PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Shelton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luiz Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luiz Souza will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Shelton
vs
Souza

164 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent knees
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tony Shelton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Souza!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown but Shelton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Souza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shelton is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Shelton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Souza is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shelton to keep the fight standing.
Souza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shelton is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Souza is defending well.
Shelton avoiding damage.
Shelton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Souza tries to pull guard but Shelton forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tony Shelton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luiz Souza.
Souza is working for takedown but Shelton is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shelton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Shelton jumps into guard, dragging Souza to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shelton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shelton pulls Souza in close to his closed guard and prevents Souza from doing any damage or advancing position.
Shelton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Souza on the ground.
Shelton keeping full guard, as Souza tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shelton wants to get back to his feet but Souza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Souza trying to control but Shelton is working from the bottom.
Shelton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Souza prevents Shelton from getting back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Souza doesn't manage to clinch there - Shelton circles away.
Shelton appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's two 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 shoots in and drives through. Shelton sprawls well.
Shelton drops down looking for a counter takedown but Souza sprawls and moves away.
Souza misses with a leg kick
and Shelton counters with a two punch combo.
Souza looks to land a right hand but Shelton moved out of range.
A low kick from Souza is predictable there

and Shelton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shelton.
Souza has momentary wrist control but Shelton slips an elbow through the middle.

Souza has his foot on Shelton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shelton works his way back into a safe position though.
Shelton distracts Souza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shelton is working Souza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Souza is trying to keep Shelton in close.
Shelton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Souza working a defensive guard here.

Shelton gets to his feet - Souza follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Shelton counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Souza is looking for a sweep.
Souza wants to control but Shelton postures up.

Shelton stands up and beckons Souza to his feet.
Souza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shelton circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souza.
Shelton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Shelton slaps away a takedown attempt from Souza, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Souza looks winded!

Shelton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza trying to control here.
Souza wants to get back to full guard.

Shelton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Souza is looking to improve his position.
Souza trying to control from the bottom.
Souza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Shelton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Souza misses with the body kick

and Shelton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Shelton postures up and lands a big shot to Souza's brow.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shelton works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Shelton stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Shelton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shelton has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Souza.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza throws a body kick that misses

and Shelton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Souza's guard.
Shelton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Souza can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shelton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shelton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to keep a closed guard but Shelton is proving a slippery customer.
Shelton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shelton won't allow Souza to sweep him here.
Souza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shelton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shelton postures up and lands a big shot to Souza's brow.

Souza is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shelton chips away with some ground and pound.
Souza is still in real trouble! Can Shelton finish him?

Shelton gets to his feet - Souza follows without any prompting.
Souza throws a lazy body kick

and Shelton counters with a single leg into guard. Souza didn't expect that.
Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shelton's guard.

Souza is breathing heavily.
Shelton pulls Souza in to control the position.
Shelton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Shelton has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Souza has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shelton gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Shelton scoring with some ground and pound.
Souza trying to control the position.
Shelton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Souza working a defensive guard here.
Shelton working some strikes from top position.
Shelton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shelton connects with a couple of short punches.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shelton is one step ahead there.

Souza is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shelton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shelton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shelton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Souza's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shelton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shelton is one step ahead there.

Shelton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Souza, up you get!
Souza throws a body kick that misses

so Shelton counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shelton cracks Souza with a solid left hand.
Tony Shelton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shelton won't allow Souza to sweep him here.
Shelton gets to his feet and stands over Souza, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Souza felt that one! Shelton unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Souza from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tony Shelton!