PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riku Sorsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Shillinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riku Sorsa has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sorsa
vs
Shillinger

172 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

207 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Sorsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Shillinger!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorsa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Sorsa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shillinger is trying to defend but Sorsa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sorsa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Sorsa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shillinger has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sorsa wants to take a breather but Shillinger is having none of it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shillinger wants to get back to full guard.
Sorsa could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sorsa is thwarting Shillinger's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorsa moves nicely into side control.
Sorsa tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Shillinger sneaks back into half guard.
Shillinger controlling the position well.
Sorsa is trying to control the action in half guard but Shillinger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa not doing much here.
Sorsa wants to pass to mount but Shillinger is defending the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Riku Sorsa wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sorsa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shillinger paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shillinger gets tackled into the cage by Sorsa. Sorsa maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sorsa manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shillinger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shillinger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shillinger postures up.
Shillinger landing some decent shots from guard.
Sorsa trying to keep a closed guard but Shillinger is proving a slippery customer.
Sorsa tries to strike from the bottom.
Shillinger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shillinger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shillinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Sorsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sorsa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shillinger trying to control but Sorsa is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shillinger looking to pass the guard.
Shillinger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shillinger landing with the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sorsa looking for a guillotine here but Shillinger defends easily.
Shillinger really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sorsa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shillinger working some strikes from top position.
Shillinger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sorsa is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shillinger works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Shillinger looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sorsa is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Riku Sorsa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shillinger scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sorsa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Shillinger.
Sorsa trying to keep a closed guard but Shillinger is proving a slippery customer.
Shillinger throws a big right hand that misses.
Shillinger stands up over Sorsa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shillinger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shillinger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shillinger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sorsa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shillinger trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sorsa manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shillinger wants to sweep here but Sorsa controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorsa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shillinger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shillinger trying to control the position here.
Shillinger trying to keep a closed guard but Sorsa is proving a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Shillinger has his hands on Sorsa's head, controlling the position.
Matt Shillinger has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Shillinger was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sorsa slaps away a takedown attempt from Shillinger, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Sorsa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shillinger chips away with some ground and pound.
Shillinger trying to control but Sorsa is working from the bottom.
Shillinger with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shillinger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shillinger postures up and lands a big shot to Sorsa's brow.
Shillinger distracts Sorsa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shillinger stands up over Sorsa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Shillinger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shillinger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sorsa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shillinger prevents Sorsa from getting back to his feet.
Shillinger is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shillinger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shillinger with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shillinger accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shillinger's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shillinger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shillinger scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shillinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Sorsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shillinger landing some decent shots from guard.
Sorsa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shillinger wants to improve his position but Sorsa is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shillinger is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Shillinger 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!

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sorsa - that will leave a mark!
Shillinger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sorsa sprawls well. Sorsa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shillinger gets slowly back to his feet.
Riku Sorsa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shillinger doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sorsa counters with a nice leg kick.
Sorsa tries to close the distance and clinch but Shillinger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sorsa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shillinger sprawls well initially but Sorsa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sorsa tries to stand but can't do so whilst Shillinger controls his leg.
Shillinger is not content to let Sorsa control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shillinger is positioning himself well to prevent Sorsa advancing to mount.

We're going to have a standup here because Riku Sorsa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Shillinger fails with a takedown attempt.
Riku Sorsa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Shillinger.

Sorsa gets a takedown into half guard.
Shillinger is refusing to be controlled, as Sorsa sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shillinger is looking for a sweep. Sorsa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sorsa wants to free his trapped foot but Shillinger is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shillinger trying to control from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shillinger can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shillinger pushes Sorsa off looking to stand but Sorsa dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Riku Sorsa.

Sorsa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Shillinger napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sorsa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shillinger keeps working.
Shillinger tries to bench press Sorsa off him but Sorsa keeps the position.
Shillinger is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sorsa has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa is staying tight to Shillinger's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Sorsa working away.

Sorsa decides to stand up, so the ref orders Shillinger to his feet.
Sorsa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sorsa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shillinger's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riku Sorsa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sorsa 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riku Sorsa!