PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Soliman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Bader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soliman's entrance music is detox. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Soliman
vs
Bader

197 cm
27
222 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

188 cm
21
214 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 Montreal, Lawrence Soliman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Bader!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bader throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bader misses with the combination.
Bader misses with a double jab.

Bader gets caught flat footed, as Soliman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bader is looking to stand up but Soliman isn't so interested in that idea.
Soliman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Soliman stops Bader from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bader can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Soliman controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader wants to stand but Soliman is controlling the position.

Soliman gets to his feet. Bader looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
No luck for Soliman with that takedown attempt.
Bader throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alex Bader is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soliman fails with a takedown attempt.
Bader throws a right hand that Soliman ducks under and follows up with a left that Soliman also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bader misses with a few strikes there.

Bader lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Soliman sprawling to the canvas. Bader follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Soliman hang on?

It looks like Lawrence Soliman has been cut.
Bader looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bader controlling the pace.
Soliman is trying to maintain the position but Bader is very close to passing his half guard.
Bader stops Soliman from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bader sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bader is pressing down on Soliman's thigh, looking to free his foot. Soliman is holding on for now.
Bader is looking to take a break and control but Soliman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bader takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bader is looking to advance position but Soliman won't allow it.
Bader is taking a breather. Soliman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Soliman is looking to improve his position.
Soliman is refusing to be controlled, as Bader sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Bader.
Bader looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Soliman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Soliman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bader.
Bader misses with a wild combination.
Bader throws a right and a left that Soliman avoids nicely.
Soliman shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Soliman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bader connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Soliman momentarily.
Alex Bader seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bader throws a right hand that Soliman ducks under and follows up with a left that Soliman also avoids with ease.

Soliman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bader is trying to defend but Soliman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Bader dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lawrence Soliman's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soliman dodges the punch combination from Bader.
Bader throws a series of punches but Soliman moves out of range.
Bader will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bader misses with a two punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Bader. No joy for Soliman on that attempt.
Bader misses with a few strikes there.
Soliman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bader throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bader throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bader lands with an overhand left.
Bader will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Soliman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Soliman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soliman shoots in and drives through. Bader sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Bader finds it's target.
Bader connects with a jab.
Bader misses with a hook. Soliman ducked under it nicely.
The crowd cheers as Bader lands an impressive looking overhand right. Soliman doesn't seem phased though.
Bader tries to bum rush Soliman with a series of wild strikes but Soliman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bader misses with a few strikes there.
Soliman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bader sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soliman somewhat.
Soliman fails to land the takedown.
Bader goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Soliman fails with a takedown attempt.
Soliman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bader.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bader throws a one two combo.
Bader throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Soliman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Soliman blocks a jab.
Soliman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bader throws a series of punches but Soliman avoids them all with ease.
Bader changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bader stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bader wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab by Bader.
Bader looks to land a combination but Soliman avoids it well.
Bader will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bader misses with a double jab.
Soliman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bader swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bader rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Soliman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bader throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Soliman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Soliman shoots for a takedown but Bader saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bader throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bader misses with a series of wild punches.
Soliman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bader but Bader pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No joy there for Bader, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Bader misses.
Soliman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bader swinging wildly here.
Soliman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bader sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soliman somewhat.
Bader digs a good body shot into Soliman's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bader moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lawrence Soliman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A swing and a miss from Bader.
Bader swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Soliman has a takedown stuffed.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bader, as that shot connected.
Bader throws a hook but Soliman avoids it easily.
Soliman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bader's waist but Bader gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soliman off to one side.
Bader uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Soliman has time to react.
Bader misses with the combination.
Bader throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Soliman.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soliman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bader sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Soliman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bader lands with a straight right. Soliman didn't see that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Bader showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lawrence Soliman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Soliman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A swing and a miss from Bader.
Soliman shoots for a double leg takedown but Bader sprawls well. He's pushed Soliman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bader defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Soliman.
Bader misses with a two punch combination.
Alex Bader seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bader fails to land with a series of punches.
Bader tries to bum rush Soliman with a series of wild strikes but Soliman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Soliman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bader.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Soliman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lawrence Soliman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soliman dodges the punch combination from Bader.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bader throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bader throws a series of punches but Soliman moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bader fails to land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Soliman is defended easily by Bader.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Bader does no damage.
Bader throws a right hand that Soliman ducks under and follows up with a left that Soliman also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Bader, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Soliman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bader circles away.
Bader lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soliman circles away quickly and effectively.
Soliman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bader swivels and escapes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Soliman.
Bader bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Soliman's head backwards.
A punch combination from Bader misses.
Bader looks to throw the jab but Soliman is out of range.
Bader throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Soliman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Soliman wants to pass the guard but Bader is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soliman prevents Bader from getting back to his feet.
Soliman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Soliman tries to stand but Bader is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soliman stops Bader from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck for Soliman with that takedown attempt.
No joy there for Bader, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bader misses with an uppercut. Soliman saw that one coming.
Bader tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soliman was well out of range. Poor timing from Bader.
Soliman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bader defends it nicely.
Soliman shoots in but no luck this time.
Alex Bader is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Bader thuds his right hand into Soliman's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bader fails to land with a series of punches.
Bader leaves Soliman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bader misses with a two punch combination.
Bader misses with the combination.
Soliman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bader lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soliman circles away quickly and effectively.
Lawrence Soliman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bader looks to land a combination but Soliman avoids it well.
Soliman throws a combination that misses
and Bader counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Bader throws a left and a right that both miss

and Soliman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Soliman.
Soliman postures up in Bader's guard and throws a big left but Bader blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lawrence Soliman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bader 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Bader!