PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago de Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Subat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

de Souza
vs
Subat

183 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
22
168 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago de Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Subat!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Subat thuds his shin into the meat of de Souza's side.
de Souza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Subat as he jumps to the side.
Subat with a poor takedown

and de Souza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
de Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Subat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Subat wants to sweep but no luck.
de Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Subat is keeping the position for now.
Subat is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst de Souza is controlling him.
de Souza lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Subat is on top in guard.
Subat trying to control the position from guard on top but de Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de Souza has momentary wrist control but Subat slips an elbow through the middle.
Subat wants to pass the guard but de Souza is keeping the position.
de 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Subat looking to sit in guard and control but de Souza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
de Souza preventing the sweep.
de Souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
de Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Subat had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. de Souza is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Subat Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take de Souza's back instead.
Subat has the hooks in. de Souza is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Subat is not going to allow de Souza to sit and survive in this position.
Subat trying to control.
de Souza tries to escape the position.
de Souza tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Subat goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now de Souza is on top in guard.
Subat looking for a sweep. Not yet Subat, not yet.

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.
Subat is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Subat working a defensive guard here.
Subat looks gassed!
de Souza wants to control from the top but Subat keeps moving.
Subat manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Subat is stalling here but it's allowed de Souza to get half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thiago de Souza will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

de Souza tries to clinch there but Subat circles away.
de Souza misses with a double jab.
Subat throws a combination that misses
and de Souza counters with a thumping low kick.
Subat clinches but de Souza breaks the clinch
and de Souza counters with a body kick.
Subat keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Souza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Subat moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Subat with a lazy takedown attempt

and de Souza moves into the clinch.
de Souza wants to break free but Subat has control.
Subat fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Subat pulls de Souza into guard.
de Souza sitting in guard, not really doing much.
de Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Subat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Subat wants to sweep here but de Souza controlling him for the moment.
Subat lands a couple of shots from the bottom.

de Souza 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.
de Souza's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Subat will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Souza controls from within his opponent's guard.
Subat is adopting a defensive guard.
de Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Subat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Subat trying to strike off his back.
Subat is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four 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 Souza has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Subat keeping full guard, as de Souza tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Subat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and de Souza decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Subat's guard.
Thiago de Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Subat.
de Souza content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Subat trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago de Souza dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Subat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and de Souza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Subat's guard now.
Subat is trying to keep de Souza in close.
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.
de Souza stands and throws Subat's legs to the side, diving into side control.
de Souza trying to control the action but Subat is working from the bottom.
Subat is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Subat regains half guard.
de Souza is thwarting Subat's attempts to control the position.
Subat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Subat wants to improve his position but de Souza is controlling well.
de Souza moves into full mount! Subat won't be happy about that!
de Souza trying to control but Subat is having none of it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

de Souza swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Subat is now in de Souza's guard. A big mistake from de Souza there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Souza working a defensive guard here.
Subat looking to sit in guard and control but de Souza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
de Souza slips nicely into half guard.
Subat gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Souza wants to control from the top but Subat keeps moving.

Subat manages to escape and get back to his feet.

de Souza forces Subat back against the ropes and clinches.
de Souza jumps guard but Subat stands there with de Souza around his waist. de Souza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Subat tries for a takedown. No joy.
de Souza wants to get back to striking at distance but Subat won't allow it.
de Souza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Subat looking to stall.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Subat.
Subat is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
de Souza gets underhooks to prevent Subat's takedown attempt.
Thiago de Souza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Subat.

de Souza manages to break the clinch.
Ivan Subat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
de Souza tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Subat chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before de Souza can pounce on him.
Thiago de Souza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Subat swings and misses with a shot to the body

and de Souza decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Subat's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago de Souza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well de Souza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago de Souza!