PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Corner Cutting (ranked 6329 p4p, 5007 weight class) and Jay Sossy (ranked 656 p4p, 581 weight class). Sossy has chosen Sauce it up as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cutting
vs
Sossy

184 cm
23
188
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
193
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Corner Cutting!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jay Sossy!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sossy connects with a solid leg kick.
Sossy moves to clinch but Cutting breaks away

and Cutting counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cutting content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sossy looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Cutting is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cutting thows a huge punch but Sossy dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sossy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cutting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sossy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cutting.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cutting connects with a nice short shot to Sossy's temple.
Cutting scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cutting 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.
Cutting missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cutting thows a huge punch but Sossy dodges it nicely.
Cutting thows a huge punch but Sossy dodges it nicely.
Cutting thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cutting seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sossy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cutting landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cutting throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cutting sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sossy is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sossy tries a head kick but it misses.
Sossy throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sossy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sossy scores with a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Sossy finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sossy. That's going to slow Cutting down.

Cutting bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cutting tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sossy tries to improve position but can't.
Cutting takes a little break here. Sossy wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cutting trying to control the action but Sossy is working from the bottom.
Cutting cracks Sossy with a big right hand but Sossy just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cutting misses with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cutting working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick misses from Sossy.
Sossy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cutting.
Cutting swats away the attempt to clinch by Sossy.
A little feinted left hand from Cutting on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sossy goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sossy tries to clinch but Cutting moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sossy throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cutting's head.
Cutting shoots in looking for a takedown but Sossy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cutting's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sossy tries to close the distance and clinch but Cutting swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cutting is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sossy can do to turn this around?
Sossy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cutting is looking to counter the offense by Sossy and move into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cutting shoots in for a double leg but Sossy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cutting moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromSossy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corner Cutting. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cutting.
Sossy throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cutting shoots in looking for a takedown. Sossy tries to sprawl out of it but Cutting keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sossy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sossy throws a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cutting takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Cutting misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sossy scores with a spinning back kick!
Sossy tries to clinch up.
Cutting wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A big left from Cutting misses.
Sossy doesn't manage to clinch there - Cutting circles away.
As Sossy tries to get set, Cutting tries to push him back and clinch up but Sossy manages to avoid the attempt.

Cutting drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cutting throwing strikes from guard but Sossy blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cutting controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cutting trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cutting is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Corner Cutting overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cutting throws a strike but Sossy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cutting not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Cutting looking for a guillotine here but Sossy defends easily.
Sossy being controlled here momentarily.

Cutting has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sossy is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cutting.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Cutting's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Sossy 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! This is the final round!

Sossy tries to clinch but Cutting moves out of range.
Cutting tries to counter with a takedown but Sossy is quick to defend against it.

Cutting closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sossy did well to prevent Cutting getting side control.

Cutting is trying to work for a kimura but Sossy is defending well.
Cutting throwing shots but Sossy is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cutting is keen to just control but Sossy is a slippery customer.

Cutting is looking for a kimura but Sossy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cutting to get the leverage.
Cutting sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sossy defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Cutting there.
Cutting thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sossy's head.
Sossy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cutting wants to control but Sossy is keeping him busy.
Cutting is nestled in close to Sossy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cutting not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cutting lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cutting sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cutting lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sossy is looking to control Cutting's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sossy avoid being mounted?
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sossy tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cutting fails with a takedown attempt.
Cutting fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sossy avoids it really well and circles away.
Sossy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cutting swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cutting is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sossy.

Sossy moves into the clinch successfully.
Sossy working Cutting over with knees to the body.
Sossy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sossy working Cutting over with knees to the body.
Sossy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sossy crunches a lovely knee into Cutting's ribcage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sossy.
Sossy with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sossy is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sossy tries to break the clinch but Cutting is controlling the position.

Sossy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A solid leg kick lands there for Sossy.
Sossy throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cutting.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sossy moves in looking to clinch but Cutting pushes him off.
Jay Sossy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sossy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Sossy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sossy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Sossy!
Jay Sossy seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.