sousa successfully pulls guard.
Aiken 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.
Sousa keeping moving, preventing Aiken from controlling successfully.

Aiken got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sousa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aiken has managed to get both his arms back between Sousa's legs - danger averted.

Sousa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sousa working for a triangle but Aiken defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sousa being controlled here, momentarily.
Sousa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Aiken trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sousa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aiken is aware though and is defending well.

Sousa has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Aiken doesn't defend quickly enough and Sousa has managed to lock this one up! Can Aiken escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Sousa on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Joao Sousa!
Joao Sousa is the new featherweight champion!
Joao Sousa thanked the fans post fight for their support.