PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sonatas Small (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nak Hoon Im (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Small
vs
Hoon Im

195 cm
26
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sonatas Small!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nak Hoon Im!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Im closes the distance and clinches.
Im looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Im tries to break the clinch but Small is controlling the position.
Im scores with a shoulder strike.
Small blocks an elbow strike from Im.
Im throws a punch but it's blocked by Small.
Small misses with a hook to the ribs.
Small looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Im scores with a nice hook to the head.
Im is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Im lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Im lands a hook to the side of the head.
Im has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Im lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Small tries to circle away but Im has him pinned against the cage.
Im has Small pressed against the cage, preventing Small from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Im lands a right hand.
Im scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Im working aggressively here.
Im lands a nice uppercut.
Im keeps control of Small as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Im is trying to break the clinch but Small is controlling him.
A hook to the body from Small.
Small working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Small avoids a wild elbow strike from Im.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Im just misses with a elbow thrown towards Small's brow.
Small blocks an elbow strike from Im.
A short left from Im.
Im scores with a shot to the side of Small's head.
Im lands an uppercut.
Im lands an elbow inside that Small shrugs off.
Im lands with a left to the head.
Small blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Im tries to circle away but Small has him pinned against the cage.
Im has had enough of the clinch but Small keeps him there for the moment.

Im breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Small lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Im slips a jab and a cross from Small.
Im fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Im takes the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Im has had enough of the clinch but Small keeps him there for the moment.
Im lands with a left to the head.
Im lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Im lands a hook to the side of the head.
Im misses with a punch on the inside.
Im tries to break free but Small pushes him back against the cage.
Small trying to control the position but instead, Im has worked for underhooks and has pushed Small into the cage.
Im lands an elbow just above Small 's eye.
Im is looking to break free of the clinch but Small has double underhooks.
Small wants to break free but Im has control.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Im.
Small avoids a wild elbow strike from Im.
Im misses with a hook from the clinch.
Small blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Im wants to break the clinch but can't.
Small taking a breather.
Im misses with an elbow over the top.
Im makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Small working hard to break the clinch.
Im throws an elbow that misses.
Im throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Im scores with a nice short uppercut.
Im is looking to break free of the clinch but Small has double underhooks.
Im wants to break the clinch but can't.
Im lands with a left to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Small's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Small tries to break free but Im pushes him back against the cage.
Im lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Im tries to break the clinch but Small is controlling the position.
Im is trying to break the clinch but Small has him pressed against the cage.
Im lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Im lands with a left to the head.
Im is trying to break the clinch but Small has him pressed against the cage.
Small is trying to force a seperation but Im has the dominant position.
Im is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Im lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Im keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Small's efforts to push away.
Im can't break the clinch.
Small tries to circle away but Im has him pinned against the cage.
Im is looking to break free of the clinch but Small has double underhooks.

That's four 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.
Im swings wildly with an uppercut but Small uses good head movement to avoid it.
Im misses with some punches.
Small is trying to break free.
Small is trying to break the clinch but Im has him pressed against the cage.
Im doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Im looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Small blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Small is trying to maintain a safe position but Im gets an underhook and turns Small into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Im.
Im misses with an elbow strike.
Im fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Im.
Small is trying to break the clinch but Im has him pressed against the cage.
Im misses with some punches.
Im lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Small backwards.
Small has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Small is trying to break the clinch but Im is controlling him.
Im working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Im lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nak Hoon Im will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab from Small finds it's way through Im's defenses.
Im takes a swing at Small's ribcage but misses.
Im misses with a wild body shot.
Small uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Im.
Im lands a nice shot to the body.

Im takes the fight into the clinch.
Im wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Im pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Im lands a right hand.
Small tries to break free but Im pushes him back against the cage.
Im lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Small blocks an elbow strike from Im.
Im lands a hook that snaps the head of Small backwards.
Im misses with a hook from the clinch.
Im scores with a nice hook to the head.
Im working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Small is looking to control Im's arms but Im gets an underhook and turns him. Now Small has his back to the cage.
Small's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Small wants to get back to striking at distance but Im won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Im's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Small fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Im manages to avoid it.
Im swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Small.
Nice defenses there by Small.
Nak Hoon Im seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Im doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Im is breathing heavily.
Small lands an overhand right.
Small throws a predictable looking body shot

and Im moves into the clinch.
Im wants to get back to striking at distance but Small won't allow it.
Im is trying to break the clinch but Small is controlling him.
Small trying to control the position but instead, Im has worked for underhooks and has pushed Small into the cage.
Small can't break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Im working hard to break the clinch.
Im throws an elbow that misses.
Small blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Im wants to get back to striking at distance but Small won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Im lands a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Im creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Im wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Small wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Im has him pressed against the cage.
Im lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Small tries to circle away but Im has him pinned against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Im has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Im is looking to break free of the clinch but Small has double underhooks.
Im lands an uppercut.
Im looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Small trying to control the position but instead, Im has worked for underhooks and has pushed Small into the cage.
Im creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Im is trying to push Small away but Small has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Im lands with a left to the head.
Im lands with a left to the head.
Im working aggressively here.
Im makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Im lands an elbow that stopped Small in his tracks for a moment.
Im throws an elbow but it misses.
Im lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Small blocks an uppercut.

Im escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Im misses with a body punch
and Small counters with a big head kick but Im shrugs it off.
Small swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Im takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Im misses the body punch
and Small counters with a two punch combo.

It looks like Nak Hoon Im has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Im throws a predictable looking body shot
and Small counters with a nice body shot.
Im avoids the body shot from Small.
Im ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Small thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Im misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Small.
Small lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Small throws a body punch but Im moves out of range.
Small lands with a shot to the body.
Im misses the body punch
and Small makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sonatas Small is winning the standup battle so far.
Small connects with a solid leg kick.
Small connects with a solid leg kick.
Small throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Im walks into a straight right hand from Small.
Im throws a predictable looking body shot
and Small counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Im avoids the body shot from Small.
A jab lands there for Small.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Small throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A cross from Im lands.
Im avoids the body shot from Small.
An inside leg kick lands from Small.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sonatas Small dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nak Hoon Im's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Small throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Small swings away with a body shot that misses
and Im counters with a stiff right hand.
Im throws a sloppy body shot
and Small counters with a body kick that stops Im in his tracks momentarily.
A left lands for Small.
Im takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Small lands with a kick to the ribs.
Small throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Small stuns Im with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Small misses with a body shot.
A left lands for Small.
Small fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Small throws a predictable looking body shot
and Im counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Small scores with a nice strike.
Im tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Im scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Small thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Im lands a nice shot to the body.
Im throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Small stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Im takes a swing at Small's ribcage but misses.
Small is looking to wear down Im with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Im has Small up against the cage in a clinch.
Small takes a shot to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Im.
Small is trying to force a seperation but Im has the dominant position.
Small wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Im has him pressed against the cage.
Small is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Im makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Small wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Small is trying to force a seperation but Im has the dominant position.
Im lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Small.
Im makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Im.
Im misses with a punch on the inside.
Small looking to slow down the pace here.
A shot in the inside from Im.
Im pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A short right from Im.
Small looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Im lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Small.
Small dodges an elbow strike from Im.
Im is trying to break free.
Im lands with a light punch inside.
Small blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Im lands a left hand that snaps the head of Small backwards.
Im throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Im swings wildly with an uppercut but Small uses good head movement to avoid it.
Small stalling in the clinch but Im improves position.
Small wants to break free but Im has control.
Small avoids a wild elbow strike from Im.
Im scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Im lands with a light punch inside.
Im makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Small's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Im throws an elbow but misses.
Small is trying to force a seperation but Im has the dominant position.
Im misses with the head strike.
Im lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Small blocks an uppercut.
Im lands a left hand that snaps the head of Small backwards.
Small tries to circle away but Im has him pinned against the cage.
Small wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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.
Im wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Small has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Im throws an elbow but misses.
Im lands a left hand.
Im has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Im working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Im tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Im lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Small backwards.
Im has a couple of punches blocked by Small.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Im creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Im tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Im.
Im lands a right hand.
Im wants to break the clinch but can't.
Small blocks an uppercut.
Im lands a left hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Im creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Im misses with an elbow over the top.
Small blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonatas Small showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Small 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonatas Small!