PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Larente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Souza
vs
Larente

183 cm
26
184 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johny Larente!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larente shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Souza as he avoids it easily.
Souza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Larente manages to avoid it.
Larente tries for a takedown but Souza circles away easily

and Souza counters with a shoot takedown. Larente fights it but they end up in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Larente is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larente working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souza.
Souza throwing strikes from guard but Larente blocks nicely.
Larente keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Souza throws a strike but Larente rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larente throws and elbow that misses. Souza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Larente's guard. Nice move by Souza!
Souza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Souza thows a big elbow that misses.

Larente has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Souza off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Larente fails with a takedown attempt.
Ronaldo Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny Larente.
Souza throws a wild body kick that Larente sees coming a mile off.
Johny Larente seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larente shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Souza but Souza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Larente shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Souza but Souza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Larente shoots and misses

and Souza counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Souza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Souza throwing strikes but missing.
Larente controls Souza momentarily but Souza frees himself.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Souza throwing strikes but missing.
Larente working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Larente is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Larente working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souza.
Souza throws a strike but Larente rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Souza being controlled here, momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza is controlling Larente's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Larente fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Larente scores with a takedown into Souza's guard.
Larente is fighting to break Souza's control of his arms but Souza is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Souza looking to control.
Larente with a nice head shot there.
Larente content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Larente trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Larente trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza is controlling Larente's posture.
Larente working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larente missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Souza is on top in guard.
Larente wants to stand but Souza is controlling the position.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Souza scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larente is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Souza is controlling him.
Larente avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larente works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larente wants to stand but Souza is controlling the position.
Souza is looking to work some ground and pound but Larente has wrist control.
Souza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Souza postures up in Larente's guard and throws a big left but Larente blocks it.
Souza throws a strike but Larente rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larente postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Souza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Souza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larente is one step ahead there.
Ronaldo Souza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larente with a flurry of punches that miss.
Larente content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Larente from controlling successfully.
Souza is controlling Larente's posture.
Souza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Larente.
Larente throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larente has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Souza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Larente 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Souza looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Souza looking to sit in guard and control but Larente gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Souza has his hands on Larente's head, controlling the position.
Larente in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Souza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Larente manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Souza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Souza throwing strikes but missing.
Souza postures up in Larente's guard and throws a big left but Larente blocks it.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larente works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Souza is in close to Larente's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Larente is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larente wants to get back to his feet but Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larente works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Larente manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Souza feints and as Larente raises his hands in defense, Souza changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Larente takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Souza throws and elbow that misses. Larente uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Souza's guard. Nice move by Larente!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larente is looking to work some ground and pound but Souza has wrist control.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larente stands up over Souza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Larente working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larente preventing the sweep.
Larente throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Larente trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Larente is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Souza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Souza has escaped and now he's on top!
Souza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza trying to control but Larente is working from the bottom.
Souza is really struggling to control Larente but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Souza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larente trying to keep a closed guard but Souza is proving a slippery customer.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larente preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Souza clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Souza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Larente shoots in but Souza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Larente misses with a takedown attempt

and Souza counters with a shoot takedown. Larente fights it but they end up in guard.
Larente working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souza.
Souza prevents Larente from getting back to his feet.
Souza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Larente being controlled here, momentarily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Souza postures up in Larente's guard and throws a big left but Larente blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza throws a big right hand that misses.
Souza throws and elbow that misses. Larente uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Souza's guard. Nice move by Larente!

Larente postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Souza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Larente, into his guard.
Souza throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza prevents Larente from getting back to his feet.
Larente keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Souza throwing strikes but missing.
Souza connects with a couple of short punches.
Larente wants to get back to his feet but Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza working some strikes from top position.
Souza throwing strikes from guard but Larente blocks nicely.
Larente has momentary wrist control but Souza slips an elbow through the middle.
Larente preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Souza throwing strikes from guard but Larente blocks nicely.
Souza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larente preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Larente keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Larente controlling Souza's posture.
Souza wants to control from the top but Larente keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Souza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Souza had his way with Johny Larente in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Souza shoots for a double leg takedown but Larente sprawls well. He's pushed Souza's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ronaldo Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza leaves Larente with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Souza looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Souza closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Larente did well to prevent Souza getting side control.
Larente wants to control but Souza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Souza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Souza misses with a head shot. Larente uses the momentum to regain guard.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Larente is trying to keep Souza in close.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Larente is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Larente is trying to keep Souza in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Souza postures up in Larente's guard and throws a big left but Larente blocks it.
Souza postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Johny Larente.
Larente fails with a takedown attempt.

Souza drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Souza's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Souza thows a big elbow that misses.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Larente is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larente not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ronaldo Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Souza is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ronaldo Souza just wasn't active enough.

Souza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Souza keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Larente's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws and elbow that misses. Larente uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Souza's guard. Nice move by Larente!
Larente throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larente looking to sit in guard and control but Souza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Larente is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza postures up and lands a big shot to Larente's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldo Souza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Souza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 49:46
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 49:46
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Souza!
Ronaldo Souza is the new middleweight champion!