PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timo Soini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdullah Maleh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Soini
vs
Maleh

180 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Random Name Supplements
KRRO Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Timo Soini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Abdullah Maleh!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maleh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maleh scores with a jab to the body.
Soini wants to clinch up but Maleh keeps it at a distance.
Maleh keeps the fight on the outside.
Maleh attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Soini takes the fight into the clinch.
Maleh softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Maleh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Soini lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Maleh wants to break free but Soini has control.
Maleh letting Soini take a breather here.
Maleh tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maleh's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Soini misses with an elbow strike.
Soini tries for a takedown but Maleh manages to get underhooks.
Soini is stalling here.
Maleh throws a punch but it's blocked by Soini.
Maleh is trying to break free.
Soini lands an elbow that stopped Maleh in his tracks for a moment.
Soini will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Maleh up against the cage.
Maleh lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soini tries for a takedown but Maleh manages to get underhooks.

Maleh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Soini looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maleh lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Maleh throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Soini tries to clinch up but Maleh circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters circling a little - Maleh finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Soini is breathing heavily.
Maleh wants to clinch up but Soini keeps it at a distance.
Soini moves out of range of the body kick from Maleh.
Soini tries to clinch up.
Maleh moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Soini takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Soini tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Maleh counters with a stiff right hand.
Soini takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maleh finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A shot to de liver by Maleh. Beautiful 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!
Soini throws a sloppy head kick and Maleh moves out of range easily.
Maleh throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Soini throws an elbow but it misses.
Maleh is stalling here.
Soini tries to pull guard but Maleh holds him up against the cage and eventually Soini drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timo Soini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maleh avoids the elbow strike from Soini, against the cage.

Maleh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soini clinches but Maleh breaks the clinch
and Maleh counters with a nice kick to the body.
Maleh getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Soini clinches with his opponent.
Maleh misses with a hook to the ribs.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Soini stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Soini lands an elbow that stopped Maleh in his tracks for a moment.
Soini tries for a takedown but Maleh manages to get underhooks.
Soini pressing his opponent against the cage.
Soini tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soini lands a nice elbow.
Maleh wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maleh misses with some punches.
Maleh takes an elbow to the temple.
Soini looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Maleh dodges an elbow strike from Soini.
Soini tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maleh smiles and moves away.
Maleh throws a lazy head kick

and Soini counters with a head kick that drops Maleh!

Maleh is rocked!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soini throws and elbow that misses. Maleh uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Soini's guard. Nice move by Maleh!
Maleh is still in real trouble! Can Soini finish him?
Maleh won't allow Soini to sweep him here.
Maleh seems to have recovered his senses.
Maleh has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soini is proving hard to escape from.
Soini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maleh manages to get himself to full guard.
Maleh keeping moving, preventing Soini from controlling successfully.
Maleh wants to stand and escape but Soini is having none of it.
Soini controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soini trying to control the position from guard on top but Maleh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soini tries to free his leg and advance position but Maleh is retaining full guard.
Maleh working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soini.
Soini slips nicely into half guard.
Maleh tries to kick Soini off but Soini keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Soini is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Soini seems to be working for a kimura but Maleh defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Maleh dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Soini tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Soini sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Maleh to the ground! Soini dives into full mount looking to finish!
BOOM! Soini connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Soini controlling his opponent.
Soini has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Maleh's face.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soini trying to control but Maleh is having none of it.
Maleh trying desperately to get to his feet.
Maleh is breathing heavily.
Maleh is trying to escape the mount but Soini keeps good control and instead manages to take Maleh's back.
Soini scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
The referee is taking a good look at Maleh as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Soini!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soini is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Soini scores with punches to the body.
Soini has Maleh flattened out and is raining down punches.

Soini is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Maleh is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Soini throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Maleh wants to get back to his feet.
Soini throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soini tries to get the hooks in deep but Maleh pushed the leg off.

Soini is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Maleh is trying to stand back up.

Soini is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Maleh knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Maleh for a finish.
Soini throwing sloppy strikes.

Maleh is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Soini moves in looking to clinch but Maleh pushes him off.

Maleh gets a clinch.

Soini manages to pull guard.
Soini looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soini looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maleh is one step ahead there.
Maleh is looking to stand up but Soini won't let him.
Soini pulls Maleh in close to prevent any damage.

Maleh gets to his feet. Soini looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Abdullah Maleh seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A low kick from Maleh is predictable there
and Soini counters with a flying knee. Nice.

It looks like Abdullah Maleh has been cut.
Maleh looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Soini on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Soini fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soini tries to clinch up but Maleh circles away and keeps his distance.
Maleh throws a hook to the side of Soini's head but Soini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Soini staying out of range there.

Soini gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Maleh fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soini stalling the fight.
Maleh avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Soini has Maleh pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Maleh manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Maleh prevents a takedown attempt there.
Maleh wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maleh lands with a right to the head.
Soini wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timo Soini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Maleh.

Soini drags the fight down to the ground.
Soini has a closed guard, preventing Maleh from standing up.

Soini is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maleh has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soini is proving hard to escape from.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soini has his hands on Maleh's head, controlling the position.
Soini has a closed guard, preventing Maleh from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Soini dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Abdullah Maleh's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Good shot there by Maleh.
Maleh throws a big shot that misses.
Soini fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soini avoids the head kick by Maleh.
Soini defending well as Maleh loads up on a big left hand.
Soini tries to clinch there but Maleh circles away.
Maleh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abdullah Maleh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soini tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Maleh counters with a stiff right hand.
Maleh lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Maleh tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Soini counters with a slapping leg kick.
Maleh misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soini.
Maleh looks for a takedown but Soini sprawls well.
Nice defenses there by Soini.
Maleh tries to clinch up
and Soini counters with a head kick.
Soini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maleh connects with a jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maleh throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maleh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Soini swivels and escapes.
Maleh throws a body punch but Soini moves out of range.

Soini takes the fight into the clinch.
Soini jumps guard but Maleh stands there with Soini around his waist. Soini gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maleh tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knees in the clinch landing for Soini.
Maleh fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Soini missing with knees to the body.
Maleh stops a takedown attempt from Soini.

Maleh breaks from the clinch.
Soini tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soini wants to clinch.
Soini throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Soini doesn't manage to clinch there - Maleh circles away.

Soini moves into range and clinches up with Maleh.
Maleh lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soini looking to stall.
Soini fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timo Soini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maleh.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Soini just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maleh's brow.
Nice elbow from Soini.
Soini jumps guard but Maleh stands there with Soini around his waist. Soini gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maleh wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Soini has him pressed against the cage.
Soini landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Maleh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Maleh breaks the clinch.
Maleh lands with a kick to the temple. Soini shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Maleh throws a looping overhand right but Soini ducks down to avoid it.
Maleh tries for a takedown but Soini circles away easily
and Soini counters with a big head kick but Maleh shrugs it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice straight punches there by Maleh. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maleh.

Soini darts in and clinches Maleh up against the cage.
Maleh has had enough of the clinch but Soini keeps him there for the moment.
Soini tries to land knees in the clinch but Maleh avoids the damage to the body.
Maleh wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Soini pressing his opponent against the cage.
Maleh stalling in the clinch but Soini improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soini looking to slow down the pace here.
Soini jumps guard but Maleh stands there with Soini around his waist. Soini gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Soini creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Maleh throws a punch but it's blocked by Soini.
Soini misses with an elbow strike.
Maleh blocks the elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Maleh.
Maleh wants to stall.
Maleh throws a head punch that misses.
Maleh has had enough of the clinch but Soini keeps him there for the moment.
Soini goes for a takedown in the clinch but Maleh prevents it.
Soini letting Maleh take a breather here.
Maleh takes an elbow to the forehead.

Maleh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maleh lands with a right hand.
Maleh scores with a decent looking hook.
Soini closes the distance looking to clinch
and Maleh counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Soini takes a kick to the side of the head.
Maleh lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Soini wants to clinch.

Soini gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Soini tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maleh smiles and moves away.
Maleh punishes Soini's body with a nice straight punch.
Maleh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Maleh.
Maleh throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Soini buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soini is looking to clinch but Maleh is avoiding it.
Nice shot by Maleh.
Soini checks a leg kick nicely.
Soini closes the distance but Maleh moves to the side
and Maleh counters with a right hand to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Abdullah Maleh.
I think Maleh 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdullah Maleh!