PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yve Braud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paolo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Braud kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is "Here Comes the Hammer" by M.C. Hammer. This should be a great matchup!

Braud
vs
Souza

190 cm
18
221 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

193 cm
19
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Attliction

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yve Braud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paolo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza is looking to clinch but Braud is avoiding it.

Souza closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Souza lands in his opponent's guard.
Souza working some strikes from top position.
Souza working some strikes from top position.

Braud is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Braud wants to sweep here but Souza controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Braud looking to control.
Braud looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Souza prevents Braud from getting back to his feet.
Braud throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Souza with a nice head shot there.
Braud manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Souza manages to get himself to full guard.
Braud won't allow Souza to sweep him here.
Braud is looking to stand up but Souza won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braud scoring with some ground and pound.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Braud is one step ahead there.
Souza doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.

Braud decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Souza, up you get!

Souza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Braud is breathing heavily.
Souza prevents Braud from improving his position.
Souza landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Souza is pressing down on Braud's thigh, looking to free his foot. Braud is holding on for now.
Braud missing with punches from the bottom.
Braud pushes Souza off looking to stand but Souza dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Souza scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Braud trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Souza shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Braud is looking to improve his position.
Souza winds up and cracks Braud with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Souza there.
Braud is trying to maintain the position but Souza is very close to passing his half guard.
Souza lands with a punch from half guard.
Braud tries to kick Souza off but Souza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Braud works his way to full guard. Good work.
Braud 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.

Braud pushes Souza off and scrambles back to his feet.
Braud tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Souza decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Braud's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Braud wants to stand and escape but Souza is having none of it.
Souza working some strikes from top position.
Souza stands up over Braud, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Souza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Souza with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza landing some decent shots from guard.
Souza preventing the sweep.
Braud is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Souza moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Souza lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Braud!
Braud is in a horrible position here. Souza smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Braud tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Braud swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Souza is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Braud can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Braud keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Souza lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Souza postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Braud looks a forlorn figure.
Braud flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Souza with a couple of short strikes.
Braud tries to buck Souza off but he can't manage it.
Souza lands with some strikes.
Souza landing strikes from the mount and Braud is in trouble!
Souza landing strikes from the mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Souza unloading with bombs!
Braud swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Souza landing punches.
Souza lands a nice shot to the head.
Souza scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Braud?
Souza is landing with some decent strikes but Braud is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Braud is trying to escape the mount.
Souza lands a nice shot to the head.
Braud working to try and regain half guard.
Souza landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Souza dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Souza has closed the distance and engaged Braud in a clinch.
Braud tries to stall but Souza uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Souza tries for a takedown but Braud manages to get underhooks.
Braud with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Souza wants the takedown. Braud is fighting it off but Souza persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Braud's guard against the cage.
Souza won't allow Braud to get back to his feet.
Souza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Braud tries to strike from the bottom.
Braud throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Souza throwing strikes from guard but Braud blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Souza's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Souza cracks Braud with a solid left hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Braud gets the takedown into side control.
Paolo Souza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Souza manages to work his way to half guard, despite Braud's best efforts.
Souza gets back to full guard.
Braud wants to stand but Souza has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to strike off his back.
Braud throwing strikes but missing.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Braud from controlling successfully.
Souza lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Braud!
The referee warns Braud that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Souza lands a heavy elbow.
Braud tries to reverse the position but Souza maintains control.
Braud is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Braud is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Braud throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Braud wants to hold on but Souza pushes him away.
Braud bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza looking for a sweep. Not yet Souza, not yet.
Braud pushes down on Souza's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Braud seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Souza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Braud passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Souza!
Braud working the ground and pound effectively.
Braud lands a big elbow.
Souza keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Braud with shots to the head and body - Souza looks very uncomfortable down there.
Braud prevents Souza from getting the reversal.
Souza bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Souza passes Braud's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Souza seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Souza is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Braud on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza slips a nice elbow through Braud's hands, connecting with Braud's forehead.
Souza looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Braud with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Souza passes the guard and advances to mount!
Souza pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Braud sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Braud is pressing down on Souza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Braud trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Souza stops Braud from standing up.

Braud throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Souza lands a couple of elbows.

Braud has his feet on Souza's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Souza circles away from the clinch attempt

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braud regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Braud is looking to escape.
Braud flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Souza blocks the strikes from Braud.
Braud missing with punches from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Souza.

Braud kicks off Souza and gets to his feet.
Souza misses with a takedown

and Braud holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Braud tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Braud landing knees to the body.
Braud stalling against the cage.
Souza can't get the takedown.
Yve Braud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paolo Souza.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Souza gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Braud trying to keep a closed guard but Souza is proving a slippery customer.
Souza wants to pass the guard but Braud is keeping the position.
Souza stopping the sweep attempt from Braud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Souza wants to clinch but Braud slips to the side

and Braud counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Souza scores with a nice hook to the head.
Souza tries for a takedown but Braud manages to get underhooks.
Souza drops down looking for an ankle pick but Braud pulls his leg out and moves away.
Braud wants to clinch but Souza slips to the side

and Souza counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Souza blocks an elbow strike from Braud.
Braud throws an elbow but it misses.
Braud fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Souza drops down looking for an ankle pick but Braud pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yve Braud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paolo Souza.
Souza shoots and misses

and Braud counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Braud unloads a knee to the mid-section. Souza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Souza turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Souza has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Braud!
Souza lands a big elbow.
Braud takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Souza.
Souza connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Souza lands a big elbow.
Braud keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Souza is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Braud is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braud is working hard here to advance position.
Souza is landing with some decent strikes but Braud is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Braud is looking to improve his position but Souza isn't that keen on the idea.
Souza with a couple of short strikes.
Souza blocks Braud's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Braud is looking to get to half guard.
Souza working the ground and pound effectively.
Braud really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Souza working the ground and pound effectively.
Souza prevents Braud from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Souza cracks Braud with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Braud bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Braud throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Braud won't allow Souza to sweep him here.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Braud from controlling successfully.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Braud is one step ahead there.
Souza wants to improve his position but instead Braud has moved into half guard.
Braud blocks the strikes from Souza.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Souza keeps the fight on the outside.
Souza shoots and misses

and Braud counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Souza's guard now.
Braud with a nice head shot there.
Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Braud stands and steps away. Souza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Braud swinging wilding here.

Souza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Braud, pushing him back against the cage.
with the fighters clinched against the cage, Souza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Souza's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Souza duly obliges.
Braud wants to clinch but Souza slips to the side

and Souza counters with a takedown into side control.
Souza working the ground and pound.
Braud struggling a bit here.
Souza lands a decent elbow from side control.
Braud manages to get back to half guard.
Braud taking some punishment here, with Souza in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Braud manages to get to full guard.
Souza is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Braud is on top in guard.
Souza throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braud cracks Souza with a solid left hand.
Braud postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Braud's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Braud connects with a couple of short punches.
Souza has momentary wrist control but Braud slips an elbow through the middle.
Braud is in close to Souza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yve Braud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souza has momentary wrist control but Braud slips an elbow through the middle.
Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Braud's guard.

Braud is looking for a triangle but Souza pushes his legs off easily.

Braud looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Braud scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

Braud has his foot on Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Souza works his way back into a safe position though.

Braud working for a triangle but Souza defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Braud is keeping the position for now.

Braud looking for a guillotine here but Souza defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yve Braud.
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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Paolo Souza!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Paolo Souza!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Paolo Souza!

Paolo Souza wins by unanimous decision!