PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Da Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Zveroboy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Da Souza
vs
Zveroboy

184 cm
25
187 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Da Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Zveroboy!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Souza moves to clinch but Zveroboy breaks away
and Zveroboy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Da Souza shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Zveroboy's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Da Souza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Da Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Zveroboy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zveroboy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Da Souza doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Da Souza manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zveroboy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Da Souza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Zveroboy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zveroboy wants to stand and escape but Da Souza is having none of it.
Zveroboy keeping full guard, as Da Souza tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Souza wants to control from the top but Zveroboy keeps moving.
Da Souza 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.
Da Souza won't allow Zveroboy to sweep him here.

Zveroboy has his foot on Da Souza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Da Souza works his way back into a safe position though.
Da Souza wanted to stand there but Zveroboy had control of the position.
Zveroboy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Da Souza wants to pass the guard but Zveroboy is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Souza content to stall in guard here.
Da Souza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zveroboy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Da Souza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Zveroboy is working an open guard so Da Souza takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Da Souza fails with the takedown
and Zveroboy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A combination from Da Souza does no damage.

Zveroboy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Da Souza napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Zveroboy is trying to get an arm triangle but Da Souza is defending well.
Zveroboy looks gassed!
Da Souza wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Da Souza tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zveroboy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Souza gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Da Souza looking for submissions off his back.
Zveroboy is thwarting Da Souza's attempts to control the position.
Zveroboy is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Da Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Da Souza actively working from the bottom here.

Da Souza actively working from the bottom here.
Zveroboy thows a huge punch but Da Souza dodges it nicely.

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

Da Souza kicks Zveroboy off and gets back to his feet.
Da Souza tries for a takedown but Zveroboy circles away easily

and Zveroboy counters with a takedown into side control.
Da Souza misses with a strike from the bottom.

Zveroboy goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Da Souza has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Zveroboy but great work by Da Souza.
Da Souza trying to control the action but Zveroboy is working from the bottom.
Zveroboy struggling a bit here.

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

Da Souza wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zveroboy, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricardo Da Souza will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Da Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zveroboy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zveroboy tries to free his leg and advance position but Da Souza is retaining full guard.
Zveroboy content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Zveroboy stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Da Souza throws up his legs and catches Zveroboy in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Zveroboy tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Da Souza! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Ricardo Da Souza!