PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommi Hartola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hjalmar Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hartola
vs
Soderberg

192 cm
32
215 lbs
34 - 13 - 1

189 cm
28
225 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Hartola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hjalmar Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Soderberg.
Soderberg just misses with a punch to the body.
Hartola goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hartola keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Hartola. No joy for Soderberg on that attempt.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown but Hartola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hartola lands a nice looking body kick.
Soderberg scores with a body shot.
Soderberg checks a leg kick.

Soderberg drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Soderberg cracks Hartola with a big right hand but Hartola just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hartola is not content to let Soderberg control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartola taking punishment in the form of punches.
Soderberg fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Soderberg wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hartola, who protects the arm well.
Hartola wants to control but Soderberg postures up.
Soderberg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soderberg scoring with punches and elbows.
Soderberg working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hartola defending against the ground and pound.
Hartola is looking for a sweep.
Hartola avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Soderberg.
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!
Hartola takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Soderberg's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hartola tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hartola takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Soderberg cracks Hartola with a big right hand but Hartola just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hartola taking punishment in the form of punches.
Soderberg cracks Hartola with a big elbow.
Soderberg landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Soderberg moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Soderberg working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hartola to see if he's OK.
Soderberg lands a few punches from side control.
Soderberg looks up at the clock and then as Hartola takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Soderberg smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Soderberg working the ground and pound but Hartola is defending the strikes.
Soderberg working away.
Soderberg wants to control but Hartola is keeping him busy.
Check out the look on Soderberg's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soderberg lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartola tries to improve position but can't.
Hartola dodges the ground and pound from Soderberg.
Soderberg has control of an arm but Hartola manages to advance to Soderberg's back!
You can see the frustration on Soderberg's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Soderberg defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Soderberg is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Hartola.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hartola is trying to stick to Soderberg's back but Soderberg is turning into Hartola. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hartola's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Soderberg.

Hartola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hartola wants to stand but Soderberg is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Soderberg dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Soderberg closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hartola's guard.
Hartola is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hartola keeping moving, preventing Soderberg from controlling successfully.
Hjalmar Soderberg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hartola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Hartola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soderberg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Soderberg controls from within his opponent's guard.
Soderberg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Soderberg is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Hartola keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hartola is trying to keep Soderberg in close.
Soderberg trying to control but Hartola is working from the bottom.
Hartola working a defensive guard here.
Soderberg seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tommi Hartola wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Soderberg lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg slips under a jab.
Soderberg moves out of range of the body kick from Hartola.
A shot to the liver by Soderberg. Beautiful body shot.
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt.
Hartola tried to score with a low kick but Soderberg checks it.
Soderberg tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hartola was well out of range. Poor timing from Soderberg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt.
A leg kick checked by Hartola.
Soderberg stuns Hartola with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Soderberg takes a swing at Hartola's ribcage but misses.
Soderberg looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Soderberg changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hartola looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Soderberg lands some shots froms side control.
Soderberg lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hartola down.
Soderberg landing a few strikes.
Soderberg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soderberg creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hartola sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hartola stops Soderberg from passing to mount.
Soderberg is working Hartola over with some ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Hartola's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Soderberg wants to control but Hartola is keeping him busy.
Hartola is trying to control Soderberg's posture but Soderberg avoids it.
Soderberg throws an elbow but Hartola slips to the side and avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The strikes coming from Soderberg are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Check out the look on Soderberg's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hartola is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Soderberg's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Soderberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hartola's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Soderberg digs a good body shot into Hartola's ribs.
A shot to the liver by Soderberg. Beautiful body shot.
Soderberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hartola.
Soderberg looks for a takedown but Hartola sprawls well.
Soderberg takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Soderberg just misses with a punch to the body.
Soderberg just misses with a punch to the body.
Hartola doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hartola looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Soderberg swings around for an armbar but Hartola sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Soderberg's guard.
Hartola wants to stand but Soderberg has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Soderberg working a defensive guard here.
Hartola stopping the sweep attempt from Soderberg.

Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hartola gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hartola throws a big elbow that misses.
Tommi Hartola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg working a defensive guard here.
Hartola throwing strikes from guard but Soderberg blocks nicely.
Hartola tries to stand but Soderberg is controlling from the bottom.
Hartola has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Soderberg has his feet on Hartola's thighs here. He's pushed Hartola off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Hartola screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hjalmar Soderberg!
Post fight, an emotional Hjalmar Soderberg said 'No more fluky wins for you, dipshit!'.