PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gilbervan Soares (ranked 1595 p4p, 1630 weight class) and Risto Rytina (ranked 228 p4p, 230 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soares
vs
Rytina

183 cm
25
187
11 - 6 - 0

190 cm
24
210
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gilbervan Soares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Risto Rytina!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rytina is looking to slow Soares down with leg kicks.
Soares misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rytina.
Rytina throws a body shot but no joy.
Soares lands a glancing blow to the side of Rytina's head.
Soares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rytina was well out of range. Poor timing from Soares.
Rytina connects with a leg kick.
We've been hearing reports that Soares has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rytina thows a leg kick but Soares checks it

and Soares counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Soares controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Soares has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Soares tries to free his leg and advance position but Rytina is retaining full guard.
Rytina looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Soares chips away with some ground and pound.
Rytina looking for a sweep. Not yet Rytina, not yet.
Rytina managing to control the position.
Rytina lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soares trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rytina is one step ahead there.
Rytina trying to control but Soares is working from the bottom.
Soares can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rytina controls the pace.
Soares wants to sweep but no luck.
Soares managing to control the position.
Soares is looking to sweep but instead, Rytina has passed into half guard.

That's two 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.
Rytina trying to mount his opponent but Soares defends it.
Soares wants to get back to full guard.
Soares slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rytina not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Soares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rytina stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Soares wants to sweep here but Rytina controlling him for the moment.
Soares wants to hit a sweep here but Rytina passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Soares there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares is trying desperately to improve position.
Rytina moves to take his opponent's back.
You can see the frustration on Soares's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Soares turns into Rytina and is now in his guard.
Rytina pulls Soares in close to prevent any damage.
Soares stands up over Rytina, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rytina is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rytina stands and throws Soares's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rytina working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Soares is trying to improve his position.
Rytina working away.
Soares is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soares being controlled for a moment.
Soares is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Risto Rytina will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Soares looks to score with a jab to the body but Rytina is just out of range.
Rytina lands with a shot to the body.
Rytina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soares connects with a nice looking jab.
Soares throws a big shot that misses.
Soares fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rytina manages to avoid it.
Rytina lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rytina throws a front kick aimed at Soares's knee but Soares avoids it well.
Soares takes one to the side of the head.
Rytina throws a body kick that misses.
Rytina tries to land a leg kick but Soares saw it coming and moves away.
Risto Rytina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rytina was well out of range. Poor timing from Soares.
Nice cross by Rytina.
Soares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rytina was well out of range. Poor timing from Soares.
Rytina lands a really nice looking cross but Soares seems unphased.
Rytina tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Soares manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rytina throws a right hand that Soares ducks under and follows up with a left that Soares also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Rytina misses its intended target.
Soares half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rytina throws a lazy right hand but Soares sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Soares throws a body shot but no joy.
Rytina looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Soares has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rytina.
Rytina has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rytina just misses with a punch to the body.
Soares appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Soares avoids the head kick by Rytina.
Rytina ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soares moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Soares on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Soares works the jab nicely.
Soares looks to throw the jab but Rytina is out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Soares as he connects with a hook.
Soares displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rytina throws out the jab.
Rytina throws a low kick, looking for Soares's leg but Soares calmly moves out of range.
Rytina keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Soares.
Risto Rytina seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rytina keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rytina connects with a body shot.
A shot to the body from Soares misses
letting Rytina counter with a right hand.
Rytina misses the body punch
and Soares counters with a nice body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A big right from Soares misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rytina uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soares.
Soares looks to land a combination but Rytina avoids it well.
Soares misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rytina throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Soares loads up on a big right hand but Rytina slips the punch.
Rytina misses with a hook.
Soares keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rytina.
A leg kick checked by Soares.
Soares scores with a body shot.
Soares looks to land a left hand but Rytina moved out of range nicely.
Rytina flicks out a counter leg kick but Soares steps away.
Soares throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Soares blocks a leg kick.
Rytina throws a head kick that misses.
Soares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rytina raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Rytina takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rytina throws a hook but Soares avoids it easily.
Soares drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rytina sprawls and moves away.
Rytina scores with a sloppy right hand. Soares should have avoided that one.
Soares misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rytina looks to land a right hand but Soares moved out of range.
Soares is looking to wear down Rytina with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A low kick lands for Rytina.
Rytina misses with a looping left.
Soares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rytina pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soares slips under a jab.
Soares avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rytina attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Soares connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rytina. Rytina circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rytina stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rytina wants it to stay on the feet.
Risto Rytina is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rytina misses with a body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rytina takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rytina tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soares misses with a body shot.
Soares feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rytinas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Soares checks a leg kick.
Soares appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rytina throws a front kick aimed at Soares's knee but Soares avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Soares. Rytina does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares misses the body punch
and Rytina counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Soares looks to throw the jab but Rytina is out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rytina avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rytina dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rytina throws a shot from downtown. Soares moves away and avoids it.
Soares swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rytina counters with a straight right hand.

Soares fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rytina sprawls well initially but Soares persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rytina regains full guard. Nicely done.
Our spies down at at The Lab inform us that Rytina has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Rytina looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soares is one step ahead there.
Soares tries to free his leg and advance position but Rytina is retaining full guard.
Soares is working hard here to advance position.
Soares throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rytina works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Risto Rytina will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rytina misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No joy there for Rytina, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Soares keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Soares misses with an uppercut
and Rytina cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A lazy left from Rytina finds it's target.
Soares throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soares throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Soares lands with a nice combination. Rytina backs away looking to recover.
Soares misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Soares uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rytina.

Rytina has managed to clinch.
Soares scores with a hook to the body.
Rytina throws a punch but it's blocked by Soares.
Rytina throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soares managing to block the knees to the body from Rytina.
Soares lands a right hand.
Soares blocks an uppercut.
Soares lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares avoiding damage as Rytina throws knees to the body.
Rytina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soares.

Soares breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rytina. Soares does a little dance to reset his feet.
Soares punishes Rytina's body with a nice straight punch.
Soares tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rytina defends well and Soares ends up having to push Rytina into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Soares tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rytina stalling.
Rytina tries to land a knee to the head but Soares blocks with his arms.
Soares managing to block the knees to the body from Rytina.
Rytina missing with knees to the body.
Soares has a couple of punches blocked by Rytina.

Soares pulls guard effortlessly.
Soares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rytina stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soares swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rytina wants to control from the top but Soares keeps moving.
Soares wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Soares is on top in guard.

Soares lands a couple of digs.
Rytina lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soares being controlled here, momentarily.
Soares is looking to sweep but instead, Rytina has passed into half guard.
Rytina is controlling the pace.
Soares wants to get back to full guard.
Gilbervan Soares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares wants to control but Rytina passes into side.
Soares is trying to improve his position.
Soares is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rytina's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Soares tries to get to full guard but Rytina has control of the leg.
Rytina looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Risto Rytina is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Soares slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rytina is one step ahead there.
Rytina is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Soares wants to improve his position but instead Rytina has moved into half guard.
Soares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Soares wants to control but Rytina is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Risto Rytina.
I've got Rytina 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gilbervan Soares!
Gilbervan Soares very nearly forgot to thank Voodoo Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.