PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zach Irracha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Soini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Timo Soini acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Irracha
vs
Soini

188 cm
22
179 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
178 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zach Irracha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Soini!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soini takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Irracha shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Soini throws a predictable looking body shot
and Irracha counters with an inside leg kick.
Soini tries to clinch but Irracha is having none of it.
Soini fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soini throws a lazy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Irracha.
Soini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zach Irracha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Irracha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soini moves away.
Soini moves out of range as Irracha strikes.
Irracha lets loose with a powerful body kick. Soini will feel that in the morning.
A good leg kick by Irracha.
Irracha thows a body shot but no joy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Soini takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Irracha throws a low kick but Soini moves out of range easily.
Soini moves out of range as Irracha throws a body kick.
Irracha lands a nice hook to Soini's body. Soini takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Irracha lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Irracha throws a half hearted mid kick.
Irracha walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Soini checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Irracha throws a quick inside leg kick.
Irracha swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Soini misses with a low kick.
Irracha is looking to wear down Soini with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Soini throws a low kick but it's checked well by Irracha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irracha lands a nice looking body kick.
Irracha thows a leg kick but Soini checks it
and Soini counters with a low kick, right behind Irracha 's knee.
A good leg kick by Soini.
Soini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Irracha.
Irracha lands a jab to Soini's midsection.
Irracha tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Soini is able to avoid easily.
Irracha throws a chopping leg kick but Soini manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Irracha misses with a kick to the body
and Soini counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Irracha is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Irracha connects with a right hand. Soini shakes it off.
Irracha swings for the body but Soini moves out of range.
Soini takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Soini shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Irracha blocks a head kick by Soini.
A jab from Irracha misses.
Soini misses with a head kick.
Irracha fakes the leg kick and cracks Soini in the body.
Irracha swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Soini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A shot to the liver by Irracha. Beautiful body shot.
Soini throws the kick towards the body but Irracha avoids it.
Irracha with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Soini.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soini tries to clinch up but Irracha circles away and keeps his distance.
Irracha wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Soini tries a low kick but Irracha avoids it.
Soini has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Irracha.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Irracha looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Irracha thows a body kick. Soini tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Soini looks gassed!
Irracha is looking to chop away at Soini's legs.
Soini misses with a body punch
and Irracha counters with a low kick, right behind Soini 's knee.
Soini throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A jab lands there for Irracha.
Irracha throws a leg kick but Soini sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Soini on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Soini has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Irracha.
Irracha misses with a low kick as Soini jumps back.
Soini tried to score with a low kick but Irracha checks it.
Irracha scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Soini looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Soini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Soini takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Soini throws a jab when Irracha was well out of range.
Irracha throws a low kick but it's checked well by Soini.
Irracha misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soini takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Soini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Irracha.
Irracha looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Irracha.
Irracha with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Soini stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Irracha.
Irracha throws a low kick but Soini moves out of range easily.
Irracha scores with a jab to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Soini checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Irracha throws out a leg kick but Soini moves out of range and Irracha only half commits.
Irracha scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Soini ducks right into an uppercut from Irracha.
Soini's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Soini takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Irracha stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Irracha fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Soini.
Soini checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Irracha sizes up Soini with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Soini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Irracha.
Irracha throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Soini stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Irracha throws a half hearted mid kick.
Irracha misses with a kick to the body
and Soini counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Irracha is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irracha throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Soini counters with a thumping low kick.
Soini takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Irracha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd cheers as Irracha lands an impressive looking overhand right. Soini doesn't seem phased though.
Irracha with a jab.
Irracha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Irracha jabs Soini right on the nose. Soini blinks but takes it well.
Soini misses with a wild body shot.
Irracha thumps Soini with a low kick.
Irracha throws a nice outside leg kick.
Irracha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Irracha lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Irracha throws a solid leg kick but Soini takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Irracha.
Irracha on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Irracha tries to land a front kick but Soini steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Soini throws a sloppy head kick
and Irracha counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Irracha misses with a straight left.
Irracha thumps Soini with a low kick.
Irracha is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Soini scores with a head kick. Irracha tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Irracha clobbers Soini with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Irracha dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Irracha cracks the inside of Soini's front leg.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Soini might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Irracha has got the better of the exchanges.
Irracha looks to score with a jab to the body but Soini is just out of range.
Zach Irracha is winning the standup battle so far.
Soini pivots, looking for a leg kick but Irracha is out of range and Soini settles back down.
Irracha blocks the body kick.
Irracha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soini manages to avoid it.
Soini lets loose with a powerful body kick. Irracha will feel that in the morning.
Irracha checks a low kick from Soini.
Irracha misses the body punch
and Soini counters with a body kick that stops Irracha in his tracks momentarily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Irracha, right into the meat.
Irracha misses with a leg kick
and Soini counters with an inside leg kick.
Irracha throws a jab but it's blocked by Soini.
Irracha throws out a loose jab but Soini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Irracha wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Irracha fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Irracha swings for the body but Soini moves out of range.
Soini throws a leg kick but Irracha sees it coming and moves out of range.
Soini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Irracha just misses with a punch to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Irracha. Soini shrugs it off though.
Soini throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Irracha slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soini throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Irracha counters with a straight right hand.
Irracha wants to slow Soini down by chopping away at his legs.
Irracha misses with a lunging right hand

and Soini counters by clinching up.
Irracha avoids a wild elbow strike from Soini.
Soini blocks the elbow strike.
Irracha misses with an elbow over the top.
Soini looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Soini lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Zach Irracha has been cut.
Soini with a knee to the head.
Irracha takes an elbow to the temple.
Soini pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Irracha looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Irracha blocks an elbow strike.
Irracha avoids a wild elbow strike from Soini.
Irracha takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soini avoids a wild elbow strike from Irracha.
Irracha pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Irracha tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Soini just misses with a elbow thrown towards Irracha's brow.

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.
Soini throws an elbow but it misses.
Soini lands an elbow inside that Irracha shrugs off.
Soini misses with an elbow over the top.
Irracha crunches a lovely knee into Soini's ribcage.
Irracha misses with a knee to the head.
Irracha lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Irracha blocks an elbow strike.
Soini throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Irracha dodges an elbow strike from Soini.
Soini lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Irracha avoids the elbow strike from Soini, against the cage.
Soini throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Irracha misses with an elbow strike.
Irracha throws a head punch that misses.
Soini creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Irracha misses with an elbow over the top.
Irracha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soini.
Irracha blocks an elbow strike.
Soini takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soini misses with a knee strike.
Irracha dodges an elbow strike from Soini.
Soini trying to stall but Irracha improves his position.
Irracha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Irracha avoids a wild elbow strike from Soini.
Soini misses with a knee strike.
Soini lands an elbow inside.

Zach Irracha's cut is getting worse.
Soini looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Irracha tries to land knees in the clinch but Soini avoids the damage to the body.
Irracha misses with an elbow over the top.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Irracha takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soini dodges an elbow strike from Irracha.
Nice elbow from Soini.
Soini throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Irracha blocks it with crossed arms.
Soini lands an elbow inside.
Soini lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Soini trying to stall but Irracha improves his position.
Irracha misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irracha blocks an elbow strike from Soini.
Soini with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Irracha misses with an elbow strike.
Irracha lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Irracha throws a punch but it's blocked by Soini.
Irracha avoids the elbow strike from Soini, against the cage.
Irracha lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Irracha lands an elbow that stopped Soini in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Timo Soini has been cut.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Irracha.
Irracha lands a nice knee to the body.
Soini is breathing heavily.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Soini stalling in the clinch.
Soini throws an elbow that misses.
Irracha throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Soini misses with an elbow over the top.
Irracha lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Soini lands an elbow inside that Irracha shrugs off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Timo Soini will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Irracha motions for Soini to come forward. Irracha throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Irracha lands with a thumping leg kick.
Soini attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Irracha looks to score with a jab to the body but Soini is just out of range.
Soini takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Irracha tried to score with a low kick but Soini checks it.
A swing and a miss from Irracha.
Irracha checks a low kick from Soini.
Irracha misses with an uppercut
and Soini counters with a big head kick but Irracha shrugs it off.
Irracha throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Soini counters with a body kick that stops Irracha in his tracks momentarily.
Soini blocks a jab.
Soini buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Irracha fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Soini on the side of the head.
Irracha throws a leg kick that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Soini.
Irracha ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Soini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Irracha tries a low kick but Soini avoids it.
Irracha goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Irracha is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Soini.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soini turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Irracha tries to work over Soini's front leg with a kick but Soini checks it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Soini.
Soini ducks right into an uppercut from Irracha.
Irracha throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Soini sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Irracha listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Irracha tries to land a front kick but Soini steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Irracha buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Irracha.
Irracha lands a slapping body shot.
Soini throws a lazy head kick
and Irracha counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Irracha blocks a head kick by Soini.
A looping hook to the body misses from Irracha. Soini does a little dance to reset his feet.
Soini misses with an attempted mid kick.
A cross from Irracha lands.
Soini blocks a jab.
Irracha misses with a leg kick
and Soini counters with a slapping leg kick.
Irracha misses the shot to the body.
A low kick from Irracha misses
and Soini counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Irracha misses.
A head kick misses from Soini.
Irracha misses the shot to the body.
Soini takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice shot by Irracha.
Irracha connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Soini moves in looking to clinch but Irracha pushes him off.
Soini throws a sloppy head kick
letting Irracha counter with a right hand.
Irracha looks to score with a jab to the body but Soini is just out of range.
Soini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Soini walks into a stiff left hand from Irracha.
Soini is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Irracha looks for the body kick but Soini saw that one coming.
Irracha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Soini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Irracha misses with a leg kick.
Irracha is looking to score with low kicks.
Soini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Irracha cracks the inside of Soini's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irracha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Soini.
Soini throws a head kick that misses
and Irracha counters with a thumping low kick.
Irracha connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Irracha dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Irracha throws a leg kick which misses Soini's front leg but catches the back leg as Soini tries to avoid it.
Irracha just misses with a punch to the body.
Soini doesn't manage to clinch there - Irracha circles away.
Irracha misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Soini counters with a low kick, right behind Irracha 's knee.
Soini doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Soini tries to clinch up but Irracha circles away and keeps his distance.
A shot to the body from Irracha misses

and Soini counters by clinching up.
Soini crunches a lovely knee into Irracha's ribcage.
Soini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Soini throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Soini looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Irracha dodges an elbow strike from Soini.
Soini missing with knees to the body.
Irracha avoids the elbow strike from Soini, against the cage.
Irracha looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soini throws an elbow but it misses.
Soini is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Soini throws an elbow but it misses.
Irracha lands an elbow that stopped Soini in his tracks for a moment.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Irracha throws a punch but it's blocked by Soini.
Irracha dodges an elbow strike from Soini.
Come on Soini - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Soini with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Irracha on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Irracha lands an elbow just above Soini 's eye.
Irracha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Irracha misses with an elbow over the top.
Soini looking to slow down the pace here.
Soini throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zach Irracha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Irracha 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zach Irracha!