PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hjalmar Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Metaxa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Metaxa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: •99• The Haunted🔫. Martin Metaxa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Soderberg
vs
Metaxa

189 cm
30
225 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

185 cm
29
218 lbs
19 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Divinity 160Q for $150
Conquer

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 19 - 4 - 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 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Metaxa!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Metaxa tries a head kick but it misses.
Soderberg lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
That kick from Soderberg tenderised Metaxa's leg. Metaxa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Soderberg fakes the leg kick and cracks Metaxa in the body.
Metaxa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Metaxa but Metaxa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A thudding body kick lands there by Metaxa!

Soderberg shoots in and bounces Metaxa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Metaxa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soderberg.
Soderberg throws an elbow that misses. Metaxa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Soderberg's guard. Nice move by Metaxa!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Metaxa manages to get himself to full guard.
Soderberg sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Metaxa trying to control the position here.
Metaxa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Soderberg manages to get himself to full guard.

Metaxa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Soderberg has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Metaxa has managed to get both his arms back between Soderberg's legs - danger averted.
Metaxa is looking to stand up but Soderberg won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Soderberg is trying to keep Metaxa in close.
Soderberg is adopting a defensive guard.

Soderberg is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Metaxa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Metaxa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Soderberg keeping moving, preventing Metaxa from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Soderberg has his foot on Metaxa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Metaxa works his way back into a safe position though.
Metaxa looking to pass the guard.
Metaxa stopping the sweep attempt from Soderberg.

Soderberg working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Metaxa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Metaxa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Soderberg is trying to control the position but Metaxa postures up.

Soderberg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Soderberg has an active guard here but Metaxa has managed to pass into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Soderberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hjalmar Soderberg dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soderberg avoids the head kick by Metaxa.
Metaxa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Metaxa tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Martin Metaxa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soderberg feints and then cracks Metaxa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Metaxa down.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Metaxa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Metaxa pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg looks for a takedown but Metaxa sprawls well.
Soderberg uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Metaxa.
Soderberg throws a body punch but Metaxa moves out of range.
Metaxa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Metaxa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Soderberg finds it's way round the side to connect with Metaxa's head.
Metaxa is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Metaxa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soderberg closes the distance and clinches up with Metaxa, looking for a takedown. Soderberg pushes Metaxa against the cage but Metaxa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hjalmar Soderberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Metaxa misses the body punch

and Soderberg counters with a nice double leg into side control. Metaxa won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
We've been hearing that Soderberg has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Soderberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Metaxa keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Soderberg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Metaxa tries to improve position but can't.
Metaxa is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Soderberg creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Metaxa sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Metaxa holding on.
Soderberg creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Metaxa sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Soderberg is working Metaxa over with some ground and pound from side control.
Soderberg lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Metaxa wants to control but Soderberg postures up.
Soderberg misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Metaxa regains half guard.
Soderberg thows a huge punch but Metaxa dodges it nicely.
Soderberg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soderberg throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Metaxa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soderberg throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Metaxa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Metaxa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soderberg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg is trying to control. Metaxa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Soderberg throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Soderberg seems content to control.

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 throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soderberg trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soderberg tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Metaxa defends well and Soderberg ends up having to push Metaxa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Metaxa.
Metaxa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Soderberg.
Metaxa lands with a left to the head.
Metaxa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Metaxa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Soderberg's defenses.
Metaxa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Metaxa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Metaxa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Metaxa misses with a punch to the body.
Metaxa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metaxa lands an elbow just above Soderberg 's eye.
A short left from Metaxa.
Soderberg prevents a body shot from Metaxa.
Soderberg takes a shot to the head.
Metaxa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Soderbergs head.
Metaxa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A hook to the body from Metaxa.
Soderberg tries to circle away but Metaxa has him pinned against the cage.
Soderberg avoiding damage as Metaxa throws knees to the body.
Soderberg doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Metaxa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Metaxa.
Soderberg tries to pull guard but Metaxa won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Metaxa.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Metaxa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Soderberg's brow.
Metaxa misses with an elbow over the top.
Metaxa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Metaxa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Metaxa scores with a nice hook to the head.

Soderberg is rocked!
Metaxa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Soderberg's defenses.
Oh Soderberg is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Soderberg jumps guard but Metaxa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hjalmar Soderberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Metaxa pushes Soderberg against the cage. Metaxa is working some dirty boxing. Metaxa pushes off with a quick right hook! Soderberg goes down! Soderberg tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Metaxa moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Martin Metaxa!
Martin Metaxa is the new light heavyweight champion!
Martin Metaxa seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated Hjalmar Soderberg had this to say: 'Listen...need to start thinking about my future. Can't keep taking punishment at this rate.'.