PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Remy Lacroix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Remy Lacroix has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lacroix
vs
Souza

180 cm
20
164 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
28
164 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Remy Lacroix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronaldo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lacroix's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lacroix duly obliges.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Lacroix misses the target.
Ronaldo Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt
and Lacroix counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Souza takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lacroix stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lacroix wants it to stay on the feet.
Remy Lacroix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.
Lacroix lunges at Souza with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Souza's hand.
Souza takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Souza is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lacroix's half guard.
Lacroix's coaches at Scorpion MMA 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lacroix is looking to escape.
Souza passes to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Souza is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lacroix can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Souza has control of Lacroix's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lacroix regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Souza with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Souza mounts Lacroix! Really nice guard pass there!
Souza tries to control but Lacroix wriggling away.

Souza moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Lacroix has worked his arm free - good work by Lacroix!
Lacroix tries to buck Souza off but Souza is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Souza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lacroix has escaped the position, nice work there.

Souza is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lacroix knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lacroix is trying to control Souza's posture but Souza avoids it.
Lacroix wants to get back to his feet.
Souza wants to control but Lacroix is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Lacroix's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacroix is trying to get back to his feet.
Lacroix can't do much from the bottom here.
Lacroix is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souza tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lacroix is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Souza is controlling him well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Souza shoots in for a double leg but Lacroix sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Souza feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Souza looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza prevents Lacroix from getting back to his feet.
Souza trying to control but Lacroix is working from the bottom.
Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souza prevents Lacroix from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Lacroix. No joy for Souza on that attempt.

Souza shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Souza was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ronaldo Souza will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Souza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lacroix circles away.
It looked like Lacroix wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Souza shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lacroix but Lacroix pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lacroix counters with a series of strikes. Souza will be more careful next time no doubt.
Remy Lacroix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronaldo Souza.
Lacroix lands with a cross.

Lacroix gets caught flat footed, as Souza shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Souza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lacroix swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lacroix wants to stand and escape but Souza is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Souza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Souza wants to control from the top but Lacroix keeps moving.
Lacroix wants to get back to his feet but Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza looking to pass the guard.
Lacroix wants to stand and escape but Souza is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Souza closes the distance and clinches up with Lacroix, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes Lacroix against the cage but Lacroix circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lacroix scores with a crisp jab that stopped Souza in his tracks.
Souza with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lacroix to score with a decent uppercut.
Remy Lacroix is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lacroix cracks Souza with an open hand slap.
Jab by Lacroix.
Souza with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lacroix counters with a stiff right hand.
Lacroix connects with a body shot.
Remy Lacroix is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza looks for a takedown but Lacroix sprawls well.
Lacroix throwing a counter right hand but Souza manages to avoid it.
Souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lacroix fails to land the takedown.
Nice uppercut lands for Lacroix. That snapped Souza's head back.
Souza misses with a takedown
and Lacroix counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Lacroix lands a nice hook to Souza's body. Souza takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lacroix scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacroix stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lacroix wants it to stay on the feet.
Lacroix was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Souza gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lacroix ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Souza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lacroix is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Lacroix scores with the left hand. Souza knows he should have avoided that one.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Lacroix scores with a four punch combination!
Lacroix throws a right hand that Souza ducks under and follows up with a left that Souza also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacroix lands a nice shot that snaps Souza's head back.
Lacroix lands a lovely overhand right.

Souza shoots in and bounces Lacroix off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lacroix trying to control the position.
Souza won't allow Lacroix to get back to his feet.
Souza wants to pass the guard but Lacroix is keeping the position.
Lacroix has his hands on Souza's head, controlling the position.
Souza pushing down on Lacroix's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remy Lacroix dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lacroix stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lacroix wants it to stay on the feet.

Souza gets a double leg takedown into Lacroix's guard.
Souza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lacroix swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Souza advances to half guard.
Ronaldo Souza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lacroix is trying to stand.
Souza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Souza slows the pace down in half guard.
Lacroix is looking to control Souza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lacroix avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lacroix is trying to stand back up but Souza is controlling him
Souza is trying to control. Lacroix wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lacroix manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lacroix keeping full guard, as Souza tries to pass.
Souza won't allow Lacroix to get back to his feet.

Lacroix pushes Souza off and scrambles back to his feet.

Souza looking to score a takedown here. Lacroix is defending well but Souza drives through and ends up in Lacroix's guard.
Lacroix tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lacroix can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Souza controls the pace.
Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lacroix wants to stand but Souza is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza content to stall in guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Souza drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lacroix dives on top into guard.

Souza looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lacroix puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lacroix tries to pass the half guard into mount. Souza knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lacroix is trying to control the action in half guard but Souza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacroix prevents Souza from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Souza manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Souza looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Souza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lacroix defends well.
Lacroix preventing the sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Souza can do anything to dispel that myth.
Souza keeps trying to improve his position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Souza is looking for a triangle here but Lacroix uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Souza is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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 Remy Lacroix.
I think Lacroix 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Remy Lacroix!