PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Sotto Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastien Linne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linne has chosen Arcturus - The Chaos Path as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Sotto Jr
vs
Linne

176 cm
27
146 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

170 cm
41
158 lbs
36 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Perkele!

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Umberto Sotto Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastien Linne!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linne swinging wildly here.
Linne drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Linne takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Linne throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sotto Jr throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sotto Jr throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Linne.
Linne wants to land a leg kick but Sotto Jr is out of range.
Sotto Jr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Linne counters with a single leg into guard. Sotto Jr didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Linne postures up in Sotto Jr's guard and throws a big left but Sotto Jr blocks it.
Sotto Jr trying to control the position.
Sotto Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotto Jr is trying to hold Linne in close to prevent damage but Linne has managed to pass into half guard.
Sotto Jr is pressing down on Linne's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Linne postures up.
Linne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sotto Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Linne trying to control the position from guard on top but Sotto Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sotto Jr controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linne slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sotto Jr has momentary wrist control but Linne slips an elbow through the middle.
Linne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sotto Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Sotto Jr's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Sotto Jr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sotto Jr looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linne throws a big elbow that misses.
Linne makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sotto Jr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Linne is looking to work some ground and pound but Sotto Jr has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linne postures up in Sotto Jr's guard and throws a big left but Sotto Jr blocks it.
Linne trying to control the position from guard on top but Sotto Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sotto Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linne throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Linne lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Linne slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sotto Jr has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Linne throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sotto Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sotto Jr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Linne manages to get himself to full guard.
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 Umberto Sotto Jr will probably get the nod.
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.

Linne tries to land a front kick but Sotto Jr steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sotto Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Linne circles away quickly and effectively.
A jab lands there for Sotto Jr.
Linne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sotto Jr's waist but Sotto Jr gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Linne off to one side.
Sotto Jr throws a hook to the side of Linne's head but Linne sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sotto Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Linne fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Linne darts in looking for a takedown but Sotto Jr gets double underhooks and turns Linne into the cage.
Sotto Jr gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Linne.
Umberto Sotto Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastien Linne.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Linne.

Sotto Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Linne takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Linne
and Sotto Jr counters with a nice body shot.
Sotto Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Linne throws a leg kick but Sotto Jr checks it.
Linne throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sotto Jr works Linne's body with a nice hook.
A combination from Sotto Jr does no damage.
Linne throws a leg kick but Sotto Jr checks it.
Linne tries a head kick but it misses.
Sotto Jr connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Linne takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sotto Jr walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Linne checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sotto Jr scores with the left hand. Linne knows he should have avoided that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Linne drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sotto Jr misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sotto Jr there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sotto Jr misses with a body kick.
Linne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sotto Jr listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Linne throws a lazy right hand but Sotto Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Linne moves out of range as Sotto Jr strikes.
Umberto Sotto Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sotto Jr cracks Linne with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Linne moves away from the strike by Sotto Jr.
A looping hook to the body misses from Linne. Sotto Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Linne goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sotto Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Linne looks to throw the jab but Sotto Jr is out of range.

Linne gets a double leg takedown into Sotto Jr's guard.
Linne throws a strike but Sotto Jr rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr passes Linne's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Linne is trying to control but Sotto Jr passes into side control!
Linne is looking to reverse the position.
Sotto Jr tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sotto Jr looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Linne struggling a bit here.
Sotto Jr trying to control the position but Linne is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sotto Jr advances to full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Sotto Jr dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Linne takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sotto Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Linne misses with a two punch combination.
Linne shoots in looking for a takedown. Sotto Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Linne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sotto Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sotto Jr throws a leg kick
and Linne counters with a low kick, right behind Sotto Jr 's knee.
Linne takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sotto Jr loads up on a big right hand but Linne slips the punch.
Sotto Jr connects with a high kick.
Linne takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sotto Jr feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Linne's calf.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sotto Jr clobbers Linne with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Linne misses with a body shot.
Sotto Jr lands a nice looking kick to the body. Linne takes a step back to recover.
Sotto Jr leaves Linne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Linne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotto Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Sotto Jr scores with a one two! Linne had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sotto Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sotto Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Linne moves out of range easily.
Linne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sotto Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Linne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sotto Jr.
Linne shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Umberto Sotto Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastien Linne.
Sotto Jr throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sotto Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sotto Jr throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sebastien Linne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr misses with an attempted mid kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Linne.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sotto Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Linne connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sotto Jr throws a poor cross that misses
and Linne counters with an outside leg kick.
Sotto Jr with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Linne throws a right hand that misses
and Sotto Jr counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Linne throws a sloppy head kick and Sotto Jr moves out of range easily.
Linne misses with a kick to the body.
Linne tries a low kick but Sotto Jr avoids it.
Linne throws a right and a left that Sotto Jr avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Umberto Sotto Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sotto Jr avoids the head kick by Linne.
Linne tries to land a body kick
and Sotto Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Linne takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sotto Jr thuds his right hand into Linne's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sotto Jr 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.
Linne with a jab.
Sotto Jr connects with a right hand. Linne shakes it off.

Linne is rocked!
Sotto Jr lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Linne is still on wobbly legs! Can Sotto Jr finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sotto Jr misses the shot to the body.
Sotto Jr misses with a body kick.
Linne scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Linne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sotto Jr swivels and escapes.
Linne seems to have recovered his senses.
Linne throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linne looks to land a body kick but Sotto Jr moved away.
Sotto Jr scores with a nice body kick.
Linne takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sotto Jr connects with a body shot that sends Linne's belly button to the back.
Linne tries to land a front kick but Sotto Jr steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sotto Jr scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Oooooh!!! Sotto Jr has knocked Linne down with a huge combo! Sotto Jr steps away and waves a wobbly Linne back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Sotto Jr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Linne on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Umberto Sotto Jr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sotto Jr checks a leg kick.
Sotto Jr lands a jab to the head.
Linne walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Linne takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Sotto Jr showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sotto Jr, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umberto Sotto Jr!
Umberto Sotto Jr thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Sebastien Linne stepped up to the mic, saying 'Feel proud now, huh? Beating up an old man like me? 1 more fight..then retiring.'.