PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sativa Sensei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sensei's choice of entrance music: Stevie Ray - Pride and Joy. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Soderberg
vs
Sensei

179 cm
29
186 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

178 cm
31
177 lbs
29 - 12 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sativa Sensei!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sensei tries to clinch but Soderberg moves away

and Soderberg decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sensei's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Soderberg postures up in Sensei's guard and throws a big left but Sensei blocks it.
Soderberg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Soderberg throwing strikes but missing.
Sensei keeping moving, preventing Soderberg from controlling successfully.
Soderberg prevents Sensei from getting back to his feet.
Sensei utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soderberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Sensei is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soderberg pushes down on Sensei's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sensei is looking for a sweep. Soderberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sensei is refusing to be controlled, as Soderberg sits in half guard.
Soderberg wants to free his trapped foot but Sensei is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sensei wants to improve his position but Soderberg is controlling well.
Soderberg trying to control the action but Sensei is working from the bottom.
Soderberg perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sensei told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Sensei is trying to get back to full guard.
Soderberg sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sensei defending well though.
Soderberg sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sensei defending well though.
Soderberg tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sensei knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Soderberg is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sensei is trying to get back to full guard.
Soderberg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Soderberg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
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.

Soderberg is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Soderberg looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Soderberg not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sensei wants to improve his position but Soderberg is controlling well.
Sensei trying to hold on to Soderberg's head to control him but Soderberg postures up.
Soderberg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sensei keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Soderberg throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Soderberg connects with a nice short shot to Sensei's temple.
Soderberg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sensei is looking to control Soderberg's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sensei avoid being mounted?

Soderberg is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sensei moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Soderberg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sensei works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Soderberg trying to control but Sensei is working from the bottom.
Sensei is looking to stand up but Soderberg isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soderberg wants to pass the guard but Sensei is keeping the position.
Soderberg trying to control but Sensei is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Soderberg dominated that round.
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.

Soderberg dips to his left and cracks Sensei with an uppercut!
Sensei goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Sensei looks to land a left hand but Soderberg moved out of range nicely.
Soderberg tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sensei sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soderberg somewhat.
Soderberg keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sensei throws a body punch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sensei leaves Soderberg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Soderberg swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Soderberg misses

and Sensei counters by moving into the clinch.
Sensei gets through Soderberg's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sensei scores with a hook to the body.
Sensei is stalling here.
Sensei swings wildly with an uppercut but Soderberg uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Sensei.

Soderberg pulls guard effortlessly.
Soderberg controls Sensei momentarily but Sensei frees himself.
Sensei trying to control but Soderberg is working from the bottom.
Sensei is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sensei scoring with some ground and pound.
Soderberg wants to control the position but Sensei says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soderberg is looking for a sweep. Sensei is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Soderberg regains full guard. Nicely done.
Soderberg keeping full guard, as Sensei tries to pass.
Sensei trying to control but Soderberg is working from the bottom.

Soderberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sensei advances position into side control!
Soderberg gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sensei is keen to just control but Soderberg is a slippery customer.
Sensei passes to side control.
Soderberg tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sensei working away.
Soderberg tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Soderberg is squirming around, avoiding Sensei's attempts to control the action.
Sensei tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soderberg is trying desperately to improve position.
Soderberg is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sativa Sensei showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sensei throws the left hand but Soderberg avoids the punch easily.

Sensei tries to sprawl but Soderberg drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Soderberg.
Sensei blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soderberg.
Sensei gets full guard.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Sensei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sensei wants to get back to his feet but Soderberg is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Soderberg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Soderberg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Sensei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Soderberg postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sensei is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Soderberg, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg wants to sweep but no luck.

Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sensei gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Soderberg managing to control the position.
Sensei slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sensei won't allow Soderberg to sweep him here.

Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sensei gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Soderberg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sensei passes Soderberg's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Soderberg is looking to improve his position.
Soderberg trying to control but Sensei postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sensei wants to free his trapped foot but Soderberg is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Well, if Sensei is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Soderberg trying to control but Sensei postures up.
Sensei is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sensei stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sativa Sensei was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Soderberg slips under a jab from Sensei.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg misses with a looping right.
Sensei throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sativa Sensei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sensei pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Soderberg bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Soderberg connects with a body shot that sends Sensei's belly button to the back.
Sensei throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soderberg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sensei.
Soderberg uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sensei.
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rufus Soderberg showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Soderberg 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufus Soderberg!
Rufus Soderberg looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'GOT you.'.