PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Willenbring (ranked 6535 p4p, 504 weight class) and Sandro Dos Souza (ranked 6689 p4p, 509 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Willenbring might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica - The Thing that should not be. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Willenbring
vs
Dos Souza

182 cm
20
188 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alex Willenbring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sandro Dos Souza!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Willenbring throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Willenbring takes the fight into the clinch.

Willenbring breaks the clinch.
Willenbring fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dos Souza avoids it really well and circles away.
Dos Souza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Willenbring manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dos Souza misses with a takedown attempt

and Willenbring counters by moving into the clinch.
Dos Souza tries to stall but Willenbring uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Willenbring pulls Dos Souza into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Willenbring is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Willenbring looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dos Souza wants to control from the top but Willenbring keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Souza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Willenbring's head.
Dos Souza wants to control from the top but Willenbring keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Willenbring working for a triangle but Dos Souza defends it easily.
Dos Souza advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dos Souza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Willenbring keeps working.
Willenbring tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Willenbring is working hard here to advance position.
Willenbring gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Dos Souza trying to control but Willenbring is having none of it.
Willenbring is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Souza looking to finish with strikes here!
Dos Souza can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Willenbring is looking to escape.
Dos Souza throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Willenbring because Dos Souza loaded up on that one.
Dos Souza lands a big elbow.
Willenbring is desperately trying to improve his position but Dos Souza has a good base and remains in mount.
Willenbring is squirming around, avoiding Dos Souza's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willenbring avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dos Souza.
Dos Souza thowing shots but they're missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dos Souza throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Willenbring because Dos Souza loaded up on that one.
Dos Souza looking to control but Willenbring is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Poor strikes thrown by Dos Souza there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Dos Souza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Willenbring can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Dos Souza dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Willenbring as Dos Souza shoots in.
Willenbring slips a jab and a cross from Dos Souza.
Willenbring circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dos Souza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Willenbring shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dos Souza but Dos Souza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dos Souza let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Dos Souza misses with a series of wild punches.
Dos Souza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Willenbring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willenbring with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dos Souza to score with a decent uppercut.
Dos Souza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Willenbring scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willenbring clinches up with Dos Souza and pushes him back against the cage.
Dos Souza wants a takedown.

Willenbring manages to break the clinch.
Dos Souza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Willenbring.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Willenbring. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Willenbring. No joy for Dos Souza on that attempt.
Dos Souza tries to clinch there but Willenbring circles away.
Dos Souza lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Willenbring misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Willenbring tries for a takedown but Dos Souza circles away easily
enabling Dos Souza to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dos Souza throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Dos Souza throws a jab but it's blocked by Willenbring.
Dos Souza wants to clinch up but Willenbring keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Souza tries for a takedown but Willenbring sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dos Souza tries for a takedown but Willenbring sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A combination from Dos Souza does no damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Willenbring has a takedown stuffed.
Dos Souza pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Willenbring throws a head kick but Dos Souza moves out of range.
Dos Souza doesn't manage to clinch there - Willenbring circles away.
Willenbring avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dos Souza connects with a nice looking jab.
Willenbring loads up on a big right hand but Dos Souza slips the punch.
Dos Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
As Dos Souza looks to move away, Willenbring throws a big counter combo but Dos Souza just gets out of the way.
Willenbring tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Souza misses with a takedown attempt
and Willenbring counters with a nice uppercut.

Willenbring rushes Dos Souza and presses him up against the cage.
Willenbring tries to land a knee to the head but Dos Souza blocks with his arms.
Willenbring is struggling to control the position.

Willenbring pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Willenbring takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Willenbring keeps the fight on the outside.
Willenbring shoots in for a double leg but Dos Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Willenbring avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Willenbring walks into a left hand.
Donk. Dos Souza catches Willenbring right on the button with a cross.
Nice takedown defense from Willenbring. No joy for Dos Souza on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Souza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Willenbring throws a big counter combination but Dos Souza scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dos Souza sizes up Willenbring with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Willenbring moves into the clinch successfully.
Dos Souza is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Willenbring is keeping busy.
Dos Souza tries to work over Willenbring's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A frustrated look appears on Dos Souza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dos Souza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dos Souza tries for a takedown. No joy.

Willenbring ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Willenbring no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sandro Dos Souza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Willenbring keeping moving, preventing Dos Souza from controlling successfully.
Dos Souza postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sandro Dos Souza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Willenbring gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Willenbring moves into the clinch.
Dos Souza looking to stall.

Willenbring breaks the clinch.
Willenbring shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dos Souza as he jumps to the side.
Dos Souza fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Souza throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dos Souza lands a two punch combo.
Dos Souza goes for a double leg but Willenbring avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Willenbring continues to drive forward.

Willenbring instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Souza looking for a takedown.
Dos Souza looking for a takedown.
Alex Willenbring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandro Dos Souza.

Willenbring breaks from the clinch.
Willenbring misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dos Souza doesn't manage to clinch there - Willenbring circles away.
Dos Souza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Willenbring tries to avoid it but Dos Souza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Willenbring to the ground. Willenbring escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
It looked like Willenbring was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dos Souza.
Willenbring shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dos Souza as he avoids it easily.
Dos Souza drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Willenbring defends it well.
Dos Souza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Willenbring avoids it really well and circles away.
Willenbring tries to counter by clinching up but Dos Souza breaks away and moves out of range.
Dos Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Willenbring takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Willenbring manages to break the clinch.
Dos Souza shoots in for a takedown but Willenbring shows good takedown defense.

Willenbring closes the distance and clinches.

Willenbring breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Willenbring moves into the clinch.
Willenbring looking for a takedown.
Dos Souza is working for takedown but Willenbring is calmly controlling the position for now.
Willenbring misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dos Souza.
Willenbring stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Dos Souza has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Willenbring avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Willenbring stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willenbring pulls guard successfully.
Dos Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dos Souza passes into half guard.
Dos Souza looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Willenbring is doing well to control the position and prevent Dos Souza from advancing to side control.
Dos Souza wants to take a breather but Willenbring is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Souza is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dos Souza fails with the takedown.
Dos Souza misses with a wild combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dos Souza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Willenbring sprawls well. Willenbring wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dos Souza gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Willenbring showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dos Souza has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sandro Dos Souza!