PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vlad The Impaler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Impaler kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Deathlike Silence - Next to your Grave. 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?

The Impaler
vs
Soderberg

178 cm
35
178 lbs
29 - 14 - 2

179 cm
34
186 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)
Hellbent

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 29 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Vlad The Impaler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Impaler slips a straight right by Soderberg.
An attempted straight right counter from The Impaler misses the target.
Soderberg has a takedown stuffed.
The Impaler throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A decent looking body kick lands there for The Impaler.
Soderberg misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

The Impaler pushes Soderberg up against the cage in a clinch.
Soderberg blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Impaler misses with the head strike.
The Impaler pressing his opponent against the cage.

Soderberg jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg has a closed guard, preventing The Impaler from standing up.

Soderberg is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and The Impaler defends well.
Our spies down at at The Stray Dogs inform us that Soderberg has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Soderberg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Soderberg looking to control but The Impaler passes into half guard.
Soderberg wants to get back to full guard.
Soderberg makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Soderberg.
The Impaler would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Soderberg is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Impaler wants to get up but he can't break Soderberg's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Soderberg has his foot on The Impaler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. The Impaler works his way back into a safe position though.
The Impaler wants to get up but he can't break Soderberg's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Soderberg trying to control the position.
The Impaler wanted to stand there but Soderberg had control of the position.
Soderberg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Soderberg isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. The Impaler stacks Soderberg on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by The Impaler!
The Impaler wants to stand but Soderberg is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg tries to bench press The Impaler off him but The Impaler keeps the position.

The Impaler decides to stand back up.
The Impaler looks to land a left hand but Soderberg moved out of range nicely.
Soderberg is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've been told by The Impaler's head coaches at Team Finland that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A good leg kick by The Impaler.
The Impaler misses the jab.
Soderberg changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The Impaler lands with a shot to the body.
Soderberg throws a wild body kick that The Impaler sees coming a mile off.
The Impaler connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The Impaler throws a shot from downtown. Soderberg moves away and avoids it.
Soderberg is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The Impaler scores with a decent looking hook.
The Impaler with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The Impaler throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg misses with an uppercut.
The Impaler buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The Impaler stuffs the takedown attempt from Soderberg. Soderberg gets slowly back to his feet.
Vlad The Impaler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soderberg misses with a straight right.
Soderberg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract The Impaler.
As Soderberg backs away, The Impaler returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The fighters circling - The Impaler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The Impaler slips under a jab from Soderberg.
The Impaler staying out of range there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The Impaler throws a solid leg kick but Soderberg takes the impact on his shin and smiles at The Impaler.
The Impaler throws a hook but Soderberg blocks it.

The Impaler has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad The Impaler dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soderberg swings for the body but The Impaler moves out of range.
A big right from The Impaler misses.
Soderberg lands a nice looking body shot.
The Impaler fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Soderberg is out of range.
Soderberg changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Soderberg throws a wild body kick that The Impaler sees coming a mile off.
The Impaler was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The Impaler defending well as Soderberg loads up on a big left hand.
The Impaler lands a nice shot to the body.
The Impaler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The Impaler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soderberg can do to turn this around?

Soderberg bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The Impaler defending against the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on The Impaler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Soderberg in side control, throwing shots but The Impaler defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Soderberg landing a few strikes.
Soderberg has knee on belly momentarily but The Impaler bucks him off and regains half guard.
Soderberg passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg lands a big elbow.
Soderberg is landing with some decent strikes but The Impaler is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Soderberg jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… The Impaler is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by The Impaler and Soderberg has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The Impaler avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Soderberg.
Soderberg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The Impaler sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg looks to land a strike but The Impaler avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Soderberg is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Soderberg postures up in The Impaler's guard and throws a big left but The Impaler blocks it.
Soderberg throwing strikes from guard but The Impaler blocks nicely.

Soderberg drops back, looking for a kneebar! The Impaler looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. The Impaler looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from The Impaler!

Soderberg is looking for a sweep.
The Impaler tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg struggling a bit here.

The Impaler has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The Impaler wants to clinch up but Soderberg keeps it at a distance.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says The Impaler as he avoids it easily.
The Impaler prevents the takedown attempt.
Soderberg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The Impaler misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Soderberg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice left hand lands by The Impaler.
Soderberg misses with the head strike.
Soderberg is looking for a takedown up against the cage. The Impaler gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Soderberg checks the leg kick.
Soderberg drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Soderberg on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The Impaler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Soderberg.
The Impaler dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Soderberg. That did some damage!
The Impaler misses with a straight left.
The Impaler tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Soderberg misses.
The Impaler half committed to a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good shot there by The Impaler.
The Impaler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soderberg.
It appears The Impaler was looking to counter with a kick there.
The Impaler throws a punch but it's blocked by Soderberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg lands a hook to the side of the head.
Soderberg working aggressively here.
Soderberg drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The Impaler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Soderberg swings wildly with an uppercut but The Impaler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soderberg is trying to pull guard but The Impaler has him pressed against the cage.
Vlad The Impaler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.
Soderberg jumps guard but The Impaler stands there with Soderberg around his waist. Soderberg gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Soderberg misses with the head strike.
Soderberg scores with a shoulder strike.
The Impaler lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Impaler lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Soderberg backwards.

The Impaler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vlad The Impaler is winning the standup battle so far.
Soderberg avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Soderberg shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The Impaler tried to counter with a leg kick but Soderberg avoided it.
The Impaler misses the shot to the body.
The Impaler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soderberg throws a body punch but The Impaler moves out of range.
The Impaler misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from The Impaler. No joy for Soderberg on that attempt.
The Impaler scores with a nice body kick.
Soderberg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some bone on bone action there as Soderberg checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Soderberg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Impaler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soderberg misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A short right from The Impaler on the inside.
The Impaler working hard to break the clinch.
Soderberg jumps guard but The Impaler stands there with Soderberg around his waist. Soderberg gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

The Impaler breaks from the clinch.
Soderberg takes a kick to the side of the head.
Soderberg misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Soderberg fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Impaler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soderberg with the counter takedown but The Impaler avoids it easily.
The Impaler lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Soderberg bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The Impaler scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Soderberg doesn't seem bothered though.
Soderberg misses with a takedown
and The Impaler counters with a nice low kick that buckles Soderberg's knee momentarily.
Soderberg takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Impaler swings for the body but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The Impaler swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Soderberg.
The Impaler throws a leg kick but Soderberg moved away.
Soderberg is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by The Impaler.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad The Impaler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think The Impaler 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vlad The Impaler!
Vlad The Impaler was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Rufus Soderberg was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.