PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antti Sokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Horner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sokka comes to the cage accompanied by Black Sun Aeon - Core of Winter. Horner has chosen Roky Erickson - Stand For The Fire Demon as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sokka
vs
Horner

185 cm
25
188 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
196 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Sokka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Horner!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horner tries to work over Sokka's front leg with a kick but Sokka checks it.
Sokka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Horner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sokka.
Sokka shoots in looking for a takedown but Horner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sokka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horner tries a head kick but it misses.
Horner finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sokka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sokka moves out of range as Horner strikes.
Sokka scoring well with a low kick there.
Sokka moves in looking to clinch but Horner pushes him off.
Mike Horner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horner tries to land a body kick

and Sokka counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Horner's guard now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Horner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sokka wants to control from the top but Horner keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokka is in close to Horner's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Horner keeping moving, preventing Sokka from controlling successfully.
Sokka passes into half guard.
Sokka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Horner's head.
Sokka uses his free foot to push down on Horner's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Horner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sokka jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Horner is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Horner and Sokka has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sokka trying to control the action but Horner is working from the bottom.

Sokka is trying to get an arm triangle but Horner is defending well.
Sokka trying to control the position but Horner is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horner is looking for a sweep.
Horner prevents Sokka from improving position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokka remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sokka working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Horner stops Sokka from passing to mount.
Sokka wants to control but Horner is keeping him busy.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Sokka working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Sokka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horner throws a leg kick
and Sokka counters with an inside leg kick.
Horner misses with a kick to the body
and Sokka counters with a nice low kick that buckles Horner's knee momentarily.
Sokka tries for a takedown but Horner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sokka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Horner avoids it really well and circles away.
Horner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sokka can pounce on him.
Horner throws a solid leg kick but Sokka takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Horner.
The fighters circling - Horner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Horner throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Sokka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokka tries to pull guard but Horner holds him up against the cage and eventually Sokka drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antti Sokka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sokka wants a takedown.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Horner.
A frustrated look appears on Horner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Horner lands a nice uppercut.
Horner is trying to break the clinch but Sokka is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from Horner fails to land.

Horner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sokka defending well as Horner loads up on a big left hand.
Sokka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Horner throws an off balance right hand

and Sokka decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Horner's guard.
Horner keeping moving, preventing Sokka from controlling successfully.
Horner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sokka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokka trying to control the position from guard on top but Horner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokka is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Horner is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sokka postures up in Horner's guard and throws a big left but Horner blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sokka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sokka drops back, looking for a kneebar! Horner looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Horner looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Horner!
Sokka manages to get back to half guard.
Horner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sokka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sokka trying to hold on to Horner's head to control him but Horner postures up.

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sokka is looking for a sweep. Horner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sokka moves into full guard.
Horner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Horner stopping the sweep attempt from Sokka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Sokka dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Horner tries a head kick but it misses.
Horner throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Horner rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Sokka counters with a takedown into side control.
Sokka creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Horner sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sokka looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Horner is avoiding damage well.
Horner is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokka prevents Horner from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokka controlling from side mount.
Sokka misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Sokka tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Antti Sokka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokka fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Sokka goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Horner has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sokka but great work by Horner.
Sokka keeps Horner under control for a moment.
Sokka tries to bench press Horner off him but Horner keeps the position.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokka is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Horner off and has taken his back!
Horner wants to get back to his feet.
Sokka controls the position.
Sokka missing with punches from the back.

Sokka looking to break Horner's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Horner remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sokka will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokka struggling to keep hold of the position.

Horner defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
What can Horner do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Horner staying busy and making it hard for Sokka to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Sokka clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sokka shoots in but Horner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sokka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Sokka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sokka winds up and cracks Horner with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sokka content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sokka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Horner's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horner won't allow Sokka to pass to mount.
Sokka wants to take a breather but Horner is having none of it.

Sokka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sokka works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sokka wants to control the pace but Horner is squirming around nicely.
Horner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sokka takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokka thowing shots but they're missing.
Horner is squirming around, avoiding Sokka's attempts to control the action.
Sokka misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Horner really wants to buck Sokka off and get back to his feet.
Sokka trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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.
Sokka controlling from the full mount.

Sokka working for a submission but Horner is keeping him at bay.
Horner is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Sokka had his way with Mike Horner in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice shot lands for Horner.
Horner throws a lazy uppercut

and Sokka counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sokka.
Sokka is working Horner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sokka pushes down on Horner's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sokka with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sokka wants to pass to mount but Horner is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokka is working hard here to advance position.

Sokka wants to work for an arm triangle but Horner is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sokka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mike Horner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

Sokka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Horner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Horner looking for submissions off his back.
Sokka trying to control the action but Horner is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokka not doing much here.

Sokka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sokka works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Horner really wants to buck Sokka off and get back to his feet.

Sokka with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sokka lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Sokka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sokka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 50:45
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Sokka!
Antti Sokka is the new middleweight champion!