PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Slade Wilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Soul Jah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jah has chosen Bob Marley - Buffalo Soldier as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wilson
vs
Jah

184 cm
26
219 lbs
10 - 6 - 2

196 cm
26
250 lbs
12 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 2, fighting out of London, Slade Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Soul Jah!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilson misses the shot to the body.
Wilson scores with a body shot.
Wilson looks to land a body kick but Jah moved away.
Jah feints a counter leg kick.
Slade Wilson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jah takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wilson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jah counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Wilson looks for the body kick but Jah saw that one coming.
Wilson stalks Jah and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jah's face. Jah staggers backwards, shaken.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jah.
Wilson misses with the combination.
A bone on bone clash there as Jah blocks the leg kick.
Soul Jah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jah ducks under a wild hook from Wilson.
We've been hearing reports that Wilson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Wilson scores with a takedown into Jah's guard.

Jah is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Wilson is looking to break free of the clinch but Jah has double underhooks.
Jah missing with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Wilson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Wilson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jah did well to prevent Wilson getting side control.

Jah makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Wilson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Jah throws Wilson to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jah keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jah throws a big counter head kick but Wilson avoids it with no problem.
Wilson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jah replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Wilson blocks it well.
Jah bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jah steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wilson.
Wilson throws a jab when Jah was well out of range.
Jah throws a counter combo.
Wilson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jah thinks about the counter body kick.
Wilson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jah moves away.

Jah gets caught napping as Wilson dives in and scores a takedown. Jah manages to retain guard.
Wilson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wilson trying to control the position from guard on top but Jah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jah managing to control the position.
Jah wants to stand and escape but Wilson is having none of it.
Jah looking for a sweep. Not yet Jah, not yet.

Wilson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wilson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Jah has control of Wilson's left arm, preventing Wilson from doing any damage.
Jah can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wilson controls the pace.
Jah seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Wilson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Jah pulls Wilson in close to his closed guard and prevents Wilson from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wilson trying to control the position from guard on top but Jah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jah is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wilson wants to control from the top but Jah keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wilson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wilson tries for a takedown but Jah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jah is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slade Wilson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wilson shoots in for a double leg but Jah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jah throws a fast counter high kick but Wilson manages to duck under it in time.
Wilson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Jah counters with a left and a right that stings Wilson.
Wilson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jah is fending him off so far but Wilson persists. Nope, Jah circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Slade Wilson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wilson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wilson tries to land a leg kick but Jah saw it coming and moves away.
Jah on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wilson.
Wilson throws a low kick, looking for Jah's leg but Jah calmly moves out of range.
Wilson moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromJah.
Wilson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jah checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Jah on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jah on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wilson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jah circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jah stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jah wants it to stay on the feet.
Jah is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Wilson fails with the takedown
enabling Jah to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slade Wilson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wilson throws a right hand that Jah ducks under and follows up with a left that Jah also avoids with ease.
Jah was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Wilson throws a lazy uppercut
and Jah counters with a nice leg kick.
Wilson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jah as he jumps to the side.
Wilson looks to land a right hand but Jah moved out of range.
Wilson misses with the combination.
Wilson backing away here, and Jah unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Wilson.
Jah moves out of range as Wilson throws a body kick.
Jah follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Wilson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wilson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jah makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Wilson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jah defends well and Wilson ends up having to push Jah into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jah steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wilson.
Wilson looks to score with a jab to the body but Jah is just out of range.
Jah blocks a low kick nicely.
Wilson shoots in but Jah avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As Wilson backs off Jah throws a huge counter combo but Wilson manages to avoid it all.
Jah moves away from the strike by Wilson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jah takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jah wants to counter the offense by Wilson and move into the clinch position.
A punch combination from Wilson misses.
Wilson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jah makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wilson throws a lazy right hand but Jah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Wilson backs off Jah throws a huge counter combo but Wilson manages to avoid it all.
Wilson just misses with a punch to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Jah misses.
Wilson misses with a leg kick
and Jah counters with a nice body kick.

Wilson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jah quickly recovers to half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jah manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Wilson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jah misses with a body punch.
Wilson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Wilson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jah pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Wilson looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jah trying to land knees to the body.
Jah lands a knee to the body.

Jah breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Wilson misses.
Slade Wilson is winning the standup battle so far.
Wilson misses with a hook. Jah ducked under it nicely.
Wilson loads up on a big right hand but Jah slips the punch.
Jah tries to counter by closing the distance.
Wilson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jah counters with a thumping low kick.
Wilson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jah moves away.
A low kick from Wilson misses
and Jah counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Wilson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jah makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Soul Jah will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Wilson tries a head kick but it misses.
Wilson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jah keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jah blocks a head kick by Wilson.
Good shot there by Wilson.
Wilson throws the left hand but Jah avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wilson.
Wilson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jah sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wilson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jah is trying to counter with his kicks.
Wilson throws a leg kick but Jah checks it.
Wilson misses with a series of wild punches.
Jah tries to counter by closing the distance.
Wilson misses with a combination
and Jah cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wilson throws a series of punches but Jah moves out of range.
Jah throws a fast counter high kick but Wilson manages to duck under it in time.
Wilson throws a head kick that misses.
Wilson moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromJah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilson with a hook.
Wilson throws a lazy head kick
and Jah counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Wilson has his takedown stuffed
and Jah counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slade Wilson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jah moves away from the strike by Wilson.
Wilson throws a leg kick
and Jah counters with a leg kick.
Wilson throws a lazy head kick
and Jah counters with a good, hard body kick but Wilson shrugs it off.
Wilson misses with an uppercut
and Jah counters with an outside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Despite the aggression on Jah's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Jah stuffs the takedown.
Jah shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jah ducks under a wild hook from Wilson.
Wilson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jah feints a counter leg kick.
Jah avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jah appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A head kick by Wilson misses
and Wilson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wilson misses with an uppercut. Jah saw that one coming.
Wilson shoots for a takedown but Jah saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wilson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jah counters with a good, hard body kick but Wilson shrugs it off.
Wilson shoots in for a double leg but Jah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jah tries a quick counter leg kick but Wilson is wise to it.
Wilson throws a sloppy head kick
and Jah makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Jah counters with a nice kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Wilson.
Wilson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wilson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Jah counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wilson throws a leg kick but Jah sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Jah only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Wilson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jah manages to avoid it.
Jah steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilson.
Jah is looking for the big counter here.
Wilson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Jah counters with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Soul Jah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jah 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Soul Jah!
After winning the bout, Soul Jah thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.