PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liam Gallagher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanishk Soni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gallagher
vs
Soni

190 cm
22
216 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

The Drug Store

Kitsura Clothing Ltd

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam Gallagher!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tanishk Soni!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soni throws a leg kick but Gallagher sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Soni throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gallagher's waist but Gallagher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soni off to one side.

Gallagher gets a takedown into half guard.
Gallagher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Soni is in trouble now - Gallagher has advanced to mount!
Gallagher throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Soni because Gallagher loaded up on that one.
Soni's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soni blocking the ground and pound.
Gallagher with the ground and pound from mount.

It looks like Tanishk Soni has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gallagher looking for a guillotine from mount but Soni is having none of it.
Gallagher wants to control the pace but Soni is squirming around nicely.
Gallagher throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Soni is squirming around, avoiding Gallagher's attempts to control the action.
Gallagher unloads with some shots from mount but Soni bucks and avoids them well.

Gallagher goes for an armbar but Soni turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Soni.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gallagher looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gallagher working a defensive guard here.

Gallagher working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Soni doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Soni manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gallagher is breathing heavily.
Soni showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gallagher is looking for a triangle but Soni pushes his legs off easily.
Gallagher throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gallagher working a defensive guard here.

Gallagher isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Soni stacks Gallagher on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Soni!
Gallagher wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gallagher is looking for a sweep.
Gallagher is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Gallagher's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Soni thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gallagher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gallagher moves out of range as Soni throws a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Gallagher dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tanishk Soni's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gallagher throws a head kick that misses.
Gallagher misses with the combination.
Soni throws a half hearted mid kick.
Soni tries to land a front kick but Gallagher steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Soni.
Gallagher looks to move to half guard but instead Soni has passed into mount! Damn!
Soni controlling the pace for now.
Gallagher sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher gets back to full guard.

Gallagher had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Soni is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gallagher Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Soni's back instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Soni is in a bad position with Gallagher working for a choke. Soni manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Gallagher keeping moving, preventing Soni from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soni stays in close to Gallagher's body and controls the position.
Gallagher 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.
Gallagher working a defensive guard but Soni manages to pass into side control anyway.
Gallagher trying to control but Soni flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Soni controlling well, preventing Gallagher from escaping the position.

Soni has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Gallagher wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soni avoiding Gallagher 's attempts to control his hands.
Soni has the hooks in. Gallagher is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Soni is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Gallagher defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Soni keeps control of the position as Gallagher tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gallagher rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Gallagher actively working from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jab from Soni.
Gallagher fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gallagher darts in and clinches Soni up against the cage.

Soni manages to break the clinch.
Gallagher tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanishk Soni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tanishk Soni's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Soni circles away from the clinch attempt.
Soni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gallagher is looking to clinch.
Gallagher misses with a right hand
and Soni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gallagher jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gallagher tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soni swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gallagher looks to land a combination. Soni sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gallagher keeps the fight on the outside.
Gallagher tries to close the distance and clinch but Soni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gallagher moves out of range as Soni throws a body kick.
Gallagher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soni looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gallagher shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gallagher was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soni wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soni is keeping busy.

Gallagher looking for the choke from the back.
Gallagher is trying to control but Soni is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Soni holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gallagher tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gallagher throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Soni because Gallagher loaded up on that one.
Gallagher has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Soni's face.
Gallagher throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gallagher goes for an armbar but Soni turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Soni.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gallagher is trying to control the position but Soni postures up.

Gallagher working for submissions but it's allowed Soni to get to half guard.

Gallagher actively working from the bottom here.
Gallagher is trying to get back to full guard.
Liam Gallagher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gallagher tries to get to full guard but Soni has control of the leg.
Gallagher regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gallagher looking to break Soni's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Soni remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gallagher will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gallagher tries to get the hooks in deep but Soni pushed the leg off.
Gallagher softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Gallagher lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Soni hold on?!

That has opened up Tanishk Soni's cut even more.
Gallagher missing with strikes from the back.
Soni is in bad spot here.

Gallagher is persistently looking for the submission but Soni is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Gallagher clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Tanishk Soni's cut.
That's time! Gallagher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gallagher keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Soni misses with a wild combination.
Gallagher will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gallagher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soni slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tanishk Soni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soni wants to clinch but Gallagher slips to the side

and Gallagher counters with a shoot takedown. Soni fights it but they end up in guard.
Soni is trying to control the position but Gallagher postures up.
Gallagher looking to sit in guard and control but Soni gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gallagher keeping busy on the bottom but Soni has passed one foot through into half guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher trying to get back to full guard but Soni takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gallagher is trying to reverse the position but instead Soni has taken his back - oops!
Soni controlling from the back.
Gallagher tries to escape the position.
Soni slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Gallagher's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Soni is not going to allow Gallagher to sit and survive in this position.
Gallagher tries to break free.
Gallagher is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Gallagher trying to control the position but Soni manages to sink in the hooks.
Gallagher rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gallagher manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Gallagher has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Soni can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Soni stays in close to Gallagher's body and controls the position.
Gallagher throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gallagher on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gallagher tries to get out of the position.
Soni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gallagher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gallagher trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Gallagher wants to improve his position but instead Soni has moved into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Soni in particular looking to stall.
Gallagher is trying to get back to full guard.
Gallagher is in trouble now - Soni has advanced to mount!
Gallagher is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Liam Gallagher will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tanishk Soni's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gallagher attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Soni shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gallagher but Gallagher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Soni tries to land a front kick but Gallagher steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gallagher throws a body kick that misses.

Gallagher closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Soni to the mat! Soni manages to get full guard.
Gallagher passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gallagher lands a nice forearm strike.

Gallagher looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Soni regains half guard, as Gallagher was trying to land strikes.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soni manages to get to full guard.
Gallagher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gallagher being controlled here momentarily.
Gallagher wants to control from the top but Soni keeps moving.
Tanishk Soni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gallagher tries to free his leg and advance position but Soni is retaining full guard.
Gallagher in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gallagher throws a big right hand that misses.
Gallagher sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Soni looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gallagher is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Soni throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gallagher counters by clinching up.
Gallagher has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Soni avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Soni drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gallagher gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Soni is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gallagher gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Liam Gallagher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanishk Soni.
Soni can't break the clinch.
Soni wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gallagher wants the takedown. Soni is fighting it off but Gallagher persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Soni's guard against the cage.
Gallagher throws and elbow that misses. Soni uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gallagher's guard. Nice move by Soni!

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

Gallagher looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soni trying to control but Gallagher is working from the bottom.
Gallagher wants to sweep but no luck.
Soni postures up.

Gallagher has his foot on Soni's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soni works his way back into a safe position though.
Soni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gallagher looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Soni passes into half guard.
Gallagher wants to control but Soni is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam Gallagher showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gallagher has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 49:46
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 49:47
Judge William Gold scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam Gallagher!
Liam Gallagher is the new light heavyweight champion!