PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Kolari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kawee Somchai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Somchai has chosen Hell's Bells as his entrance music. Kawee Somchai will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kolari
vs
Somchai

173 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Kolari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kawee Somchai!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Somchai blocks the low kick.
Somchai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kolari is fending him off so far but Somchai persists. Nope, Kolari circles away and we're back to standing.
Kolari throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Somchai's head.

It looks like Kawee Somchai has been cut.
Somchai lands with a kick to the temple. Kolari shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Sami Kolari has been cut.
Kolari swats away the attempt to clinch by Somchai.
Kolari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kolari circles away from the clinch attempt.

Somchai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Kolari is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kolari looking to hit a scissor sweep but Somchai is one step ahead there.
Somchai wants to control from the top but Kolari keeps moving.
Kolari controls Somchai momentarily but Somchai frees himself.
Somchai trying to control but Kolari is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somchai looking to pass the guard.
Kolari throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Somchai wants to control from the top but Kolari keeps moving.
Kolari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kolari pivots, looking for a leg kick but Somchai is out of range and Kolari settles back down.
Somchai moves in looking to clinch but Kolari pushes him off.
Kolari misses with a leg kick.

Somchai instigates a clinch.
Kolari gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Somchai.
Somchai will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kolari up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kolari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Maybe Kolari would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

Somchai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
An inside leg kick from Kolari misses.
Kolari lands a head kick!
Kolari throws a hook but Somchai blocks it.
Somchai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kolari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kolari connects with a solid leg kick.
Somchai looks gassed!
Kolari turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kolari.
Kolari throws an overhand right that lands on Somchai's shoulder, as Somchai tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Kolari.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kolari.
Kolari scores with a leg kick.
Kolari goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That has opened up Kawee Somchai's cut even more.
Kolari tries a head kick but it misses.
Kolari throws a lazy head kick

and Somchai holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kolari is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kolari wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kolari tries to stall but Somchai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Somchai is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sami Kolari.
Kolari lands with a kick to the temple. Somchai shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kolari thumps Somchai with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolari tries a head kick but it misses.
Kolari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kolari tries to land a front kick but Somchai steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kolari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kolari buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Somchai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kolari is fending him off so far but Somchai persists. Nope, Kolari circles away and we're back to standing.
Sami Kolari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kawee Somchai.
Kolari misses with a head kick.
Kolari throws a head kick but Somchai moves out of range.
Kolari thuds his shin into the meat of Somchai's side.
Kolari throws a head kick that Somchai semi-blocks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kolari throws a leg kick but Somchai sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kolari misses with an attempted mid kick.
Somchai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kolari. Kolari obviously looking to wear him down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Kolari dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Somchai swats away the attempt to clinch by Kolari.
Somchai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kolari.
Kolari throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kolari attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Somchai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kolari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Somchai tries to clinch up.

Somchai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Somchai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Somchai moves in looking to clinch but Kolari pushes him off.
Somchai is breathing heavily.
Kolari scoring well with a low kick there.
Good exchange - Kolari coming out on top.
Kolari throws a head kick but Somchai moves out of range.
Kolari tries to land a leg kick but Somchai saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somchai doesn't manage to clinch there - Kolari circles away.
Somchai chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kolari can pounce on him.
Somchai misses with a few strikes there.
Kolari misses with a leg kick.
Somchai blocks a leg kick.
Sami Kolari is winning the standup battle so far.
Kolari throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kolari misses with a low kick.
Somchai swats away the attempt to clinch by Kolari.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kolari throws a leg kick which misses Somchai's front leg but catches the back leg as Somchai tries to avoid it.
Kolari feints and then cracks Somchai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Somchai down.
Kolari scoring well with a low kick there.
Somchai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kawee Somchai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kolari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Somchai misses

and Kolari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kolari slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kolari advances to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kolari lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kolari wants to pass the guard but Somchai is defending well.
Kolari sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Somchai defending well though.
Kolari passes to full mount!
Kolari controlling the position easily from mount.
A nice elbow there by Kolari.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolari looking to control but Somchai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kolari controlling from the full mount.
Kolari with a couple of short strikes.
Somchai is in a horrible position here. Kolari smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kolari looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kolari wants to finish this one by submission but Somchai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kolari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolari wants to control the pace but Somchai is squirming around nicely.
Somchai is trying to escape the mount.

Kolari wants to finish this one by submission but Somchai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kolari.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Somchai is looking to get to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Kolari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Kolari dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kolari throws a leg kick but Somchai checks it.
Somchai wants to clinch up but Kolari keeps it at a distance.
Kolari throws a sloppy head kick and Somchai moves out of range easily.
Somchai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Somchai looks to land a combination but Kolari avoids it well.
Kolari circles away from the clinch attempt.
Somchai tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sami Kolari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Somchai tries to score with a low kick but Kolari moves his leg out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Somchai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kolari tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Somchai is able to avoid easily.
Somchai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kolari lands a nice leg kick that just misses Somchai's sensitive parts.
Kolari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolari is looking to slow Somchai down with leg kicks.
Kolari tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick from Kolari lands but Somchai takes it in his stride.

Kolari looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Somchai!
Kolari with shots to the head and body - Somchai looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kolari landing shots from mount.
Kolari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Somchai can do to turn this around?

Kolari looking to secure an arm triangle but Somchai defends it well.
Kolari controlling his opponent.
Somchai tries to hold on but Kolari postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolari scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Somchai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kolari looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kolari looking to control but Somchai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
BOOM! Kolari connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Somchai is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kolari putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kolari lands a big elbow.
Kolari tries to control but Somchai wriggling away.
Kolari has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somchai wants to control but Kolari is having none of it.
Somchai tries to reverse the position but Kolari maintains control.
Kolari lands a nice shot to the head.
Kolari lands a nice shot to the head.
Kolari with good strikes from the mount here!
Kolari landing shots from mount.
Sami Kolari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kolari tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolari can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Somchai is looking to escape.
Kawee Somchai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kolari controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Kolari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kolari, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Kolari!