PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jake Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Obed Flying Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Souza
vs
Flying Fox

185 cm
27
185 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

175 cm
27
193 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Obed Flying Fox!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flying Fox misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Souza has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Flying Fox changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Souza tries to avoid it but Flying Fox manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Souza to the ground. Souza escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Souza clinches up against the cage.
Souza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Flying Fox drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jake Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Obed Flying Fox.
Flying Fox blocking some punches.
Souza swings wildly with an uppercut but Flying Fox uses good head movement to avoid it.

Flying Fox decides to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Souza trying to control but Flying Fox is working from the bottom.
Souza throws a big right hand that misses.
Souza controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Souza postures up and lands a big shot to Flying Fox's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flying Fox looking to control.

Flying Fox throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Flying Fox working a defensive guard here.
Flying Fox keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Flying Fox 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.
Flying Fox keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jake Souza.

Flying Fox gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flying Fox is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Souza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Souza takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza is looking for a sweep.
Souza is working hard here to advance position.
Flying Fox grinds an elbow into Souza's temple.
Souza is trying to control Flying Fox's posture but Flying Fox avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza struggling a bit here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Flying Fox tries for a kimura but Souza is defending well.
Souza is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza wants to control but Flying Fox postures up.
Flying Fox is looking to take a break and control but Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Flying Fox tries for a kimura but Souza is defending well.
Souza tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Flying Fox wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flying Fox is trying to get an arm triangle but Souza is defending well.
Flying Fox working the ground and pound.
Souza is not content to let Flying Fox control the position.
Souza is trying to control Flying Fox's posture but Flying Fox avoids it.
Souza is looking for a sweep.
Souza manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
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 makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Souza.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Flying Fox thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Flying Fox works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Obed Flying Fox will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Flying Fox gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Flying Fox trying to control the position.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flying Fox works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Flying Fox wants to sweep but no luck.
Souza trying to control but Flying Fox is working from the bottom.
Souza is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Flying Fox is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Souza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Souza won't allow Flying Fox to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Souza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Flying Fox throws his legs up looking for a submission but Souza uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to control the position but Flying Fox is working away.
Souza gets to mount! Flying Fox was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Flying Fox regains half guard.
Souza is taking a breather. Flying Fox says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Flying Fox avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Souza.
Souza is thwarting Flying Fox's attempts to control the position.
Souza lands strikes from half guard.
Souza wants to free his trapped foot but Flying Fox is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Flying Fox gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flying Fox looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Souza is looking to work some ground and pound but Flying Fox has wrist control.

Flying Fox working for a triangle but Souza defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Souza wants to control from the top but Flying Fox keeps moving.
Flying Fox 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.
Souza postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flying Fox working for a triangle but Souza defends it easily.

Flying Fox is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Souza is aware though and is defending well.
Souza looking to sit in guard and control but Flying Fox gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Flying Fox defends well.

Souza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Souza trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flying Fox trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Flying Fox drops back looking for a leg! Souza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Souza manages to kick Flying Fox off! Flying Fox jumps back into Souza's guard.

Souza isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Flying Fox stacks Souza on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Flying Fox!
Flying Fox avoids the strikes from the bottom by Souza.
Souza tries to bench press Flying Fox off him but Flying Fox keeps the position.
Flying Fox working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flying Fox wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Flying Fox is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Souza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jake Souza will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Flying Fox gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flying Fox works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Souza trying to control but Flying Fox is working from the bottom.
Flying Fox wants to sweep here but Souza controlling him for the moment.
Flying Fox keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Flying Fox is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Flying Fox looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Flying Fox trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flying Fox 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.
Souza postures up.
Souza trying to control but Flying Fox is working from the bottom.
Flying Fox can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Souza controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Flying Fox keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Obed Flying Fox has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Souza throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Flying Fox tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Souza is in Flying Fox's guard.

Flying Fox is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Souza preventing the sweep.
Flying Fox has momentary wrist control but Souza slips an elbow through the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flying Fox is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Flying Fox looking for a guillotine here but Souza defends easily.
Souza trying to control but Flying Fox is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flying Fox tries to land a sweep but no joy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Jake Souza has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Flying Fox shoots and misses
and Souza counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Souza drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Souza postures up in Flying Fox's guard and throws a big left but Flying Fox blocks it.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Flying Fox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Souza drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Flying Fox manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Souza has Flying Fox in his guard.

Souza working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Flying Fox has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flying Fox is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Souza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Flying Fox.
Flying Fox trying to mount his opponent but Souza defends it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Flying Fox seems to be looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flying Fox is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Souza is trying to reverse the position but instead Flying Fox has taken his back - oops!

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 Jake Souza.
I think Souza has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!