PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zbynek Taticzek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taticzek's entrance music is Feuer Frei. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taticzek
vs
Soderberg

183 cm
29
184 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

179 cm
33
186 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

ONI

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zbynek Taticzek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taticzek throws a right and a left that both miss.

Soderberg throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Taticzek was covering up waiting for the punch and Soderberg finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Taticzek utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taticzek keeping moving, preventing Soderberg from controlling successfully.
Taticzek wants to sweep here but Soderberg controlling him for the moment.
Taticzek is pulling down on Soderberg's head to control his posture.
Soderberg passes Taticzek's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taticzek's head.
Soderberg takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soderberg is trying to control. Taticzek wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Soderberg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soderberg performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Soderberg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taticzek is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Soderberg scores with a couple of nice shots.
Soderberg trying to pass the guard but Taticzek defending well.
Soderberg throws a strike but Taticzek avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Taticzek utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soderberg trying to control but Taticzek is working from the bottom.
Taticzek seems keen to control Soderberg's posture.
Soderberg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Soderberg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Soderberg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Soderberg wants to pass the guard but Taticzek is keeping the position.
Soderberg trying to control but Taticzek is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Soderberg trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Soderberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg looking to sit in guard and control but Taticzek gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Soderberg working for a triangle but Taticzek defends it easily.

Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taticzek gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Soderberg dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A combination from Taticzek does no damage.
A slow jab from Soderberg misses its intended target.
Taticzek tries to clinch up.
Taticzek looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Taticzek lands a jab.
Soderberg dives in and grabs Taticzek's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taticzek pushes down on Soderberg's head and hops out.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Soderberg, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taticzek misses with an uppercut
and Soderberg connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taticzek throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good shot there by Soderberg.
Taticzek throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Soderberg cracks Taticzek with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Taticzek misses with a hook.
Soderberg lands with a hook. Taticzek tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Soderberg just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice shot by Soderberg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taticzek tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zbynek Taticzek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soderberg shoots for a takedown but Taticzek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taticzek takes a swing at Soderberg's ribcage but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soderberg shoots in but Taticzek avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zbynek Taticzek has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.
Taticzek scores with a jab to the head.
Soderberg misses with a looping left.
Soderberg has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg throws a hook but Taticzek avoids it easily.
Rufus Soderberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Soderberg shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Taticzek napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Soderberg fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Soderberg working the ground and pound but Taticzek is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Taticzek's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Soderberg throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Soderberg is working Taticzek over with some ground and pound from side control.
Soderberg postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Soderberg working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Soderberg throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Taticzek works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Soderberg working over Taticzek with some ground and pound. Taticzek looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Soderberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Soderberg lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Soderberg.
Taticzek is looking to clinch but Soderberg is avoiding it.
Taticzek misses with an uppercut
and Soderberg makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Soderberg misses with a body shot.
Soderberg dives in and grabs Taticzek's left leg, looking for a takedown. Taticzek pushes down on Soderberg's head and hops out.
Taticzek misses with a hook.
A cross from Soderberg lands.

Soderberg closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Taticzek to the mat! Taticzek manages to get full guard.
Taticzek lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Taticzek defends well.

Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taticzek gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Soderberg working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taticzek doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taticzek manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rufus Soderberg is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Taticzek has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg trying to control the position here.
Zbynek Taticzek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taticzek won't allow Soderberg to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taticzek showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Soderberg is pulling down on Taticzek's head. It's preventing any offense from Taticzek, at least for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taticzek throws an off balance right hand

and Soderberg counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Soderberg is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taticzek tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rufus Soderberg.
Taticzek digs a good hook to Soderberg's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soderberg thuds a left hand into Taticzek's body.
Soderberg slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rufus Soderberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soderberg has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufus Soderberg!
Post fight, Rufus Soderberg took to the microphone: '...'.