PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamid Norouzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Norouzi comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Amantu Billah - Nasheed kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Souza
vs
Norouzi

186 cm
26
182 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
196 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paulo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hamid Norouzi!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza lands a head kick!
Souza throws a head kick that misses.
Souza scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Norouzi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Souza's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Norouzi wants to pass the guard but Souza is keeping the position.

Souza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Norouzi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Norouzi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
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 keeping moving, preventing Norouzi from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza controls Norouzi momentarily but Norouzi frees himself.
Norouzi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Norouzi connects with a couple of short punches.
Norouzi landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norouzi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Norouzi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Souza's head.
Souza is trying to control the position but Norouzi postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Norouzi tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.
Norouzi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Norouzi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Norouzi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Souza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Norouzi has managed to get both his arms back between Souza's legs - danger averted.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Souza is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Norouzi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Norouzi stands up over Souza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Souza has his foot on Norouzi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Norouzi works his way back into a safe position though.
Norouzi landing some decent shots from guard.
Souza keeping full guard, as Norouzi tries to pass.

Souza throws his legs up looking for a submission but Norouzi uses it to pass to side control.
Norouzi scoring with punches from side control.
Souza takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Norouzi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norouzi is putting a hurting on Souza here, landing some big shots from side control.

Souza is rocked!
Norouzi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Oh Souza is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Norouzi scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Souza is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Norouzi can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hamid Norouzi!
Hamid Norouzi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.