PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Souza
vs
Liddell

186 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renan Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Souza looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Liddell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Souza was covering up waiting for the punch and Liddell finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Liddell stands up from Souza's guard - Liddell perhaps looking for a knockout.
Liddell tries a head kick but it misses.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Liddell counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Liddell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Souza keeping moving, preventing Liddell from controlling successfully.

Liddell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Souza looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Souza looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Souza!
Liddell is looking to regain half guard here but Souza keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Souza decides to stand back up.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Liddell counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza is pushing Liddell's head away, looking to escape. Liddell manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddell looks gassed!
Souza wants to control but Liddell postures up.

Liddell is trying to get an arm triangle but Souza is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza struggling a bit here.
Souza is looking for a sweep.
Souza is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Liddell's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Souza wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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 controlling Liddell's trapped leg to prevent Liddell from advancing to side control.
Souza makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Souza.
Souza has control of Liddell's left arm, preventing Liddell from doing any damage.
Liddell trying to control but Souza is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Liddell dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Souza connects with a solid leg kick.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Liddell counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!
Souza wants to control but Liddell is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza is in all sorts of trouble here.
Souza is squirming around, avoiding Liddell's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza is trying desperately to improve position.
Souza is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Liddell lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Souza tries to hold on but Liddell postures up.
Souza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Liddell on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Liddell throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Souza tries to hold on but Liddell pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza is in all sorts of trouble here.
Liddell landing strikes from the mount.
Souza wants to control but Liddell is having none of it.
Souza tries to buck Liddell off but he can't manage it.

Liddell moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Souza has worked his arm free - good work by Souza!

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.

Liddell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Souza wants to control but Liddell postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Liddell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Souza displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Souza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Liddell, pushing him back against the cage.
Liddell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Liddell stops a takedown attempt from Souza.
Souza is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liddell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Souza has Liddell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Liddell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Liddell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Souza has him pressed against the cage.

Liddell breaks the clinch.
Liddell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Souza keeps the fight on the outside.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Liddell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liddell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Souza smiles and moves away.
Liddell closes the distance looking to clinch

and Souza counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.

Liddell is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Souza has his hands clasped together but Liddell extends an breaks Souza's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Liddell.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Renan Liddell!