Manoel Sousa

Sousa worked through Miranda's early back control, hurt him in the second and kept the better pressure on the feet to win a unanimous decision.

Key moments

• Spent much of the first defending Miranda's ground control from the back.
• Hurt Miranda in the second round and changed the fight's shape.
• Won a unanimous decision after applying the better pressure late.

Sousa was out-grappled by Cristian Perez for the first two rounds of their Contender Series bout, absorbing extended ground control including a body triangle, before rallying in round three with a string of left hands that opened a cut over Perez's eye.

Key moments

• Perez controlled the first two rounds from top position, working from back control and mount.
• Sousa turned the fight in round three, landing repeated left hands that rocked and cut Perez.
• Referee Mike Beltran stopped the fight at 3:00 of round three as a turtled Perez absorbed follow-up ground strikes.

Sousa needed only one round to finish Tim Wilde in his Bellator debut. Wilde controlled the range behind his jab for most of the round, but Sousa closed the distance and dropped him with a left hook that put him out cold at 4:48.

Key moments

• Wilde used his jab to keep Sousa at range for most of the round.
• Sousa closed the distance and knocked Wilde out with a left hook at 4:48 of round one.
• Wilde needed to be checked by the ringside doctor and his own corner before leaving the cage.

Sousa edged Paulo Henrique Laia by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) over three rounds at PFL Challenger Series 2023 Week 4, repeatedly hurting and nearly finishing Laia on the mat but never closing the show against a durable, scrambling opponent.

Key moments

• In round one, Sousa landed an overhand right and put Laia down, working through kimura and heel-hook attempts before Laia scrambled free late in the round.
• Round two saw Sousa take the fight down with a bull-rush double leg and hunt armbar and kimura submissions, but Laia repeatedly scrambled back to top position, finishing the round on top in side control.
• In round three, Sousa hurt Laia on the feet, mounted him, and attacked a deep arm-triangle choke before switching to a kimura; Laia escaped again, and Sousa closed out the fight with ground-and-pound en route to the split verdict.