PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benny Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Souza has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Souza
vs
Cortez

185 cm
21
198 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benny Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza throws a head kick but Cortez moves out of range.
Souza looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Souza misses with a hook. Cortez ducked under it nicely.

Cortez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Souza's coaches at Cozad MMA Rio have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Cortez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Souza with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Cortez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Souza wants to get back to full guard.
Cortez wants to stand up but Souza has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Souza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cortez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Souza haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cortez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Souza is not content to let Cortez control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Souza missing with punches from the bottom.

Souza actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Cortez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cortez is trying to control. Souza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cortez wants to free his trapped foot but Souza is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cortez slips a nice elbow through Souza's hands, connecting with Souza's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cortez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Cortez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Souza moves into full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cortez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Souza is proving hard to escape from.
Cortez won't allow Souza to sweep him here.

Cortez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cortez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cortez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cortez postures up in Souza's guard and throws a big left but Souza blocks it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez swats away the attempt to clinch by Souza.

Cortez dives in and scores a takedown into Souza's guard.

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

Souza looking for a guillotine here but Cortez defends easily.
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.
Souza is pulling down on Cortez's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Souza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Souza managing to control the position.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Cortez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cortez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Souza tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cortez is in Souza's guard.
Cortez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Souza trying to control the position.
Cortez trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cortez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Souza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cortez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cortez defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cortez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Souza has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Cortez has passed into side control.
Cortez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cortez trying to control the action but Souza is working from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Cortez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Souza wants to control but Cortez postures up.
Cortez throws a strike aimed at the side of Souza's head but Souza avoids it well.
Souza looks to move to half guard but instead Cortez has passed into mount! Damn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Souza is looking to escape.
Souza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cortez tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
Cortez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cortez avoids the attempt from Souza to control.
Cortez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cortez tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
Cortez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to control but Cortez is having none of it.
Cortez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Souza wants to control but Cortez is having none of it.
Souza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Souza sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Souza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cortez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cortez's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souza has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Cortez is in real trouble here. Souza gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Cortez is tapping out! Souza wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thiago Souza!