PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hjalmar Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cross Odenkirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cross Odenkirk has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Soderberg
vs
Odenkirk

189 cm
27
225 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

185 cm
33
215 lbs
14 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hjalmar Soderberg!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cross Odenkirk!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Odenkirk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Soderberg or perhaps it was just good defense by Odenkirk which made him look bad.
Odenkirk tests Soderberg's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Soderberg closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Odenkirk did well to prevent Soderberg getting side control.
Soderberg wants to pass to mount but Odenkirk is defending the position.

Soderberg is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Odenkirk avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soderberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Soderberg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Odenkirk's head.
Soderberg is thwarting Odenkirk's attempts to control the position.
Odenkirk wants to get back to full guard.
Soderberg wants to pass the guard but Odenkirk is defending well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Soderberg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Odenkirk with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Odenkirk blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soderberg.
Soderberg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg passes to side control.
Soderberg passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Odenkirk!

Soderberg working for a guillotine from mount but Odenkirk is in no mood to give up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soderberg throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Soderberg looking to land elbow strikes but Odenkirk uses the position to regain half guard.
Soderberg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Soderberg is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Odenkirk sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Odenkirk has managed to free his arm - good work.
Odenkirk is trying to control but can't.
Soderberg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Odenkirk wants to get back to full guard.
Soderberg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Soderberg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Odenkirk is trying to get back to full guard.
Odenkirk is trying to maintain the position but Soderberg is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Odenkirk blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soderberg.
Soderberg lands with a punch from half guard.
Odenkirk has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Soderberg is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Odenkirk regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Soderberg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Soderberg dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Odenkirk checks a leg kick nicely.
Soderberg shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Odenkirk pinned against the ropes. Odenkirk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A telegraphed right hand from Odenkirk misses the target.
Odenkirk misses the shot to the body.
Odenkirk misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soderberg shoots in looking for a takedown. Odenkirk tries to sprawl out of it but Soderberg keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Odenkirk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Odenkirk wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg moves out of range as Odenkirk throws a body kick.
Soderberg will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hjalmar Soderberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soderberg fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Odenkirk misses with a hook

and Soderberg counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Odenkirk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Soderberg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Odenkirk swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Soderberg content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg stops Odenkirk from standing up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soderberg looking to pass the guard.
Soderberg is looking to work some ground and pound but Odenkirk has wrist control.
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Odenkirk keeps moving.
Soderberg preventing the sweep.
Soderberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soderberg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Odenkirk is trying to control the position but Soderberg postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Odenkirk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soderberg advances to half guard.

Soderberg is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Soderberg is working for a submission of some sort.
Soderberg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odenkirk is trying to control but can't.
Soderberg sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Odenkirk defending well though.
Odenkirk taking some punishment here, with Soderberg in his half guard.
Soderberg works his way into side control.
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.
Odenkirk is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Soderberg throws an elbow but Odenkirk slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Soderberg dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Soderberg shoots in but Odenkirk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Odenkirk looks to land a left hand but Soderberg moved out of range nicely.
Cross Odenkirk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Odenkirk throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Soderberg moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Odenkirk gets a clinch.
Odenkirk lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Soderberg.
Odenkirk blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Odenkirk struggles to land a body shot inside as Soderberg controls his hands.

Soderberg pulls guard.
Odenkirk wants to control from the top but Soderberg keeps moving.

Soderberg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Odenkirk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Odenkirk gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Odenkirk tries to free his leg and advance position but Soderberg is retaining full guard.

Soderberg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Odenkirk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hjalmar Soderberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Soderberg has momentary wrist control but Odenkirk slips an elbow through the middle.
Odenkirk lands a couple of digs.
Soderberg is trying to control the position but Odenkirk postures up.
Soderberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Soderberg is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Odenkirk manages to get himself to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Odenkirk keeps moving.
Odenkirk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soderberg.
Soderberg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Odenkirk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Soderberg controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg throws an elbow that misses. Odenkirk uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Soderberg's guard. Nice move by Odenkirk!
Soderberg trying to keep a closed guard but Odenkirk is proving a slippery customer.
Odenkirk trying to control but Soderberg is working from the bottom.
Odenkirk connects with a couple of short punches.
Odenkirk pushing down on Soderberg's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Odenkirk wants to take a breather but Soderberg is having none of it.
Soderberg is trying to maintain the position but Odenkirk is very close to passing his half guard.
Soderberg is looking for a sweep. Odenkirk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg gets back to full guard.
Soderberg is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Soderberg 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.
Odenkirk is in trouble now - Soderberg has advanced to mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soderberg scoring with strikes but Odenkirk is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soderberg working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Soderberg looking to ground and pound but Odenkirk is blocking nicely.
Odenkirk in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Soderberg clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soderberg throws a nice inside leg kick.

Odenkirk is rocked!
Soderberg cracks Odenkirk on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Odenkirk falls backwards against the ropes. Soderberg follows up with more strikes that drop Odenkirk to his knees. Soderberg keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Odenkirk! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:08 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hjalmar Soderberg!
Hjalmar Soderberg retains his light heavyweight title!
As Hjalmar Soderberg got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: No more fluky wins for you, dipshit!'.