PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haji Muakbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muakbar kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is That Punjabi Jay-Z song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Muakbar
vs
Soderberg

171 cm
38
192 lbs
32 - 21 - 2

179 cm
37
186 lbs
25 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 32 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Haji Muakbar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muakbar throws a combination that misses

and Soderberg counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Soderberg.
Soderberg looking to pass the guard.
Soderberg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Soderberg showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Muakbar seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Muakbar keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soderberg throws a big elbow that misses.
Muakbar wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muakbar keeping full guard, as Soderberg tries to pass.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Muakbar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Muakbar closes the distance and pushes Soderberg back into the cage.
Muakbar blocks a body shot from Soderberg.
Soderberg tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soderberg softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Muakbar lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Soderberg tries to work over Muakbar's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Muakbar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Donk. Soderberg catches Muakbar right on the button with a cross.
Soderberg's jab looks to have found its range, popping Muakbar under the eye.
Soderberg lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Muakbar at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar lands a slapping body shot.
Soderberg swinging wildly here.
Soderberg has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soderberg misses the shot to the body.
Muakbar throws a lazy uppercut
and Soderberg counters with a nice body kick.

Soderberg gets tackled into the cage by Muakbar. Muakbar maintains the clinch.
Muakbar effectively controlling the action here.
Muakbar swings wildly with an uppercut but Soderberg uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soderberg lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Soderberg tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Muakbar tries for a takedown but Soderberg manages to get underhooks.
Muakbar struggles to land a body shot inside as Soderberg controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Muakbar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Muakbar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Muakbar tries to break free but Soderberg pushes him back against the cage.
Muakbar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Muakbar struggles to land a body shot inside as Soderberg controls his hands.
Soderberg swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Soderberg misses with a hook to the ribs.

Muakbar manages to break the clinch.
Soderberg catches Muakbar with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Soderberg throws a shot from downtown. Muakbar moves away and avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Muakbar misses the target.
Muakbar misses with a lunging right hand

and Soderberg counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Soderberg is trying to control. Muakbar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Muakbar defends it well.
Soderberg is trying to control. Muakbar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Soderberg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Soderberg throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Muakbar to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soderberg controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Soderberg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Soderberg is looking to work some ground and pound but Muakbar has wrist control.
Soderberg is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
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!

Muakbar scores with a shot to the body.
Soderberg goes for a double leg but Muakbar avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Muakbar continues to drive forward.
Soderberg fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Muakbar on the side of the head.
Muakbar rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Soderberg counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Muakbar is controlling Soderberg's posture.
Muakbar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Muakbar thows a huge punch but Soderberg dodges it nicely.
Muakbar wants to control but Soderberg is keeping him busy.
Muakbar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Soderberg is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Muakbar prevents Soderberg from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg trying to control here.
Soderberg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soderberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Soderberg is refusing to be controlled, as Muakbar sits in half guard.
Muakbar lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Soderberg trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Muakbar manages to pass to mount!
Soderberg is desperately trying to improve his position but Muakbar has a good base and remains in mount.
Soderberg taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Muakbar with the ground and pound from mount.
Muakbar working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Soderberg takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Muakbar lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muakbar loads up with a big shot that hurts Soderberg! He's pulled Muakbar in close but Muakbar has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Soderberg survive? More strikes from Muakbar and Soderberg is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Haji Muakbar!
A very excited looking Haji Muakbar rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
In defeat, Rufus Soderberg stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.