PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erki Kangas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuli Soininen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kangas comes to the cage accompanied by Orgasmatron. Soininen has chosen Maamme-Laulu as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kangas
vs
Soininen

177 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erki Kangas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samuli Soininen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Soininen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Soininen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kangas has managed to free his arm - good work.
Soininen is looking to take a break and control but Kangas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Soininen is looking to stall here but Kangas recovers full guard.
Soininen chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soininen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kangas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kangas wants to stand up but Soininen is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Soininen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kangas wants to stand but Soininen is controlling the position.
Soininen throws an elbow that misses. Kangas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Soininen's guard. Nice move by Kangas!

Soininen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kangas defends it easily.
Soininen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kangas trying to control but Soininen is working from the bottom.
Kangas looking to pass the guard.

Soininen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Soininen looking for subs off his back but Kangas has passed one foot through into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soininen tries to get to full guard but Kangas has control of the leg.
Soininen wants to control but Kangas is keeping busy.
Kangas wants to take a breather but Soininen is having none of it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kangas stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.

Soininen clinches up against the cage.

Soininen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Soininen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It looked like Kangas was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Soininen drives through and clinches with Kangas against the cage.

Soininen has hold of one of Kangas's legs. Kangas is fighting the takedown attempt but Soininen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kangas is looking to stand back up but Soininen counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kangas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kangas is trying to stand up here but Soininen is controlling him well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Soininen wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Kangas uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Soininen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuli Soininen 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.

Soininen misses with a double jab.
Kangas is looking to counter the offense by Soininen and move into the clinch.
Soininen misses with a takedown attempt - Kangas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Soininen tries to bum rush Kangas with a series of wild strikes but Kangas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kangas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kangas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kangas is looking to score with low kicks.
Kangas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soininen was well out of range. Poor timing from Kangas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kangas slips a jab and a cross from Soininen.
Kangas tries to close the distance and clinch but Soininen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soininen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kangas as he avoids it easily.
Erki Kangas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samuli Soininen.
Soininen is breathing heavily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Soininen enables Kangas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Soininen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kangas passes Soininen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kangas stops Soininen from getting back to his feet.
Kangas seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Soininen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kangas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kangas is trying to control. Soininen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Soininen looks like he's trying to stand up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kangas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Soininen wants to counter the offense by Kangas and move into the clinch position.
Samuli Soininen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kangas slaps away a takedown attempt from Soininen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
An attempted straight right counter from Kangas misses the target.
Kangas seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Kangas dodges the punch combination from Soininen.
Kangas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soininen.
It looked like Kangas was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Soininen.
Soininen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kangas but Kangas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kangas fails to land with a series of punches.
A big right from Kangas misses.
Soininen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kangas is fending him off so far but Soininen persists. Nope, Kangas circles away and we're back to standing.
Kangas throws a big counter combination but Soininen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kangas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Soininen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Kangas clinches up against the cage.
Soininen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kangas smiles and moves away.

Kangas gets the takedown into side control.
Kangas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soininen keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kangas wants to stand but Soininen has his arm trapped.
Soininen is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kangas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soininen keeps working.
Kangas wants to stand but Soininen is controlling his arm.
Soininen tries to buck Kangas off but Kangas is having none of it.
Kangas wants to stand but Soininen is controlling his arm.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kangas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Soininen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kangas on his heels. He'll look to pass Kangas's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erki Kangas dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kangas tries to keep at a distance but Soininen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Soininen has clasped his hands together around Kangas's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kangas is pushing Soininen's head away, looking to escape. Soininen manages to hold on to the position though.

Soininen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kangas, who protects the arm well.
Kangas is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Soininen decides to stand back up.
Kangas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soininen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kangas swinging wildly here.

Soininen shoots in and bounces Kangas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Soininen wanted to stand there but Kangas had control of the position.
Kangas keeping full guard, as Soininen tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soininen throws a big right hand that misses.
Soininen wants to get up but he can't break Kangas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kangas is wriggling around but Soininen manages to pass to half guard.
Kangas pushes Soininen off looking to stand but Soininen dives back in and keeps control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Soininen wants to stand up but Kangas has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Erki Kangas is winning the standup battle so far.

Kangas tries to sprawl but Soininen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Soininen tries to stand and escape but Kangas is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Soininen seems content to control.
Soininen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Soininen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kangas is just riding it out for now. Soininen eventually gives up the hold.
Soininen prevents Kangas from standing back up.

Soininen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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.
Nice strikes from Soininen there.
Soininen wants to stand but Kangas has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Soininen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kangas is just riding it out for now. Soininen eventually gives up the hold.
Soininen is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuli Soininen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Soininen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuli Soininen!
An intense looking Samuli Soininen took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Proud to be here. I wanna thank my family and friends for supporting me! Love you!'.