PBP Commentary

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

Michael
vs
Souza

160 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid 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 Amsterdam, Delmar Michael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jacare Souza!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michael on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Michael could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Souza tests Michael's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Souza connects with a good right hand that stumbles Michael. Michael circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A jab from Souza finds it's way through Michael's defenses.
Michael takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Souza lands with a hook. Michael tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Michael misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Souza throws out a counter right but Michael avoids it with no problem.
Souza lands with a good body shot.
Souza scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michael takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Souza lands a right hook to the body.
Souza stuns Michael with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Souza closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Souza jabs Michael to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Souza. Beautiful body shot.
Michael thows a leg kick but Souza checks it
and Souza counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Michael looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Souza is fending him off so far but Michael persists. Nope, Souza circles away and we're back to standing.
Michael is breathing heavily.
Souza jabs Michael to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Michael with a poor takedown
letting Souza counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Delmar Michael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza throws a combination. Michael tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A jab lands there for Souza.

Michael is rocked!
Souza lands with a good body shot.
Souza bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Michael's head.
Oh Michael is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michael takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Michael takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Michael seems to have got his legs back now.
Souza ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Souza cracks Michael with a good jab.
Nice body punch from Souza.
Jacare Souza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Souza lands a jab to the nose.
Souza connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michael fails with the takedown
and Souza counters with a right hand to the body.
Souza moves into range and connects with a jab.
Souza scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Souza digs a good body shot into Michael's ribs.
Souza lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Michael shoots and misses
and Souza counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Souza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Michael stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Michael takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Souza connects with a good right hand that stumbles Michael. Michael circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Michael throws a nice looking combination but Souza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Souza scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Souza dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Souza is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Michael had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza digs a good body shot into Michael's ribs.
Souza comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Souza throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Michael on the side of the head.
Souza throws a lazy right hand but Michael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Michael shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Souza doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Souza digs a good hook to Michael's body.
Michael has a takedown stuffed.
Michael shoots and misses
and Souza makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Souza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Michael fails with a takedown attempt.
Souza is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Michael rather than just go for the knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michael takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Michael is trying hard to land a takedown here. Souza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Michael takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Michael fails with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Michael shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Souza defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Souza lunges at Michael with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Michael's hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacare Souza dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Michael scoring well with a low kick there.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Michael might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Souza fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Souza!
Souza lands with a shot to the body.
Souza has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Michael misses with a takedown attempt
and Souza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Souza scores with a jab to the body.
Michael dives in for a single leg takedown but Souza sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Souza changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Michael throws a head kick that misses.
Souza thuds a left hand into Michael's body.
Souza looks to land a combination. Michael sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Souza jabs Michael to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jacare Souza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Souza lands with a cross.
Jacare Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Souza lands a slapping body shot.
Souza ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Souza wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Souza lands a jab.
Souza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Michael takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Souza goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Souza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Michael moves away.
No luck for Michael with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Delmar Michael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michael shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Souza pinned against the cage. Souza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michael takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Michael pushes Souza up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Michael lands an elbow inside.
Souza is trying to break the clinch but Michael is controlling him.

Michael's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Michael avoids the body shot from Souza.
Souza stuffs the takedown attempt from Michael. Michael gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michael.
Michael goes for a double leg but Souza avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Souza continues to drive forward.
Souza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Michael is trying hard to land a takedown here. Souza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Souza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Michael moves away.
Souza blocks a head kick by Michael.
Michael shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Souza counters with a nice body shot.
Souza thuds a left hand into Michael's body.
Michael is trying hard to land a takedown here. Souza sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Michael misses with a takedown attempt
and Souza counters with a one-two to the body.
Michael fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Michael stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Michael tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Michael takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Souza just misses with a punch to the body.
Michael seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Michael misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Michael fails with a takedown attempt.
Souza let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacare Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Michael with a lazy takedown attempt
and Souza makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Souza scores with a four punch combination!
Michael on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Souza cracks Michael with a right hand to the side of the head.
Souza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Souza lands a jab.
Michael fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Souza appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Michael takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Souza punishes Michael's body with a nice straight punch.
Michael takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souza stuns Michael with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza lands with a shot to the body.
Souza tests Michael's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Souza lands a jab to Michael's midsection.
Souza scores with a three punch combo!
Souza scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Souza lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Michael fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Delmar Michael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Michael was well out of range. Poor timing from Souza.
Michael shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Souza defends it nicely.
Souza is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michael shoots in for a double leg but Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Michael takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Michael drops his hands momentarily and Souza takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Michael fails with the takedown.
Souza lands a head shot.
Michael keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Souza.
Michael fails with the takedown.
Michael misses with a takedown attempt
and Souza counters with a left to the body.
Michael dives in and grabs Souza's left leg, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes down on Michael's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Michael doesn't seem bothered though.
Delmar Michael is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Michael throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Souza's waist but Souza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michael off to one side.
Souza looks to score with a jab to the body but Michael is just out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Michael is defended easily by Souza.
Souza misses the shot to the body.

Michael closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Michael grinds an elbow into Souza's temple.
Michael working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Michael with the ground and pound but Souza regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michael looks to land a strike but Souza avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Souza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Michael.
Michael might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Michael throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Michael is looking to work some ground and pound but Souza has wrist control.
Souza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Michael has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Michael lands a couple of elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michael is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Michael scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Michael throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Souza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Delmar Michael has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jacare Souza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Michael trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacare Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Souza winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 26:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 26:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30

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