PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Souza
vs
Drake

191 cm
20
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathan Drake!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Souza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Drake circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big left from Drake misses.
Drake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Souza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Souza fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Souza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Souza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Drake fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drake shoots in for a double leg but Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Souza tries to clinch but Drake moves away

and Drake counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Drake wants to stand but Souza has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Souza is looking to stand back up but Drake counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Souza.
Souza is trying to stand up here but Drake is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Drake wants to work for an arm triangle but Souza is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Drake looks gassed!
Drake prevents Souza from standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Souza tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Drake holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Souza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Souza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Souza misses with a knee to the head.

Drake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Souza tries to clinch but Drake moves away
and Drake counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Souza is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Drake looks to land a body kick but Souza moved away.
Souza closes the distance but Drake moves to the side

and Drake moves into the clinch.

Drake has hold of one of Souza's legs. Souza is fighting the takedown attempt but Drake gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Souza wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Drake manages to pass to side control.
Souza wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Souza looks like he's trying to stand up.
Drake is nestled in close to Souza, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Souza makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Drake clinches up against the cage.
Drake tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Souza just stands there and leans against the cage.
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 with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Souza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Souza looking to throw knees to the head but Drake is blocking nicely.
Souza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake tries to score a body lock takedown but Souza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Anderson Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Drake.

Drake has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Souza uses from the top position.
Souza wants to stand and escape but instead Drake has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Souza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drake on the ground.
Souza wants to stand up but Drake is controlling him.
Drake is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Drake prevents Souza from getting back to his feet.
Souza keeping full guard, as Drake tries to pass.
Drake won't allow Souza to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Souza wants to clinch but Drake slips to the side

and Drake counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!
Souza wants to get back to his feet.
Drake putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza tries to buck Drake off but Drake takes his back!
Souza trying to get back to his feet but Drake is in full control for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drake has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Souza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Drake dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Drake throws a low kick but Souza avoids it.
Drake looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Souza clinches but Drake breaks the clinch

and Drake counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!
Souza wants to try and get back to his feet.
Souza is squirming around, avoiding Drake's attempts to control the action.
Souza wants to get back to his feet.
Drake thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Souza tries to buck Drake off but he can't manage it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drake gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Drake shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Souza pinned against the cage. Souza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Souza looks to clinch

and Drake counters with a single leg into guard. Souza didn't expect that.
Drake trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Drake prevents Souza from getting back to his feet.

Souza uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Souza tries to clinch up
and Drake counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Souza tries to clinch

and Drake counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza is in a horrible position here. Drake smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Drake get's back to his feet.
Souza looks to clinch
and Drake counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Souza darts in trying to clinch

and Drake counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Drake is taking a breather. Souza says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Souza tries to kick Drake off but Drake keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Drake content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is staying active underneath Drake, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Drake prevents Souza from standing back up.

Drake is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Drake seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Drake stops Souza from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Souza wants to clinch but Drake slips to the side

and Drake counters with a shoot takedown. Souza fights it but they end up in guard.
Souza wants to stand but Drake is controlling the position.
Drake wants to control from the top but Souza keeps moving.
Drake has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Drake 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drake prevents Souza from getting back to his feet.

Souza is working an open guard so Drake takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Drake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Souza takes the fight into the clinch.
Souza misses with a knee to the head.
Drake has Souza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Souza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Souza looking to throw knees to the head but Drake is blocking nicely.
Souza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Drake blocks it with crossed arms.
Drake wants to stall.
Souza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Souza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Souza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Drake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Souza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Souza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Drake blocks it with crossed arms.

Drake turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Souza tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Drake biding his time, looking for the opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drake wants to control but Souza is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Souza hold on?!

Drake is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Souza knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Souza for a finish.
Drake is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Souza. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Souza is trying to get back to his feet but Drake has full control of the position and if anything, Souza has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Drake has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Souza is defending well but eventually Drake manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Souza has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nathan Drake!