PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Sjoberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alejandro De La Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sjoberg
vs
De La Souza

186 cm
22
209 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

187 cm
23
208 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikael Sjoberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Alejandro De La Souza!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Souza throws a head kick but Sjoberg moves out of range.
De La Souza avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Sjoberg gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sjoberg tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. De La Souza smiles and moves away.
Sjoberg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but De La Souza circles away quickly and effectively.
De La Souza throws a head kick that Sjoberg semi-blocks.

It looks like Mikael Sjoberg has been cut.
Sjoberg shoots in for a double leg but De La Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Sjoberg shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in De La Souza's guard.
Sjoberg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sjoberg wants to control from the top but De La Souza keeps moving.
De La 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.
Sjoberg 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.
Sjoberg trying to control but De La Souza is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sjoberg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sjoberg stopping the sweep attempt from De La Souza.
De La Souza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sjoberg won't allow De La Souza to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sjoberg avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sjoberg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikael Sjoberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De La Souza throws a head kick that misses.
Sjoberg closes this distance looking for a takedown but De La Souza circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
De La Souza throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
De La Souza looks to land a body kick but Sjoberg moved away.
De La Souza throws a head kick that misses.

Sjoberg gets the takedown into side control.
De La Souza tries to improve position but can't.
Sjoberg in side control, throwing shots but De La Souza defends.
De La Souza managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sjoberg.
Sjoberg trying to control the position but De La Souza is working away.
Sjoberg is breathing heavily.
De La Souza is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Sjoberg has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Sjoberg has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg tries to clinch but De La Souza moves out of range.
De La Souza throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from De La Souza.
De La Souza takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sjoberg throws a combination that misses
and De La Souza counters with a flying knee. Nice.
De La Souza throws a head kick but Sjoberg moves out of range.
De La Souza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sjoberg has managed to clinch.
Sjoberg wants to get back to striking at distance but De La Souza won't allow it.

Sjoberg has dropped down and is working for a takedown. De La Souza is trying to keep an underhook but Sjoberg manages to get the takedown into half guard.
De La Souza wants to control but Sjoberg is keeping busy.
Sjoberg throwing shots but De La Souza is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Souza wants to get back to full guard.
Sjoberg wants to take a breather but De La Souza is having none of it.
Sjoberg is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sjoberg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but De La Souza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De La Souza avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sjoberg.
Sjoberg wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
De La Souza misses with a head kick.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Sjoberg drives through and clinches with De La Souza against the ropes.
Come on Sjoberg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sjoberg drops to a knee looking for a takedown but De La Souza gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by De La Souza.

De La Souza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sjoberg has a takedown stuffed.
De La Souza tries a head kick but it misses.
Sjoberg shoots in and drives through. De La Souza sprawls well.
De La Souza throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
De La Souza fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Decent striking displayed by De La Souza there.
Sjoberg takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
De La Souza lands a head kick. Sjoberg smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sjoberg avoids the head kick by De La Souza.
De La Souza throws a push kick but Sjoberg slaps the foot to one side.
De La Souza throws a nice looking combination but Sjoberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sjoberg tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De La Souza swivels and escapes.
De La Souza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from De La Souza.
Sjoberg has a takedown stuffed.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts De La Souza as he jumps to the side.
De La Souza lands a jab-cross combination.
Mikael Sjoberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sjoberg fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
De La Souza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sjoberg is looking to clinch but De La Souza is avoiding it.
De La Souza lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sjoberg misses with a shot to the body
and De La Souza counters with a straight right hand.

Sjoberg shoots in and bounces De La Souza off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Sjoberg is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg scoring with some ground and pound.
Sjoberg is pushing down on De La Souza's leg trying to pass to half guard. De La Souza is fighting to maintain full guard but Sjoberg has managed to sneak the leg through.
De La Souza controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Sjoberg throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Sjoberg is looking for a kimura but De La Souza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sjoberg to get the leverage.
De La Souza is staying active underneath Sjoberg, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
De La Souza avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sjoberg.
De La Souza trying to hold on to Sjoberg's head to control him but Sjoberg postures up.
De La Souza avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sjoberg.

Sjoberg is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so De La Souza is just riding it out for now. Sjoberg eventually gives up the hold.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sjoberg takes one to the chin there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alejandro De La Souza will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikael Sjoberg's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sjoberg takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sjoberg shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sjoberg is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sjoberg walks into a straight right hand from De La Souza.
De La Souza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sjoberg shoots in for a takedown but De La Souza shows good takedown defense.
De La Souza plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
De La Souza throws a head kick but Sjoberg moves out of range.
Sjoberg falls off balance throwing a combination
and De La Souza counters with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
De La Souza wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Souza tries a knee to the head but Sjoberg blocks it.
Sjoberg blocking some punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sjoberg has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics De La Souza uses from the top position.

Sjoberg scrambles and gets back to his feet.
De La Souza misses with a head kick.

Sjoberg shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sjoberg was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
De La Souza is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sjoberg throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for De La Souza because Sjoberg loaded up on that one.
De La Souza holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sjoberg tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
De La Souza blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg with good strikes from the mount here!
De La Souza is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
De La Souza is trying desperately to improve position.
De La Souza holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sjoberg tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Sjoberg working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sjoberg throws some wild stikes that De La Souza manages to avoid easily.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Souza sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
De La Souza has his hands clasped together around Sjoberg's back. He's all about the action.
Sjoberg tries to stand and escape but De La Souza is controlling the position.

De La Souza is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Sjoberg pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Sjoberg there.

That's four 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.

Sjoberg decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Sjoberg shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sjoberg was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sjoberg scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish De La Souza?
De La Souza is working to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Sjoberg.
Sjoberg lands a big shot there that rocks De La Souza but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
De La Souza is desperately trying to improve his position but Sjoberg has a good base and remains in mount.
Sjoberg postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. De La Souza looks a forlorn figure.
De La Souza is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
De La Souza taking shots to the head.
Sjoberg looking to control and managing it successfully.
De La Souza is in a horrible position here. Sjoberg smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
De La Souza in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sjoberg throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sjoberg looking to finish with strikes here!
Sjoberg can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as De La Souza is looking to escape.
Sjoberg throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
De La Souza takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
De La Souza wants to control but Sjoberg is having none of it.
De La Souza is trying desperately to improve position.
Sjoberg looking to ground and pound but De La Souza is blocking nicely.
De La Souza tries to reverse the position but Sjoberg maintains control.
Sjoberg lands with some vicious ground and pound - can De La Souza hang on?
Sjoberg working De La Souza over with strikes here.
Sjoberg can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as De La Souza is looking to escape.

That's eight 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.
De La Souza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sjoberg lands a heavy elbow.
Sjoberg misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sjoberg looking to ground and pound but De La Souza is blocking nicely.
Mikael Sjoberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
De La Souza is trying to escape the mount.
Sjoberg lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sjoberg fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sjoberg connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sjoberg cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sjoberg punching from mount but De La Souza doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sjoberg lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
De La Souza is squirming around, avoiding Sjoberg's attempts to control the action.
Sjoberg raining down shots from the mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikael Sjoberg showed his dominance in that final round.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Mikael Sjoberg!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Mikael Sjoberg!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Mikael Sjoberg!

Mikael Sjoberg wins by unanimous decision!