PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanka Aisland (ranked 2761 p4p, 623 weight class) and Raphael Azevedo Souza (ranked 355 p4p, 90 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Aisland
vs
Azevedo Souza

175 cm
28
206
6 - 4 - 0

191 cm
28
212
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conquer

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sanka Aisland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphael Azevedo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aisland misses with a takedown
and Azevedo Souza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Aisland tries for a takedown but Azevedo Souza circles away easily
and Azevedo Souza counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Sanka Aisland has been cut.
Azevedo Souza connects with a body shot that sends Aisland's belly button to the back.
Azevedo Souza scores with a jab. Aisland acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Azevedo Souza dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Azevedo Souza lands a nice hook to Aisland's body. Aisland takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Aisland scores with a takedown into Azevedo Souza's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aisland wants to control from the top but Azevedo Souza keeps moving.
Azevedo Souza seems keen to control Aisland's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aisland wants to control from the top but Azevedo Souza keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azevedo Souza has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Aisland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Azevedo Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Aisland gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza stops Aisland from passing to mount.

Aisland is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Azevedo Souza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Aisland is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Azevedo Souza manages to get back to half guard.
Azevedo Souza is staying active underneath Aisland, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Aisland definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Azevedo Souza tries to get to full guard but Aisland has control of the leg.
Aisland is looking to advance position but Azevedo Souza won't allow it.
Azevedo Souza looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Azevedo Souza keeping control of the position.
Aisland seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Azevedo Souza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aisland sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Aisland tries to pass to full mount but Azevedo Souza defends it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Aisland blocks a jab.
Raphael Azevedo Souza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Azevedo Souza closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Aisland shoots and misses
and Azevedo Souza counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sanka Aisland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azevedo Souza smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Aisland needs to keep his hands up - Azevedo Souza had a free shot at his head there.
Azevedo Souza stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The fighters circle momentarily. Azevedo Souza darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Azevedo Souza bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Aisland's head.
Azevedo Souza rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aisland moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Azevedo Souza has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Azevedo Souza throws a looping overhand right but Aisland ducks down to avoid it.

Aisland feints and as Azevedo Souza raises his hands in defense, Aisland changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aisland trying to control the position from guard on top but Azevedo Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Azevedo Souza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sanka Aisland's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Azevedo Souza jabs at Aisland's body.
Azevedo Souza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aisland shoots and misses
enabling Azevedo Souza to counter with a crisp jab.

Aisland shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Azevedo Souza napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Azevedo Souza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Aisland slows the pace down.

Aisland is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Azevedo Souza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo Souza prevents Aisland from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza being controlled for a moment.
Azevedo Souza can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aisland tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Aisland trying to control the action but Azevedo Souza is working from the bottom.

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sanka Aisland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Aisland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A lazy left from Azevedo Souza finds it's target.
Aisland shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Azevedo Souza but Azevedo Souza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sanka Aisland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza sizes up Aisland with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Aisland gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Donk. Azevedo Souza catches Aisland right on the button with a cross.
Azevedo Souza scores with a hook to the body. Aisland takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Azevedo Souza scores with a shot to the body.
Azevedo Souza jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Azevedo Souza scores with a jab to the head.
Aisland gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Azevedo Souza cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Aisland is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aisland takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sanka Aisland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!
Azevedo Souza shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Aisland takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Azevedo Souza sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Aisland bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Raphael Azevedo Souza!
Raphael Azevedo Souza seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.