PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harri Soikkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Goristav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Soikkeli
vs
Goristav

202 cm
21
293 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

215 cm
23
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Soikkeli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Boris Goristav!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goristav is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Soikkeli tries to clinch there but Goristav circles away.
Goristav rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Soikkeli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soikkeli looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soikkeli tries for a takedown but Goristav sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Goristav forces Soikkeli back against the cage and clinches.

Goristav breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Goristav as Soikkeli shoots in.
A head kick misses from Soikkeli.
Goristav's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Goristav duly obliges.
Goristav closes the distance but Soikkeli moves to the side
enabling Soikkeli to counter with a crisp jab.
Soikkeli looks for a takedown but Goristav sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harri Soikkeli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soikkeli is breathing heavily.
Goristav stalks Soikkeli and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Soikkeli's face. Soikkeli staggers backwards, shaken.
Oooh a lovely combination from Goristav sends Soikkeli down but not out. Goristav dives into side control looking to finish.

Soikkeli is rocked!
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!

Goristav decides to stand back up. Goristav steps back and let's Soikkeli get back to his feet.
Oh Soikkeli is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Goristav keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Soikkeli seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goristav doesn't manage to clinch there - Soikkeli circles away.
Goristav's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Goristav duly obliges.
Goristav scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Goristav scoring well with a low kick there.
Goristav throws a left that rocks Soikkeli and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Goristav dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Soikkeli regain composure!
Goristav wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soikkeli keeps working.
Goristav tries to stand but Soikkeli is controlling his head.
Soikkeli is trying to improve his position.
Soikkeli trying to remain calm as Goristav controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli tries to bench press Goristav off him but Goristav keeps the position.
Goristav tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Goristav is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Soikkeli's shoulder. That is not cool.
Soikkeli stops Goristav from passing to mount.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Soikkeli shoots in but no luck this time.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Soikkeli. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Goristav tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goristav stuffs the takedown attempt from Soikkeli. Soikkeli gets slowly back to his feet.
Goristav closes the distance looking to clinch

and Soikkeli counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Goristav breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goristav throws out a powerful jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goristav looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Goristav is working the combinations to good effect here.
Goristav throws a one two combo.
Goristav throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Goristav is looking to clinch but Soikkeli is avoiding it.
Soikkeli keeps the fight on the outside.
Goristav wants to clinch up but Soikkeli keeps it at a distance.
Soikkeli moves in looking to clinch but Goristav pushes him off.
Soikkeli is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Goristav.
Goristav is looking to clinch but Soikkeli is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goristav tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Goristav closes the distance looking to clinch

and Soikkeli counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soikkeli wants to control from the top but Goristav keeps moving.
Goristav is trying to keep Soikkeli in close.
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.
Soikkeli trying to stand up but can't free himself from Goristav's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Goristav dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Goristav wants to clinch.
Goristav lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Soikkeli shoots for a double leg takedown but Goristav sprawls well. He's pushed Soikkeli's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Goristav closes the distance but Soikkeli moves to the side

and Soikkeli decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Goristav's guard.
Soikkeli stops Goristav from standing up.
Soikkeli might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goristav keeping moving, preventing Soikkeli from controlling successfully.
Soikkeli tries to stand but Goristav is controlling from the bottom.
Soikkeli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goristav is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Soikkeli throws a strike but Goristav rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Soikkeli managing to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Soikkeli throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Boris Goristav seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goristav throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Soikkeli falls off balance throwing a combination
and Goristav cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Goristav scores with a four punch combination!
Goristav scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Goristav closes the distance but Soikkeli moves to the side

and Soikkeli counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Goristav is looking for a sweep. Soikkeli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Goristav lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Goristav really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Soikkeli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Goristav pushes Soikkeli off and gets back to his feet.
Goristav fails with an attempt to clinch.

Goristav gets a clinch.
Goristav wants to break the clinch but can't.
Soikkeli stalling in the clinch but Goristav improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Goristav just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goristav scores with a hook to the body.
Soikkeli changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Goristav fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harri Soikkeli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Goristav lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Soikkeli swats away the attempt to clinch by Goristav.
Goristav tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soikkeli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Goristav uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Goristav is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A nice combination there by Goristav.
Goristav moves in looking to clinch but Soikkeli pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goristav looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Goristav tries to clinch up

and Soikkeli counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Goristav!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Boris Goristav will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Goristav moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Goristav throws a one two combo.
Soikkeli throws a lazy right hand but Goristav sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goristav looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Goristav lands with an overhand left.
Good exchange - Goristav coming out on top.
Goristav tries to close the distance and clinch but Soikkeli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Goristav as Soikkeli shoots in.
Goristav fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soikkeli circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Goristav lands with a straight right. Soikkeli didn't see that one coming.
Goristav lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Goristav wants to clinch but Soikkeli slips to the side

and Soikkeli counters by clinching up.
Goristav just leaning against Soikkeli, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goristav has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Soikkeli is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Soikkeli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Goristav pulls his leg out and moves away.
Goristav lands a two punch combo.
Nice uppercut there from Goristav.
Goristav darts in trying to clinch
and Soikkeli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Goristav fails in his attempt to clinch.
Goristav goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Goristav darts in trying to clinch

so Soikkeli counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Soikkeli being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goristav wants to stand up but Soikkeli is controlling him.
Soikkeli looking to pass the guard.
Goristav is looking to stand up but Soikkeli isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli trying to control the position from guard on top but Goristav is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soikkeli tries to free his leg and advance position but Goristav is retaining full guard.
Harri Soikkeli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Goristav pulls Soikkeli in to control the position.
Goristav tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Goristav lands with a nice combination. Soikkeli backs away looking to recover.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Goristav!

Goristav closes the distance and clinches.
Soikkeli looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goristav swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Goristav is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Soikkeli can't break the clinch.
Goristav is leaning against Soikkeli and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Goristav is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Soikkeli gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Goristav stops a takedown attempt from Soikkeli.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harri Soikkeli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Goristav is trying to break free.
Goristav wants to break free but Soikkeli has control.
A short right from Goristav on the inside.
Goristav is looking to break free of the clinch but Soikkeli has double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soikkeli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Goristav breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goristav wants to clinch up but Soikkeli keeps it at a distance.
Goristav wants to clinch up but Soikkeli keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Goristav comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Goristav winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Goristav!