PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mats Söderlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omar Boulami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Boulami's choice of entrance music: The Rock - Mustapha Ibrahim. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Söderlund
vs
Boulami

185 cm
27
181 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

171 cm
27
177 lbs
20 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mats Söderlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Omar Boulami!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boulami lands with a good body shot.
Boulami listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Söderlund swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Boulami looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Boulami is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Söderlund.
Boulami lands with a thumping leg kick.
Söderlund throws a lazy body kick
and Boulami counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Söderlund works Boulami's body with a nice hook.
Boulami scores with a jab to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Boulami. Söderlund does a little dance to reset his feet.
Söderlund is looking to score with low kicks.
Söderlund defending well as Boulami loads up on a big left hand.
Boulami throws a right hand that misses
and Söderlund counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boulami lands with an overhand left.
Söderlund bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Omar Boulami has been cut.
Söderlund circles away from the clinch attempt.
Boulami tries to clinch up but Söderlund circles away and keeps his distance.
Söderlund displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Boulami.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Söderlund throws a looping overhand right but Boulami ducks down to avoid it.
Söderlund checks a leg kick nicely.
We've been informed that Boulami has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Boulami throws a looping overhand right but Söderlund ducks down to avoid it.
Boulami just misses with a punch to the body.
Söderlund has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Boulami is looking to clinch but Söderlund is avoiding it.
Boulami looks to clinch
and Söderlund counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Boulami ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Söderlund lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Söderlund is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Söderlund takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A decent looking body kick lands there for Söderlund.
An inside leg kick from Boulami misses.
Söderlund takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Söderlund looks for the body kick but Boulami saw that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boulami on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund walks into a jab.
Mats Söderlund is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A lazy body kick from Söderlund

and Boulami counters with a nice double leg into side control. Söderlund won't be happy with that.
Söderlund tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Boulami wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boulami sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Söderlund is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Söderlund tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Söderlund takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Boulami working the ground and pound from side control.
Söderlund is trying to improve his position.
Söderlund is working hard here to advance position.
Boulami lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Söderlund takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Söderlund taking a bit of punishment here - Boulami scoring with strikes.
Söderlund taking a bit of punishment here - Boulami scoring with strikes.
Boulami has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boulami cracks Söderlund with a big right hand but Söderlund just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Boulami is looking to take a break and control but Söderlund is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Söderlund tries to buck Boulami off but Boulami is having none of it.
Boulami looks up at the clock and then as Söderlund takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Boulami smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Boulami tries to move to full mount but Söderlund actually manages to regain half guard.
Boulami wants to lay and pray for a moment but Söderlund keeps working.
Boulami scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Boulami is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Söderlund is just riding it out for now. Boulami eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Söderlund actively working from the bottom here.
Söderlund is looking to improve his position.
Boulami looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Söderlund is looking to improve his position.
Boulami wants to lay and pray for a moment but Söderlund keeps working.
Söderlund is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Boulami scores with a couple of nice shots.
Boulami has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
BOOM! Boulami connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Boulami dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Omar Boulami's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Söderlund throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

It looks like Mats Söderlund has been cut.
Mats Söderlund is winning the standup battle so far.
Söderlund throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Boulami throws a leg kick which misses Söderlund's front leg but catches the back leg as Söderlund tries to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Söderlund.
Boulami uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Söderlund has time to react.
Boulami cracks the inside of Söderlund's front leg.
Söderlund misses with a looping left.
Boulami tries to bum rush Söderlund with a series of wild strikes but Söderlund uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Söderlund catches Boulami with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Söderlund jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Söderlund lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Söderlund waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Boulami.
Boulami looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Söderlund steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Boulami.
Söderlund stuffs the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boulami tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good exchange - Boulami coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boulami looks to throw the jab but Söderlund is out of range.
Söderlund is looking to counter punch.
Söderlund just misses with a punch to the body.
Boulami connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Mats Söderlund's cut is getting worse.
Boulami has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boulami is looking to clinch.
Söderlund lands with a hook. Boulami tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Boulami lands an overhand right.
Söderlund delivers a nice body kick.
Söderlund uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Boulami.
Söderlund ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boulami moves away.
Söderlund with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Boulami throws a right and a left that Söderlund avoids nicely.
Boulami is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boulami thows a left - swing and a miss!
Söderlund throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Boulami counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boulami shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Söderlund lands a right hook to the body.
Boulami drops his hands momentarily and Söderlund takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Boulami misses with a wild body shot.
Söderlund looks to land a combination but Boulami avoids it well.
Boulami scores with a decent looking hook.
Söderlund bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Söderlund swats away the attempt to clinch by Boulami.
Boulami swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Söderlund on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Söderlund checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Boulami walks into a left hand.
Boulami lands a nice shot to the body.
Boulami misses with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Söderlund.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund misses with a body shot.
Söderlund uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Boulami.
Söderlund throws a counter high kick but Boulami was just alert enough to avoid it.
Boulami darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Mats Söderlund's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Boulami jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Söderlund looks to score with a jab to the body but Boulami is just out of range.
A slow jab from Boulami misses its intended target.

Boulami clinches with his opponent.
Boulami is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Boulami is trying to pull guard but Söderlund has him pressed against the cage.
Mats Söderlund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Boulami.
Boulami misses with the head strike.

Söderlund breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Söderlund looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Söderlund throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Söderlund throws a big shot that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Boulami misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Söderlund walks into a straight right hand from Boulami.
Söderlund thows a left - swing and a miss!
Boulami keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Söderlund tries to bum rush Boulami with a series of wild strikes but Boulami uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Boulami throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Söderlund stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boulami ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Söderlund avoids the head kick by Boulami.
Boulami fails in his attempt to clinch.
Söderlund moves into range and connects with a jab.
Boulami ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Boulami blocks the body kick.
Boulami misses with a shot to the body
enabling Söderlund to counter with a crisp jab.
A big left from Boulami misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mats Söderlund will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Söderlund slips a jab from Boulami.
Boulami lands with an uppercut that bounces Söderlund off the cage and back into range.
Söderlund takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Boulami tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Boulami throws a low kick, looking for Söderlund's leg but Söderlund calmly moves out of range.
Boulami lands the left hand.
Söderlund throws a good cross that connects.
Boulami lands a lovely overhand right.
Söderlund throws out a loose jab but Boulami uses good head movement to avoid it.
Söderlund with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Boulami to score with a decent uppercut.

Boulami gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Söderlund looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Söderlund breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Söderlund walks into a stiff left hand from Boulami.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boulami misses with an uppercut. Söderlund saw that one coming.
Omar Boulami seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boulami throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Söderlund waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Boulami.
Boulami looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Söderlund throws a jab when Boulami was well out of range.
Boulami takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Söderlund throws a shot from downtown. Boulami moves away and avoids it.
Boulami misses with a lunging right hand
and Söderlund counters with a nice body kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Söderlund.
Boulami blocks the body kick.
Söderlund throws a shot from downtown. Boulami moves away and avoids it.
Söderlund throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Boulami connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Söderlund has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Söderlund there as he acknowledges the shot.
Boulami looks to land a combination but Söderlund avoids it well.
Boulami checks a low kick from Söderlund.
Boulami feints the counter takedown.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Boulami shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Söderlund as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Boulami catches Söderlund right on the button with a cross.
Söderlund just misses with a punch to the body.
Söderlund looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Boulami connects with a leg kick. Söderlund looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Boulami lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Söderlund throws out a loose jab but Boulami uses good head movement to avoid it.
Boulami walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Söderlund moves out of range as Boulami throws a body kick.
A quick step to the side and Söderlund tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Söderlund pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Boulami avoids the body shot from Söderlund.
Söderlund tests Boulami's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Söderlund moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Boulami takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Boulami pushes Söderlund away with a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A slow jab from Söderlund misses its intended target.
And Boulami responds with a good body kick, but Söderlund manages to step out the way in time.
Söderlund misses with a body shot.
A big left from Söderlund misses.
Boulami moves into range and connects with a jab.
Söderlund is looking to land body kicks.
Söderlund stuffs the takedown.
Söderlund tries a low kick but Boulami avoids it.
Söderlund moves out of range of the leg kick from Boulami.
Boulami ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Boulami is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That has opened up Omar Boulami's cut even more.
Söderlund throws a low kick but Boulami moves out of range easily.
It seemed like Boulami was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Boulami scoring well with a low kick there.
Söderlund is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Boulami.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boulami looks to land a combination but Söderlund avoids it well.
It looked like Söderlund wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A shot to the liver by Boulami. Beautiful body shot.
Boulami bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boulami lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice shot by Söderlund.
Boulami throws a quick inside leg kick.
A jab from Söderlund misses.
Söderlund takes a swing at Boulami's ribcage but misses.
Boulami lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boulami takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Boulami looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Söderlund is fending him off so far but Boulami persists. Nope, Söderlund circles away and we're back to standing.
Mats Söderlund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Boulami.
Söderlund throws a leg kick that misses.
Boulami lands a nice leg kick that just misses Söderlund's sensitive parts.
Boulami will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Omar Boulami.
I think Boulami 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omar Boulami!
Omar Boulami seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.