PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Las Mambo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Sotaheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Mambo
vs
Sotaheimo

185 cm
27
194 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

185 cm
31
192 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Las Mambo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Sotaheimo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mambo has a takedown stuffed.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sotaheimo has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Good exchange - Sotaheimo coming out on top.
Sotaheimo is looking to slow Mambo down with leg kicks.
Sotaheimo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mambo's hands.
Sotaheimo misses with a lunging right hand

and Mambo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mambo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sotaheimo is keeping the position for now.
Sotaheimo wants to stand and escape but Mambo is having none of it.
Mambo stands and throws Sotaheimo's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Mambo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sotaheimo, who protects the arm well.
Mambo is putting a hurting on Sotaheimo here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotaheimo tries to improve position but can't.

Mambo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sotaheimo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sotaheimo is trying to improve his position.

Mambo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sotaheimo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sotaheimo is trying to get back to half guard.
Sotaheimo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sotaheimo tries to bench press Mambo off him but Mambo keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mambo works to advance to full mount. Sotaheimo defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Mambo wants to finish this one by submission but Sotaheimo is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mambo.
Mambo lands a big shot there that rocks Sotaheimo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mambo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sotaheimo tries to reverse the position but Mambo maintains control.
Mambo with the ground and pound from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mambo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Mambo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sotaheimo wants to control but Mambo is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo is desperately trying to improve his position but Mambo has a good base and remains in mount.
Sotaheimo tries to hold on but Mambo postures up.

Mambo is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sotaheimo has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Mambo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mambo avoids the attempt from Sotaheimo to control.
Mambo is landing with some decent strikes but Sotaheimo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sotaheimo is trying desperately to improve position.
Sotaheimo manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Mambo wants to work for an arm triangle but Sotaheimo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mambo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Sotaheimo tries to roll over but Mambo keeps him under control.

Mambo is trying to work for a kimura but Sotaheimo is defending well.

Mambo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sotaheimo is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Las Mambo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sotaheimo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab by Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo throws a jab but it's blocked by Mambo.
Mambo dives in and grabs Sotaheimo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sotaheimo pushes down on Mambo's head and hops out.
Mambo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sotaheimo. Sotaheimo obviously looking to wear him down.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mambo or perhaps it was just good defense by Sotaheimo, which made it look bad.
Sotaheimo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mambo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sotaheimo throws a leg kick but Mambo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Mambo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mambo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sotaheimo defends well and Mambo ends up having to push Sotaheimo into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Las Mambo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sotaheimo swats away the attempt to clinch by Mambo.
Mambo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sotaheimo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mambo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sotaheimo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Sotaheimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mambo is defending well for now.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Mambo pulls guard successfully.
Sotaheimo wants to pass the guard but Mambo is keeping the position.
Sotaheimo wants to control from the top but Mambo keeps moving.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo is pushing down on Mambo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mambo is fighting to maintain full guard but Sotaheimo has managed to sneak the leg through.

Mambo looking for submissions off his back.
Sotaheimo with the ground and pound but Mambo uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sotaheimo looking to sit in guard and control but Mambo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sotaheimo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mambo lands a couple of elbows.
Mambo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mambo throwing strikes from guard but Sotaheimo blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mambo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mambo trying to control but Sotaheimo is working from the bottom.
Mambo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sotaheimo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sotaheimo looking to control.
Mambo passes into half guard.

Mambo is working for a submission of some sort.
Mambo is keen to just control but Sotaheimo is a slippery customer.

That's four 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.
Mambo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mambo working over Sotaheimo with some ground and pound. Sotaheimo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mambo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sotaheimo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mambo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sotaheimo missing with punches from the bottom.
Sotaheimo is trying to control but can't.

Mambo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sotaheimo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mambo.
Sotaheimo trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Sotaheimo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mambo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sotaheimo swivels and escapes.
Sotaheimo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mambo in his tracks.

Sotaheimo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Mambo is blocking nicely.
Sotaheimo landing knees to the body.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sotaheimo landing knees to the head.
Sotaheimo with a knee to the head.
Mambo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sotaheimo walks away with a smile on his face. Mambo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sotaheimo moves into range and clinches up with Mambo.
Mambo slows down the pace here.
Sotaheimo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mambo's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mambo jumps into guard, dragging Sotaheimo to the mat.
Mambo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sotaheimo controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mambo working a defensive guard here.
Mambo is really struggling to control Sotaheimo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mambo keeping moving, preventing Sotaheimo from controlling successfully.

Mambo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sotaheimo passes into half guard.
Mambo is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sotaheimo trying to mount his opponent but Mambo defends it.
Mambo wants to improve his position but Sotaheimo is controlling well.
Mambo is trying to maintain the position but Sotaheimo is very close to passing his half guard.
Mambo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sotaheimo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mambo trying to hold on to Sotaheimo's head to control him but Sotaheimo postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mambo tries to keep at a distance but Sotaheimo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mambo is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Las Mambo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mambo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mambo trying to stall but Sotaheimo improves his position.
Mambo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Mambo wants to break free but Sotaheimo has control.
Mambo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mambo avoids it.
Mambo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mambo tries to break free but Sotaheimo pushes him back against the ropes.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mambo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sotaheimo after a bit of a struggle.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but Mambo blocks with his arms.
Sotaheimo missing with knees to the body.
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Mambo is blocking nicely.

Mambo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sotaheimo throws a head kick but Mambo moves out of range.

Sotaheimo has Mambo up against the ropes in a clinch.

Mambo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mambo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sotaheimo tries to roll over but Mambo keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Sotaheimo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sotaheimo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Sotaheimo!
Our winner, Ari Sotaheimo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.