PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Enzo Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hoelie Gan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Hoelie Gan enters the cage!

Soprano
vs
Gan

195 cm
22
279 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

198 cm
23
248 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Enzo Soprano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hoelie Gan!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gan shoots in but no luck this time.
Gan shoots in looking for a takedown but Soprano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A telegraphed right hand from Soprano misses the target.
Soprano throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice takedown defense from Soprano. No joy for Gan on that attempt.
Enzo Soprano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoelie Gan.
Soprano misses with a hook

and Gan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Soprano!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Soprano is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gan looking to ground and pound but Soprano is blocking nicely.
Gan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Soprano is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gan looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Soprano holds on to Gan around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Gan avoids the attempt from Soprano to control.
Gan lands with some strikes.
Gan controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gan looking to secure an arm triangle but Soprano defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Soprano wants to hold on but Gan pushes him away.
Soprano blocking the ground and pound.
Gan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Soprano is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano tries to reverse the position but Gan maintains control.
Soprano holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Gan with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Gan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Soprano is looking to escape.
Gan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano taking shots to the head.
Gan trying to control but Soprano is having none of it.

Gan has hold of Soprano's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Soprano manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gan throws some wild stikes that Soprano manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gan with a poor takedown
and Soprano counters with a nice uppercut.
Soprano throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Soprano moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jab, jab by Soprano - just one landing.
Gan fails with a takedown attempt.
Gan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Soprano sprawls well. Soprano wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gan gets slowly back to his feet.
Enzo Soprano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoelie Gan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gan walks into a jab.
Gan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Soprano as Gan shoots in.
Gan looks to land a left hand but Soprano moved out of range nicely.
Gan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Soprano.
Soprano throws a poor cross that misses
and Gan counters with a nice leg kick.
Soprano throws a looping overhand right but Gan ducks down to avoid it.
Soprano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gan manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gan blocks a head kick by Soprano.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Gan. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Soprano throws a lazy uppercut

and Gan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Soprano!
Gan landing strikes from the mount and Soprano is in trouble!
Gan controlling the position easily from mount.
Gan tries to control but Soprano wriggling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gan throws some wild stikes that Soprano manages to avoid easily.
Gan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gan misses with a head shot.
Gan controlling the position easily from mount.
Gan wants to control the pace but Soprano is squirming around nicely.
Gan cracks Soprano with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Poor strikes thrown by Gan there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Soprano can't escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gan has hold of Soprano's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Soprano manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gan thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoelie Gan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Soprano swings widly with a right hand

and Gan counters with a single leg into guard. Soprano didn't expect that.
Soprano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gan looking to pass the guard.
Gan throwing strikes but missing.
Gan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ground and pound from Gan seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gan looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Soprano is avoiding damage well.
Hoelie Gan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gan wants to control but Soprano is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gan throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Soprano works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Gan thows a huge punch but Soprano dodges it nicely.
Gan stalling away here and it's allowed Soprano to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gan looking to pass the guard.
Soprano keeping moving, preventing Gan from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Soprano kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gan 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hoelie Gan hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Soprano scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gan in his tracks.
Enzo Soprano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Soprano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Enzo Soprano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gan shoots in looking for a takedown but Soprano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Soprano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gan counters with a stiff right hand.
Gan misses with a takedown
and Soprano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Enzo Soprano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hoelie Gan.
Gan slips a straight right by Soprano.
Gan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Soprano's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano throws a hook but Gan avoids it easily.
Gan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Soprano defends it nicely.
Gan scores with a nice right hand.
Hoelie Gan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gan tries for a takedown but Soprano circles away easily
and Soprano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hoelie Gan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hoelie Gan!