PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raiden Stefansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Qazim Sozi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stefansson
vs
Sozi

183 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

186 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

KAISER
BioPharm Nutrition

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 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Raiden Stefansson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Qazim Sozi!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stefansson lands a head kick. Sozi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sozi takes a swing at Stefansson's ribcage but misses.
Sozi avoids the head kick by Stefansson.
Sozi looks to score with a jab to the body but Stefansson is just out of range.
Stefansson throws a quick inside leg kick.
No luck for Sozi with that takedown attempt.
Sozi just misses with a punch to the body.
Sozi shoots in but no luck this time.
Stefansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stefansson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Stefansson tries to clinch but Sozi moves out of range.
Stefansson thumps Sozi with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stefansson lands a leg kick that knocks Sozi off balance momentarily.

Stefansson rushes Sozi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stefansson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stefansson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stefansson lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefansson missing with knees to the body.
Stefansson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sozi looks gassed!
Stefansson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Stefansson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Stefansson manages to end up in side control.
The strikes coming from Stefansson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stefansson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sozi down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stefansson lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stefansson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sozi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The strikes coming from Stefansson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stefansson throws an elbow but Sozi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Stefansson working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefansson landing strikes.

Stefansson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sozi, who protects the arm well.

Stefansson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sozi rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Stefansson's guard! Nice work there by Sozi!
Sozi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sozi distracts Stefansson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stefansson is trying to control the position but Sozi postures up.
Stefansson keeping moving, preventing Sozi from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sozi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Stefansson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sozi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Stefansson working for a triangle but Sozi defends it easily.
Stefansson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sozi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sozi working some strikes from top position.
Sozi trying to control the position from guard on top but Stefansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stefansson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Stefansson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stefansson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stefansson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sozi has passed into side control.
Stefansson is not content to let Sozi control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raiden Stefansson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sozi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Stefansson clinches with his opponent.
Stefansson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sozi.
Stefansson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sozi avoids the elbow strike from Stefansson, against the cage.
Stefansson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sozi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Stefansson lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Qazim Sozi has been cut.
Stefansson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sozi content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stefansson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sozi takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sozi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stefansson pushes off an throws an elbow but Sozi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stefansson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Stefansson connects with a knee to the head.
Sozi blocks an elbow strike.
Stefansson throws an elbow that misses.
Sozi avoiding damage as Stefansson throws knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stefansson throws an elbow but misses.
Sozi tries to work over Stefansson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stefansson lands a knee to the head.
Stefansson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sozi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stefansson misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sozi blocks an elbow strike.
Stefansson throws an elbow but it misses.
Sozi takes an elbow to the temple.
Raiden Stefansson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stefansson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Raiden Stefansson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Qazim Sozi.
Sozi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stefansson.
Nice body punch from Sozi.
Nice elbow from Stefansson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stefansson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stefansson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sozi is defending well for now.
Sozi avoids a wild elbow strike from Stefansson.
Sozi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stefansson with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefansson takes a shot to the head.
Stefansson lands an elbow just above Sozi 's eye.
Stefansson throws an elbow that misses.
Stefansson misses with a knee strike.
Stefansson lands a nice elbow.
Sozi is working for takedown but Stefansson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sozi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stefansson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stefansson tries to land knees in the clinch but Sozi avoids the damage to the body.
Stefansson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sozi blocks the elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Stefansson.
Stefansson effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefansson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stefansson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sozi can do to turn this around?
Stefansson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sozi's defenses.
Sozi lands a right hand.
Stefansson looking to throw knees to the head but Sozi is blocking nicely.
Stefansson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Stefansson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Stefansson looking to throw knees to the head but Sozi is blocking nicely.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stefansson.
Stefansson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stefansson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sozi takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raiden Stefansson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Qazim Sozi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sozi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stefansson.
Raiden Stefansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sozi misses with a wild body shot.
Stefansson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sozi.
Stefansson connects with a solid leg kick.
Stefansson scores with a leg kick.
Stefansson scores with a nice body kick.
Stefansson throws a leg kick which misses Sozi's front leg but catches the back leg as Sozi tries to avoid it.
Sozi misses with a body shot.
Sozi 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.
Sozi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A good leg kick by Stefansson.
Sozi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stefansson looks for the body kick but Sozi saw that one coming.
Stefansson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sozi throws a shot from downtown. Stefansson moves away and avoids it.
Stefansson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stefansson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sozi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefansson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Raiden Stefansson is winning the standup battle so far.
Sozi throws the left hand but Stefansson avoids the punch easily.
Stefansson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stefansson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sozi misses with a wild body shot.
Stefansson tries to work over Sozi's front leg with a kick but Sozi checks it.
Stefansson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sozi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A leg kick checked by Sozi.
A swing and a miss from Sozi.
Stefansson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sozi throws out a loose jab but Stefansson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sozi throws the left hand but Stefansson avoids the punch easily.
Stefansson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Stefansson.
Stefansson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sozi.

Sozi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Stefansson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sozi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Stefansson has his foot on Sozi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sozi works his way back into a safe position though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sozi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sozi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stefansson pulls Sozi in close to his closed guard and prevents Sozi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sozi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stefansson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sozi won't allow Stefansson to sweep him here.
Sozi looking to sit in guard and control but Stefansson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stefansson throws a big elbow that misses.
Stefansson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sozi's head.
Sozi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stefansson wants to pass the guard but Sozi is keeping the position.
Stefansson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sozi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stefansson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Qazim Sozi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Stefansson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sozi, up you get!
Stefansson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice body kick from Stefansson.
Stefansson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sozi. That did some damage!
Sozi lands an overhand right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stefansson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sozi if he has to take too many more of those.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stefansson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stefansson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sozi manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raiden Stefansson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stefansson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raiden Stefansson!
A less than humble Raiden Stefansson misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.