PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Barett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arnold Sodeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barett kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Foggy Dew. Stephen Barett has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Barett
vs
Sodeman

179 cm
23
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

160 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Bushido Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Barett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arnold Sodeman!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barett misses with a right hand
and Sodeman counters with a stiff right hand.
Barett fails with a takedown attempt.
Good shot there by Sodeman.
Barett takes a swing at Sodeman's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Sodeman was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Barett delivers a nice body kick.
Sodeman throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Barett tries to clinch there but Sodeman circles away.
Barett takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Barett doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sodeman counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sodeman connects with a jab.
Sodeman misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Barett misses the target.

Barett drives through and clinches with Sodeman against the cage.
Sodeman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barett smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sodeman throws a hook to the side of Barett's head but Barett sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arnold Sodeman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sodeman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sodeman throws a big shot that misses.
Barett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sodeman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Barett instigates a clinch.
Barett is struggling to control the position.
Sodeman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Barett to keep the fight standing.
Sodeman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Barett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sodeman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Barett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sodeman wants a takedown but no success here.
Barett swings wildly with an uppercut but Sodeman uses good head movement to avoid it.

Barett breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barett moves into range and clinches up with Sodeman.
Sodeman is trying to break free.
Sodeman is leaning against Barett and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sodeman tries to pull guard but Barett holds him up against the cage and eventually Sodeman drops back down to his feet.
Sodeman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barett has him pressed against the cage.
Sodeman tries a body shot but Barett blocks it.
Barett misses with a punch to the body.
Sodeman is trying to break the clinch but Barett is controlling him.
Sodeman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barett smiles and moves away.
Barett ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sodeman loads up on a big right hand but Barett slips the punch.
Barett appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sodeman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sodeman wants it to stay on the feet.
Sodeman throws an overhand right that lands on Barett's shoulder, as Barett tries to avoid the shot.
Sodeman misses with a looping left.
Barett doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Barett has closed the distance and engaged Sodeman in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sodeman throws an elbow but misses.
Sodeman wants to get back to striking at distance but Barett won't allow it.
Barett prevents a body shot from Sodeman.
Sodeman is trying to break free.

Barett breaks the clinch.
Sodeman might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A slow jab from Barett misses its intended target.
Barett has his takedown stuffed
and Sodeman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barett throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sodeman.
Barett is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sodeman lands with a cross.
Sodeman dips to his left and cracks Barett with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barett with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Sodeman counter with a right hand.
Barett swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sodeman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A decent looking cross lands there for Sodeman.
Barett wants to clinch but Sodeman slips to the side
and Sodeman counters with a straight right hand.
Barett slips a straight right by Sodeman.
Nice straight punches there by Sodeman. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sodeman.
Decent striking displayed by Sodeman there.
Sodeman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barett.
Barett defending well as Sodeman loads up on a big left hand.

Barett has managed to clinch.
Sodeman trying to stall but Barett improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Sodeman dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sodeman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barett uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sodeman.
Barett closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sodeman counters with a nice uppercut.
Sodeman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sodeman keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice uppercut there from Sodeman.
Sodeman dips to his left and cracks Barett with an uppercut!
A head kick by Barett misses
and Sodeman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sodeman scores with a nice right hand.
Sodeman scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barett in his tracks.

Barett is rocked!

Barett moves into the clinch.
Barett looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sodeman is trying to pull guard but Barett turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sodeman dodges an elbow strike from Barett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sodeman is trying to drag Barett to the mat but Barett just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barett blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sodeman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Barett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stephen Barett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arnold Sodeman.

Barett manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Barett or perhaps it was just good defense by Sodeman, which made it look bad.
It seemed like Sodeman was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sodeman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barett tries to close the distance and clinch but Sodeman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barett staying out of range there.
Barett went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sodeman misses with a hook. Barett ducked under it nicely.
Sodeman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sodeman wants it to stay on the feet.
Sodeman looks to throw the jab but Barett is out of range.
Arnold Sodeman seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Sodeman.

Barett rushes Sodeman and presses him up against the cage.
Barett is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Barett tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barett tries to work over Sodeman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Barett has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sodeman clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sodeman trying to control the hands but Barett breaks the grip.
Sodeman covering up well and avoiding damage.
Sodeman is keeping busy.
Sodeman tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sodeman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Barett can't keep his opponent in guard - Sodeman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Barett knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sodeman on the ground.

Sodeman wants to work for an arm triangle but Barett is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sodeman is looking for a kimura but Barett is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sodeman to get the leverage.
Sodeman controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sodeman has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Barett defend it? Sodeman steps over the head and cranks it - Barett is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Sodeman!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Arnold Sodeman!
After winning the bout, Arnold Sodeman thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.