PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mehmet Topal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kantaro Soji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. This should be fireworks!

Topal
vs
Soji

209 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mehmet Topal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kantaro Soji!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Topal throws a jab but it's blocked by Soji.
Soji looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Topal missing with a left hand there. Soji was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Topal throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Soji tumbling to the canvas!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Soji can do anything to dispel that myth.

Topal decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Soji avoids the head kick by Topal.
Topal takes a swing at Soji's ribcage but misses.
Topal scores with a punch to the head.

Soji is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Topal misses with a low kick.
A jab from Topal misses.
Topal throws a series of punches but Soji avoids them all with ease.
Topal throws out a loose jab but Soji uses good head movement to avoid it.

Topal rushes Soji and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Topal creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Topal gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Soji wants a takedown.

Topal has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Soji regains guard immediately.
Topal wanted to stand there but Soji had control of the position.
Topal trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Topal trying to move into half guard but instead Soji has managed to sweep!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Topal wants to stand up but Soji is controlling him.
Topal working a defensive guard but Soji manages to pass into side control anyway.

Soji stands up.
Soji shoots in looking for a takedown. Topal tries to sprawl out of it but Soji keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Topal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topal throws a hook but Soji blocks it.
Topal throws a series of punches but Soji avoids them all with ease.
Topal throws a hook to the side of Soji's head but Soji sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Topal missing with a left hand there. Soji was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Soji defending well as Topal loads up on a big left hand.
Soji uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Topal.
Topal throws a shot from downtown. Soji moves away and avoids it.
Topal tries to clinch up.
Topal is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A combination from Topal does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Topal misses with a straight left.
Topal throws a series of punches but Soji avoids them all with ease.
Topal fails to land with a series of punches.
Topal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soji manages to avoid it.
Soji uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Topal.
Topal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soji paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soji defending well as Topal loads up on a big left hand.
Topal misses with the combination.
Topal throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mehmet Topal dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A swing and a miss from Topal.
Topal with a nice cross.
Topal lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Some wild striking there from Topal.
Left hook, right uppercut from Topal.
Topal lands a nice shot that snaps Soji's head back.
A combination from Topal does no damage.
Topal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Topal thows a left - swing and a miss!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soji slips a straight right by Topal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topal throws an overhand right that lands on Soji's shoulder, as Soji tries to avoid the shot.

Topal gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Soji blocks an uppercut.
Topal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Topal pushes off an throws an elbow but Soji leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Topal fails to land.
Topal scores with a nice hook to the head.
Topal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Topal gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Soji.
Soji blocks an elbow strike.

Topal is trying to trip Soji. He has hold of a leg but Soji is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Topal persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Topal tries to free his leg and advance position but Soji is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Topalis looking to pass into half guard but Soji pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Soji is in guard.
Topal is striking off his back. Soji thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Soji prevents Topal from standing back up.
Topal throws a strike from the bottom but Soji passes into side control!
Topal misses with a strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soji decides to stand back up.
Topal throws a hook but Soji avoids it easily.
Topal misses with a body shot.

Soji feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Topal throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Topal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Topal is looking to stand back up but Soji counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Topal.
Topal wants to get back to his feet but Soji is dominant here and he's now got Topal's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topal tries to buck Soji off but he can't manage it.
Topal really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Topal tries to buck Soji off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mehmet Topal dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Topal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Soji checks the leg kick nicely there.
Topal takes a swing at Soji's ribcage but misses.
A nice combination there by Topal.
Topal takes a swing at Soji's ribcage but misses.
Topal throws a series of punches but Soji moves out of range.
Topal misses with a straight right.
Topal misses with an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Topal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A swing and a miss from Topal.

Topal moves into range and clinches up with Soji.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topal has a couple of punches blocked by Soji.
Topal working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Topal.
Soji changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Topal fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mehmet Topal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Soji drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Topal looking for a sweep but Soji has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Topal tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soji is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Topal lands a jab to the nose.
Topal throws a looping overhand right but Soji ducks down to avoid it.
No joy there for Topal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Topal looks to land a left hand but Soji moved out of range nicely.
Soji moves away from the strike by Topal.
Soji blocks a head kick by Topal.
Topal misses with a low kick.
Topal throws a hook but Soji avoids it easily.
Topal throws a leg kick but Soji sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soji uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Topal.
Soji tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Topal swivels and escapes.

Soji decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Topal wants to improve his position but Soji is controlling well.
Topal trying to get back to full guard but Soji takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Topal is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topal is working hard here to advance position.

Soji stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Topal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Soji fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Topal sprawls well initially but Soji persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kantaro Soji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Topal wants to control the action here but instead Soji manages to pass to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kantaro Soji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Topal 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mehmet Topal!