PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Baki Hanma (ranked 1294 p4p, 1131 weight class) and Miguel Azevedo Souza (ranked 176 p4p, 150 weight class). Hanma's entrance music is B-Complex - Beautiful Lies. A fine choice. 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?

Hanma
vs
Azevedo Souza

175 cm
30
145
13 - 15 - 0

176 cm
36
150
29 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sakura Style
NARCOS

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baki Hanma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miguel Azevedo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Hanma misses the target.
Hanma takes a swing at Azevedo Souza's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hanma throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Azevedo Souza counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hanma trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Azevedo Souza is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hanma has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hanma is trying to control but can't.
Hanma is looking to improve his position.
Azevedo Souza is trying to control. Hanma wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hanma looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hanma is trying to maintain the position but Azevedo Souza is very close to passing his half guard.
Hanma trying to get back to full guard but Azevedo Souza takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Azevedo Souza sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hanma wants to control but Azevedo Souza is having none of it.
Azevedo Souza looking to control and managing it successfully.
Azevedo Souza tries to control but Hanma wriggling away.
Hanma is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hanma wants to control but Azevedo Souza is having none of it.
Azevedo Souza trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza is looking to work his way around to Hanma's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Azevedo Souza avoids the attempt from Hanma to control.
Hanma is trying desperately to improve position.
Azevedo Souza controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanma is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Azevedo Souza is trying to take his opponent's back.
Hanma wants to control but Azevedo Souza is having none of it.
Hanma is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Azevedo Souza trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hanma wants to hold on but Azevedo Souza pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azevedo Souza has control of Hanma's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hanma regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Azevedo Souza trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hanma wants to hold on but Azevedo Souza pushes him away.

Azevedo Souza jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hanma manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Azevedo Souza trying to control the action but Hanma is working from the bottom.
Hanma can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azevedo Souza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hanma is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Azevedo Souza's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Hanma looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Azevedo Souza stalling.
Hanma definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hanma tries to get to full guard but Azevedo Souza has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Azevedo Souza in particular looking to stall.
Azevedo Souza is trying to control the action in half guard but Hanma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Azevedo Souza dominated that round.
That's time! Hanma's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hanma throws a hook but Azevedo Souza blocks it.
Hanma misses with a looping right.
Hanma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hanma throws a jab when Azevedo Souza was well out of range.
A big left from Hanma misses.
Hanma throws a looping overhand right but Azevedo Souza ducks down to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nice shot lands for Hanma.
Hanma throws a left and a right that both miss

and Azevedo Souza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hanma won't be happy with that.
Hanma is looking to regain half guard here but Azevedo Souza keeps moving and retains side control.
Hanma is working hard here to advance position.
Azevedo Souza wants to control but Hanma is keeping him busy.
Hanma is trying to get back to half guard.
Azevedo Souza tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Azevedo Souza tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Azevedo Souza has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza tries to move to mount but Hanma blocks the move with his legs.
Miguel Azevedo Souza has got the better of the ground game so far.
You can see the frustration on Hanma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Azevedo Souza trying to control the position but Hanma is working away.
Hanma holding on.
You can see the frustration on Hanma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hanma tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Azevedo Souza wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Azevedo Souza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hanma, who protects the arm well.
Hanma wants to control but Azevedo Souza postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Azevedo Souza is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hanma knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hanma can't do much from the bottom here.

Azevedo Souza is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hanma is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
My spies in Tappelukerho inform me that Azevedo Souza has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hanma is looking for a sweep.

Azevedo Souza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hanma has escaped the position, nice work there.
A lull in the action here as Azevedo Souza stalls from top position.

Azevedo Souza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza staying calm.
Hanma holds on to Azevedo Souza's head and controls the position momentarily.
Hanma wants to control but Azevedo Souza postures up.
Azevedo Souza tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hanma manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Hanma trying to work for an americana but Azevedo Souza has managed to regain full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azevedo Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hanma trying to control the position from guard on top but Azevedo Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanma wants to pass the guard but Azevedo Souza is keeping the position.

Azevedo Souza is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hanma is aware though and is defending well.

Hanma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Azevedo Souza keeping moving, preventing Hanma from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Azevedo Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hanma can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hanma being controlled here momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Azevedo Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hanma lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hanma lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Azevedo Souza scores with a nice strike.
Hanma waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azevedo Souza.
Hanma throws a hook to the side of Azevedo Souza's head but Azevedo Souza sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And Azevedo Souza tries to counter it with a takedown but Hanma pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hanma waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azevedo Souza.
Hanma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azevedo Souza manages to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza with the counter takedown but Hanma avoids it easily.
Azevedo Souza moves out of range of the strikes.
Azevedo Souza scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice combination there by Hanma.
Azevedo Souza avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hanma tries to move into range but Azevedo Souza moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Azevedo Souza shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Azevedo Souza was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hanma is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Azevedo Souza's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Hanma looking for submissions off his back.

Hanma looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Azevedo Souza seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hanma does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hanma works his way to full guard. Good work.

Hanma had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azevedo Souza defends it easily.
Hanma working a defensive guard but Azevedo Souza manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma is trying to improve his position.
Hanma can't do much from the bottom here.
Azevedo Souza has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Hanma tries to hold on but Azevedo Souza pushes him away.
Azevedo Souza controlling from mount.
Azevedo Souza trying to control but Hanma is having none of it.
Hanma tries to lock up and control but Azevedo Souza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza controlling from mount.
Hanma is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hanma tries to lock up and control but Azevedo Souza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Azevedo Souza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hanma is wriggling around trying to escape.
Azevedo Souza tries to control but Hanma wriggling away.

Azevedo Souza is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hanma is surviving well by controlling Azevedo Souza's body position as best he can.
Azevedo Souza wants to control the pace but Hanma is squirming around nicely.
Hanma bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Azevedo Souza working for a triangle but Hanma defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanma sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Azevedo Souza's guard.
Hanma is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Azevedo Souza wants to control but Hanma is keeping busy.
Azevedo Souza is refusing to be controlled, as Hanma sits in half guard.
Azevedo Souza trying to control here.
Hanma is keen to just control but Azevedo Souza is a slippery customer.
Hanma looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Azevedo Souza is refusing to be controlled, as Hanma sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Miguel Azevedo Souza.
I've got Azevedo Souza winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Azevedo Souza!
After winning the bout, Miguel Azevedo Souza thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.