PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hjalmar Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnnie Stalker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hjalmar Soderberg could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Johnnie Stalker's chin.

Soderberg
vs
Stalker

189 cm
31
225 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

190 cm
36
215 lbs
25 - 11 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
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Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hjalmar Soderberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 2, fighting out of London, Johnnie Stalker!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stalker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stalker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Soderberg's waist but Soderberg gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stalker off to one side.
Soderberg uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Soderberg looks for a takedown but Stalker sprawls well.
Stalker goes for a double leg but Soderberg avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Soderberg continues to drive forward.
Stalker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stalker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Stalker throws a punch but it's blocked by Soderberg.
Soderberg prevents Stalker from breaking the clinch.
Soderberg prevents the takedown attempt.
Hjalmar Soderberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnnie Stalker.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soderberg has a couple of punches blocked by Stalker.

Soderberg turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Soderberg manages to end up in side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stalker wants to control but Soderberg postures up.
Stalker tries to bench press Soderberg off him but Soderberg keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalker stops Soderberg from passing to mount.
Stalker can't do much from the bottom here.
Stalker tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Soderberg wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Soderberg trying to control the position but Stalker is working away.

Soderberg is trying to get an arm triangle but Stalker is defending well.
Soderberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stalker keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg landing a few strikes.
Soderberg throws an elbow but Stalker slips to the side and avoids it well.
Stalker is trying to get back to half guard.

Soderberg tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stalker is trying to get back to his feet.
Stalker regains half guard.
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.

Stalker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Soderberg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Soderberg is trying to control the action in half guard but Stalker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stalker is looking to improve his position.
Soderberg sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Soderberg sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stalker defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg trying to pass the guard but Stalker defending well.
Soderberg is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Stalker tries to get to full guard but Soderberg has control of the leg.
Stalker is trying to maintain the position but Soderberg is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Soderberg takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've been told by Soderberg's head coaches at The Stray Dogs that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Soderberg ducks right into an uppercut from Stalker.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stalker throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hjalmar Soderberg will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stalker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Soderberg counters with a shoot takedown. Stalker fights it but they end up in guard.
Stalker looking for a sweep. Not yet Stalker, not yet.
Stalker is striking from the bottom but Soderberg uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Soderberg is trying to control the action in half guard but Stalker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Soderberg frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stalker is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalker is working to get back to half guard.
Soderberg lands with some strikes.
Stalker is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stalker wants to control but Soderberg is having none of it.
Soderberg controlling the pace for now.
Soderberg scoring with strikes but Stalker is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg looking to finish Stalker with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stalker!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soderberg controlling from the full mount.
Stalker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stalker is still trying to improve position.
Soderberg trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Soderberg is landing with some decent strikes but Stalker is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stalker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalker sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

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 has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Stalker defend it? Soderberg steps over the head and cranks it - Stalker is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Soderberg!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Hjalmar Soderberg!
In his post fight interview, Hjalmar Soderberg gave a big smile as he said '...'.