PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Sotaheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Luciano
vs
Sotaheimo

186 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jose Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ari Sotaheimo!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Damien Edna and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sotaheimo avoids the body shot from Luciano.
Luciano throws a hook to the side of Sotaheimo's head but Sotaheimo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Luciano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sotaheimo.
Luciano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sotaheimo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Luciano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sotaheimo moves away.
Sotaheimo throws a shot from downtown. Luciano moves away and avoids it.
Luciano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Luciano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Sotaheimo forces Luciano back against the cage and clinches.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Luciano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sotaheimo's elbow.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo trying to land knees to the body.
Luciano misses with some punches.
Luciano misses with a punch on the inside.
Luciano misses with some punches.
Sotaheimo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Luciano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sotaheimo's elbow.
Luciano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotaheimo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Luciano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Luciano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Sotaheimo controls his hands.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sotaheimo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sotaheimo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luciano.
Luciano tries a body shot but Sotaheimo blocks it.
Sotaheimo lands a good knee to the midsection. Luciano won't want to take too many of those.
Luciano misses with the head strike.
Sotaheimo with a knee to the head.
Luciano is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luciano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sotaheimo leaning against his opponent.
Luciano takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Jose Luciano has been cut.
Sotaheimo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Luciano up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sotaheimo obliges.
Luciano swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sotaheimo obliges.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Luciano being controlled against the cage.
Sotaheimo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Luciano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Luciano misses with an elbow over the top.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sotaheimo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Luciano lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luciano blocks it with crossed arms.
Luciano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Luciano working aggressively here.
Luciano misses with the head strike.
Luciano misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sotaheimo working Luciano over with knees to the body.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Sotaheimo missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sotaheimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Luciano tries a body shot but Sotaheimo blocks it.
Luciano misses with a punch on the inside.
Sotaheimo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Luciano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo landing knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sotaheimo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Luciano's brow.
Luciano on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sotaheimo landing knees to the body.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Luciano takes a knee right on the jaw!
Luciano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotaheimo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luciano blocks it with crossed arms.
A head punch on the inside from Luciano fails to land.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luciano blocks it with crossed arms.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Luciano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Luciano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Luciano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Luciano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Luciano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Luciano blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Luciano is blocking nicely.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Sotaheimo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Luciano blocks an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Sotaheimo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jose Luciano's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Luciano misses with an uppercut. Sotaheimo saw that one coming.

Sotaheimo instigates a clinch.
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the head.
Luciano throws a head punch that misses.
Sotaheimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Luciano is defending well for now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Luciano throws an elbow but misses.
Sotaheimo blocks an uppercut.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Luciano takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sotaheimo connects with a knee to the head.
Sotaheimo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Luciano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sotaheimo missing with knees to the body.
Sotaheimo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luciano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sotaheimo is breathing heavily.
Sotaheimo crunches a lovely knee into Luciano's ribcage.
Sotaheimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano throws a head punch that misses.
Ari Sotaheimo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sotaheimo dodges an elbow strike from Luciano.
Luciano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Luciano throws a head punch that misses.
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Luciano is blocking nicely.
Luciano managing to block the knees to the body from Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo leaning against his opponent.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Luciano blocks it.
Sotaheimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Luciano is defending well for now.
Sotaheimo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luciano.
Sotaheimo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Luciano blocks it.
Luciano misses with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short body shot lands from Luciano as the two fighters clinch.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo prevents a body shot from Luciano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo prevents a body shot from Luciano.
Luciano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano working aggressively here.
Sotaheimo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luciano.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Luciano swings wildly with an uppercut but Sotaheimo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luciano tries a body shot but Sotaheimo blocks it.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Luciano avoids it.
Luciano tries to land knees in the clinch but Sotaheimo avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luciano can't find room to land a body shot as Sotaheimo controls the action.
Luciano misses with some punches.
Luciano takes a knee right on the jaw!
Luciano misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luciano.
Luciano misses with an elbow strike.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Luciano misses with a punch on the inside.
Luciano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Luciano misses with a punch on the inside.
Luciano throws an elbow that misses.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotaheimo.
Luciano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Luciano misses with the head strike.
Luciano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Luciano creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Luciano misses with a punch to the body.
Luciano swings wildly with an uppercut but Sotaheimo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luciano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sotaheimo's elbow.
Luciano blocks the elbow strike.
Luciano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo blocks a body shot from Luciano.
Luciano blocks an elbow strike from Sotaheimo.
Luciano throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo trying to land knees to the body.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luciano blocks it with crossed arms.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Luciano blocks it.
Luciano misses with a body punch.
Luciano misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Sotaheimo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jose Luciano's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sotaheimo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Luciano moves out of range of the body kick.
Sotaheimo checks a low kick from Luciano.
Luciano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Luciano tries to score with a low kick but Sotaheimo moves his leg out of the way.
Luciano throws a hook to the side of Sotaheimo's head but Sotaheimo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Luciano throws the kick towards the body but Sotaheimo avoids it.
Sotaheimo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luciano throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sotaheimo.

Luciano gets tackled into the cage by Sotaheimo. Sotaheimo maintains the clinch.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Luciano blocks it.
Sotaheimo scores with a knee to the head.
Luciano misses with a body punch.
Sotaheimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sotaheimo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luciano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Luciano avoids it.
Luciano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Luciano misses with some punches.
Luciano tries to throw a body punch but Sotaheimo avoids it by throwing Luciano back against the cage.
Luciano misses with the head strike.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luciano blocks it with crossed arms.
Sotaheimo blocks a body shot from Luciano.
Luciano throws a head punch that misses.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Sotaheimo blocks a body shot from Luciano.
Luciano misses with some punches.
Luciano throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotaheimo.
Luciano swings wildly with an uppercut but Sotaheimo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sotaheimo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sotaheimo missing with knees to the body.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Sotaheimo controls his hands.
Jose Luciano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano avoiding damage as Sotaheimo throws knees to the body.
Sotaheimo is looking to control Luciano's arms but Luciano gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sotaheimo has his back to the cage.
Sotaheimo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luciano.
Luciano misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sotaheimo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano tries to throw a body punch but Sotaheimo avoids it by throwing Luciano back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotaheimo.
Luciano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Luciano working aggressively here.
Luciano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Luciano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sotaheimo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sotaheimo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Luciano misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Luciano is blocking nicely.
Luciano tries to work over Sotaheimo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sotaheimo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Luciano tries a body shot but Sotaheimo blocks it.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luciano blocks it with crossed arms.
Sotaheimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Luciano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Luciano working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotaheimo.
Luciano throws a head punch that misses.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Luciano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Luciano blocks it with crossed arms.
Luciano tries to work over Sotaheimo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sotaheimo blocking some punches.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Luciano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Luciano missing with knees to the body.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Luciano tries to throw a body punch but Sotaheimo avoids it by throwing Luciano back against the cage.
Sotaheimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Luciano misses with the head strike.
Luciano misses with some punches.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Luciano blocks it.
Ari Sotaheimo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sotaheimo blocking some punches.
Luciano tries to work over Sotaheimo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sotaheimo blocks an uppercut.
Luciano misses with a punch on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sotaheimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Luciano fails to land.
Luciano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Luciano.
Luciano working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sotaheimo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Sotaheimo!