PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Billings (ranked 3329 p4p, 1105 weight class) and Roberto Soldic (ranked 316 p4p, 129 weight class). Soldic has chosen The Impression That I Get as his entrance music. Mark Billings could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Roberto Soldic's chin.

Billings
vs
Soldic

175 cm
26
159
3 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
148
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Billings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roberto Soldic!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Soldic.
Billings swings for the body but Soldic moves out of range.
Billings misses with a straight right.
Soldic jabs Billings to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Soldic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Billings lands a really nice looking cross but Soldic seems unphased.
Soldic lands a head kick!
Soldic motions for Billings to come forward. Soldic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Soldic.
Billings swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Soldic staying out of range there.
Billings uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soldic.
Billings has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Panda Sprawl n Brawl in the buildup to the fight.
Billings avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Billings throws a hook but Soldic avoids it easily.
Soldic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Soldic throws a sloppy head kick and Billings moves out of range easily.
It looked like Billings wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Soldic lands with a thumping leg kick.
Billings takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Billings lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soldic is looking to score with low kicks.
Billings was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Soldic scores with a hook.
Soldic moves to clinch but Billings breaks away
and Billings counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Roberto Soldic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Billings throws a body punch but Soldic moves out of range.
Billings takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Soldic looks to land a combination but Billings avoids it well.
Soldic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Billings throws out the jab.
Soldic shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Billings appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Soldic.
Billings is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Soldic.
Soldic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Soldic scores with a nice body kick.
Billings displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Soldic throws out the jab.
A big right from Billings misses.
Billings avoids the body shot from Soldic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldic misses with a looping right.
A low kick lands for Soldic.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Billings tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Billings misses with a straight left.
Soldic looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Soldic fakes the leg kick and cracks Billings in the body.
Billings thows a left - swing and a miss!
Billings looks to score with a jab to the body but Soldic is just out of range.
Billings tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Billings looks to land a right hand but Soldic moved out of range.
Soldic lunges at Billings with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Billings's hand.
Billings showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Soldic.
Billings checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Soldic throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Billings stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Billings lands a head shot.

Soldic rushes Billings and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soldic lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Billings.
Soldic scores with a hook to the body.
Soldic misses with a punch on the inside.
Billings can't find room to land a body shot as Soldic controls the action.
A right hand to the body from Soldic.
Soldic lands a nice uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Soldic creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Soldic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Billings's efforts to push away.
Soldic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Soldic blocks an uppercut.
Soldic throws a punch but it's blocked by Billings.
Billings lands with a right to the head.

Billings breaks from the clinch.
Billings on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Billings connects with a body shot.
Soldic misses with a looping left.
Soldic misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters circling - Billings throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Soldic misses the jab.
A swing and a miss from Billings.
Soldic throws a sloppy body shot
and Billings counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Billings slips a jab from Soldic.
An attempted straight right counter from Billings misses the target.
Soldic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Soldic connects with an inside leg kick.
Soldic throws the left hand but Billings avoids the punch easily.
Billings takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Soldic lands a right hook to the body.
Soldic throws an overhand right that lands on Billings's shoulder, as Billings tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Billings throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soldic connects with a looping right hand.
Soldic misses with a low kick.
Soldic throws a low kick but Billings avoids it.
Soldic thuds his shin into the meat of Billings's side.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soldic throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Billings stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Soldic needs to keep his hands up - Billings had a free shot at his head there.
Soldic staying out of range there.
Soldic moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Soldic closes the distance and clinches.
Billings blocks an uppercut.
Soldic lands with a short shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Soldic.
A nice right hand lands inside from Soldic.
Billings tries to throw a body punch but Soldic avoids it by throwing Billings back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Soldic fails to land.
Soldic makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Soldic throws a punch but it's blocked by Billings.
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!
Billings is looking to break free of the clinch but Soldic has double underhooks.
Billings takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Soldic.
Roberto Soldic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Still in the clinch, Soldic scores with a nice short uppercut.
Billings's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Soldic fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soldic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soldic lands an uppercut.
Soldic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Billings misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Soldic.
Billings has a couple of punches blocked by Soldic.
A right hook to the body lands for Soldic.
Soldic misses with a punch to the body.
Soldic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A right handed body shot lands from Soldic.
Soldic lands with a right to the head.
Soldic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Billings walks away with a smile on his face. Soldic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Soldic buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Billings avoids the head kick by Soldic.
Billings throws a sloppy body shot
and Soldic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Billings crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Soldic - the referee stops the clock and Billings gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Soldic. Billings manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Soldic looks for the body kick but Billings saw that one coming.
Billings is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Soldic misses with a hook
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Billings cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Soldic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circling - Soldic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Soldic paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Soldic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Soldic throws a leg kick
and Billings counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Billings tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soldic was well out of range. Poor timing from Billings.
Soldic misses with a low kick.
Roberto Soldic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Soldic thows a leg kick but Billings checks it
and Soldic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Soldic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Soldic throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Billings jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab from Billings misses.
Soldic throws a nice outside leg kick.
Billings throws a shot to the body.
Billings throws a jab when Soldic was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billings paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Soldic looks to score with a jab to the body but Billings is just out of range.
A jab lands there for Soldic.
Billings misses with an uppercut.
Soldic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Billings.
Soldic replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Billings blocks it well.
Soldic catches Billings with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Soldic scores with a head kick.
Soldic ducks under a wild hook from Billings.
A swing and a miss from Billings.
Soldic throws a quick inside leg kick.
Billings on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Soldic.
Billings throws a looping overhand right but Soldic ducks down to avoid it.
Soldic thows a left - swing and a miss!
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!
Nice shot lands for Billings.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soldic throws a hook to the side of Billings's head but Billings sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Billings misses with a right hand
and Soldic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Billings misses with a hook.
Billings throws the left hand but Soldic avoids the punch easily.
Soldic scores with a kick to the midsection.
Billings will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Soldic lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Soldic works Billings's body with a nice hook.
Billings works Soldic's body with a nice hook.
Billings tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soldic was well out of range. Poor timing from Billings.
Billings keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Billings takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A looping hook to the body misses from Billings. Soldic does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soldic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Billings was well out of range. Poor timing from Soldic.
Soldic swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Billings counters with a straight right hand.
Soldic lands a jab to Billings's midsection.
Soldic lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Soldic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Soldic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Billings misses with a looping left.
Billings throws an overhand right that lands on Soldic's shoulder, as Soldic tries to avoid the shot.
Soldic smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Soldic lands with an overhand left.
Soldic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Soldic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Billings throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Billings checks a low kick from Soldic.
Soldic throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Soldic has closed the distance and engaged Billings in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billings fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Soldic scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Soldic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Soldic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soldic lands a hook to the side of the head.
Billings throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billings swings wildly with an uppercut but Soldic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soldic lands a nice uppercut.
Soldic is working Billings over against the cage.
Soldic lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Billings.
Soldic lands a hook that snaps the head of Billings backwards.
Soldic scores with a shot to the side of Billings's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Soldic.
Soldic misses with a punch on the inside.
Soldic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Soldic throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Billingss head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Soldic.
Billings throws a head punch that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Soldic pulls guard.

Soldic is looking for a triangle but Billings pushes his legs off easily.
Billings wants to control from the top but Soldic keeps moving.
Mark Billings has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldic is trying to keep Billings in close.
Billings has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Soldic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Billings defends it easily.
Billings wants to stand but Soldic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Billings won't allow Soldic to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soldic controls Billings momentarily but Billings frees himself.
Billings throws a strike but Soldic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Soldic trying to control but Billings is working from the bottom.
Billings working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soldic.
Soldic trying to control the position from guard on top but Billings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Billings is looking to stand up but Soldic isn't so interested in that idea.
Soldic sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Soldic drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Billings manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Soldic has Billings in his guard.

Soldic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Billings can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Billings drops back, looking for a kneebar! Soldic looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Soldic looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Soldic!

Billings is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Soldic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soldic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Soldic!
After winning the bout, Roberto Soldic thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.