PBP Commentary

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

Mir
vs
Souza

200 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
18
256 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Shane Mir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Souza!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mir drives through and clinches with Souza against the cage.
Mir scores with a shot to the side of Souza's head.

Mir manages to break the clinch.
Mir wants to clinch up but Souza keeps it at a distance.
Mir doesn't manage to clinch there - Souza circles away.
Souza throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Mir moves into the clinch.
Mir scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Souza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mir avoiding damage as Souza throws knees to the body.
Mir gets through Souza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mir lands with a short shot to the head.
Mir is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mir softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mir working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mir lands a hook that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
A short uppercut from Mir.
A short uppercut from Mir.
Souza tries for a takedown but Mir manages to get underhooks.
Souza looks gassed!

Mir breaks the clinch.
Mir tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.
Shane Mir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Souza.
Mir tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Souza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mir moves into the clinch successfully.
Mir digs a right hand into Souza's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Souza's gas tank.
A hook to the body from Mir.
Mir pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mir tries to break the clinch but Souza is controlling the position.
Nice body punch from Mir.
Still in the clinch, Mir scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mir gets through Souza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mir lands a big right hand that sends Souza to the canvas! This could be the beginning of the end for Souza!

Souza is rocked!
Mir tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Mir decides to stand and escape the position.

Mir moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Mir scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mir lands with a short shot to the head.
Mir lands a shoulder strike.
Mir scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Mir's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mir closes the distance and clinches.
Mir lands with a right to the head.
Mir scores with a shot to the side of Souza's head.
Mir lands with a short shot to the head.
Mir throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Souzas head.
Mir tries to circle away but Souza has him pinned against the cage.
Mir is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mir lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mir wants to break the clinch but can't.

Mir escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mir moves into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Mir.
Mir lands a right hand that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Good body shot from Mir.
Mir works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mir works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mir lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mir creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mir scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Mir.
Mir lands a hook that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Mir lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Mir scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Mir's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mir fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Souza, pushing him back against the cage.
Mir scores with a hook to the body.
Mir lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mir pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Mir pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Souza gets tackled into the cage by Mir. Mir maintains the clinch.
Mir pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

Mir closes the distance and clinches.
Mir pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mir lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mir gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A hook to the body from Mir.
A short right from Mir.
Mir lands a nice uppercut.

Mir manages to break the clinch.
Mir tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mir tries to close the distance and clinch but Souza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mir pushes Souza up against the cage in a clinch.
Mir cracks Souza with a nice body shot.
Mir working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mir lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mir lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Mir can't break the clinch.
Mir lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Souza.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mir.
Mir pushes Souza back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mir lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mir lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mir lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Souza backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir scores with a shot to the side of Souza's head.
Mir wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mir working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mir lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mir is trying to break free.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mir creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mir scores with a shoulder strike.
Mir lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Mir.
A short right from Mir on the inside.
Mir lands with a light punch inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mir.
A short uppercut from Mir.
Mir lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mir lands with a left to the head.
Mir working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mir escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mir tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souza paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mir presses Souza against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A right hand to the body from Mir.
Souza prevents Mir from breaking the clinch.
Mir lands with a right to the head.
Mir has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shane Mir has scored more points in the clinch so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mir creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mir lands a body punch.
Mir lands with a short shot to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Mir.
Mir pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mir lands a left hand.

Mir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Mir, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mir tries to clinch up but Souza circles away and keeps his distance.
Mir wants to clinch up but Souza keeps it at a distance.
Mir tries to clinch up but Souza circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mir closes the distance and pushes Souza back into the cage.
Mir digs a right hand into Souza's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Souza's gas tank.
A short right from Mir on the inside.

Mir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mir is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mir is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Souza doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mir tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souza paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mir rushes Souza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mir scores with a nice hook to the head.
Souza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mir lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Mir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Good body shot from Mir.
Mir lands with a short shot to the head.
Mir lands a body punch.
Souza can't get the takedown.
A short right from Mir on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Mir.
Mir scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Mir.
Mir pushes Souza back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mir lands a right hand that snaps the head of Souza backwards.
Mir lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mir lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Souza is looking to break free of the clinch but Mir has double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mir pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mir tests Souza's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mir misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Mir dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mir closes the distance and clinches.
A shot in the inside from Mir.
A nice left hand lands by Mir.
Mir lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mir presses Souza against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Mir working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mir lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Mir gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mir lands a shoulder strike.
Mir lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mir lands with a light punch inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short uppercut from Mir.
Mir lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Souza.
Mir throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Souzas head.
A short uppercut from Mir.
Mir working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mir working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Mir.
Mir lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mir lands with a light punch inside.
Mir lands with a short shot to the head.
Mir tries to break the clinch but Souza is controlling the position.
Mir lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Souza fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short left from Mir.
Mir lands a left hand.
Mir lands a nice uppercut.
Souza jumps guard but Mir stands there with Souza around his waist. Souza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mir lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Mir.
Mir scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mir is trying to break the clinch but Souza is controlling him.
Mir scores with a shot to the side of Souza's head.
Mir lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mir is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Souza can do to turn this around?
Mir working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir lands with a right to the head.
Mir is trying to break the clinch but Souza is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Souza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mir lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Mir.
Mir tries to break the clinch but Souza is controlling the position.
Souza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mir just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shane Mir has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Souza.
Mir presses Souza against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Mir makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mir lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mir lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mir lands a left hand.
Mir lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Souza backwards.

Mir breaks the clinch.
Mir scores with a decent looking hook.
Mir scores with a hook to the body. Souza takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short left from Mir.
Mir lands with a right to the head.
Souza tries to break free but Mir pushes him back against the cage.
Souza tries to pull guard but Mir holds him up against the cage and eventually Souza drops back down to his feet.
Mir lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Souza or not.
Mir working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mir wants to get back to striking at distance but Souza won't allow it.
Mir throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Souzas head.
Mir working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mir lands with a light punch inside.
Souza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mir just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mir prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shane Mir is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mir scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short body shot lands from Mir as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A right hook to the body lands for Mir.
Mir lands a shoulder strike.
Mir lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mir scores with a nice hook to the head.

Mir escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A left and a right from Mir both land. Nice combination.
Shane Mir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mir takes the fight into the clinch.
Mir lands a right hand.
Mir lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mir stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mir working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mir lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mir has had enough of the clinch but Souza keeps him there for the moment.
Ricardo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souza misses with a punch to the body.
Mir lands a hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Mir showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mir 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:24
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:24
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Mir!