PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ross Morrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waltteri Soininen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Morrow
vs
Soininen

165 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ross Morrow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Waltteri Soininen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morrow is looking to clinch.

Soininen clinches up against the cage.
Morrow is trying to break free.

Soininen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Morrow drives through with a takedown into Soininen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Soininen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Morrow fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Soininen avoids it really well and circles away.
Morrow shoots in but Soininen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Soininen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morrow throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Soininen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Morrow is in Soininen's guard.
Morrow throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Soininen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Soininen looking to control.
Morrow in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Morrow wants to stand but Soininen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Soininen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Morrow throws a big elbow that misses.
Soininen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soininen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Soininen is looking to clinch.

Soininen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Soininen breaks from the clinch.
Soininen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Morrow shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Soininen as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Morrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Soininen clinches up with Morrow and pushes him back against the cage.
Soininen looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soininen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Soininen tries a head kick but it misses.
Soininen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Morrow goes for a double leg but Soininen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Soininen continues to drive forward.
Soininen is looking for the big counter here.

Morrow gets a takedown into half guard.
Soininen tries to kick Morrow off in order to stand up. Morrow Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Morrow decides to stand back up.
Soininen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morrow's waist but Morrow gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soininen off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Soininen as Morrow shoots in.
Morrow gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Soininen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Soininen lands a high kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morrow tries to score a power double leg takedown but Soininen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Morrow somewhat.
Morrow swats away the attempt to clinch by Soininen.
It looked like Morrow wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waltteri Soininen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Morrow manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Soininen on his heels. He'll look to pass Soininen's guard now, I'm sure.

Soininen scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Soininen rushes Morrow and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Soininen breaks the clinch.
Soininen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Morrow sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soininen somewhat.
Morrow throwing a counter right hand but Soininen manages to avoid it.
Morrow looks for a takedown but Soininen sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soininen has managed to clinch.
Morrow could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Soininen breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Morrow.
Soininen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morrow circles away quickly and effectively.
Morrow swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Morrow shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Soininen's guard.
Soininen is adopting a defensive guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Morrow accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrow landing some decent shots from guard.
Ross Morrow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Soininen is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Morrow presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Soininen.

Soininen breaks from the clinch.
Soininen closes the distance and clinches up with Morrow, looking for a takedown. Soininen pushes Morrow against the cage but Morrow circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soininen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morrow tries to avoid it but Soininen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morrow to the ground. Morrow escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ross Morrow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Waltteri Soininen.
Soininen is breathing heavily.
Soininen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Waltteri Soininen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrow is looking to clinch but Soininen is avoiding it.
Soininen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Morrow avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morrow is defended easily by Soininen.
Soininen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Morrow feints and as Soininen raises his hands in defense, Morrow changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrow is standing up over Soininen. Soininen looks to escape but Morrow dives into side control.

Morrow swings around for an armbar but Soininen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Morrow's guard.
Soininen is fighting to break Morrow's control of his arms but Morrow is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Morrow tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morrow working a defensive guard here.
Soininen wants to control from the top but Morrow keeps moving.
Soininen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Soininen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Morrow wants to stand up but Soininen is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morrow working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waltteri Soininen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Soininen lands a leg kick that knocks Morrow off balance momentarily.
Waltteri Soininen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morrow shoots for a takedown but Soininen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Morrow. No joy for Soininen on that attempt.
No luck for Morrow with that takedown attempt.
Morrow takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soininen scores with a jab to the body.
Soininen stuffs the takedown.
Soininen wants to counter the offense by Morrow and move into the clinch position.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Morrow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soininen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morrow.
Morrow slips a jab and a cross from Soininen.
Soininen wants to clinch up but Morrow keeps it at a distance.
Soininen lands with a kick to the temple. Morrow shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Soininen tries to clinch up.
Soininen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morrow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrow slips a jab and a cross from Soininen.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Morrow is defended easily by Soininen.
Soininen misses with a low kick.

Soininen forces Morrow back against the cage and clinches.
Morrow prevents a takedown attempt there.

Soininen breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soininen moves into the clinch.

Soininen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Soininen.
Soininen misses with a leg kick.
Morrow fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Soininen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morrow as he avoids it easily.
Soininen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Morrow appears to be looking for a big counter.

Morrow feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Soininen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Morrow off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Waltteri Soininen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Soininen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Morrow doesn't seem phased though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soininen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morrow sprawls well. Morrow wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Soininen gets slowly back to his feet.

Morrow scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Soininen sneaks out the side door and pushes Morrow away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waltteri Soininen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soininen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Waltteri Soininen!