PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mats Söderlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corwin Anstey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Söderlund
vs
Anstey

185 cm
32
181 lbs
31 - 17 - 0

175 cm
37
178 lbs
31 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mats Söderlund!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Corwin Anstey!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Söderlund misses its intended target.
A left and a right from Söderlund both land. Nice combination.
Söderlund takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Anstey takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Anstey lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Mats Söderlund has been cut.
Söderlund misses with a wild combination.
Söderlund throws a head kick that Anstey semi-blocks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anstey ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Anstey cracks Söderlund with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Söderlund throws an overhand right that lands on Anstey's shoulder, as Anstey tries to avoid the shot.
Anstey steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Söderlund.
Anstey raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A low kick from Söderlund misses
and Anstey cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Söderlund.
Söderlund tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anstey was well out of range. Poor timing from Söderlund.
Söderlund misses with a two punch combination.
Anstey ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
A countering left hand to the body from Anstey misses.
Mats Söderlund is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Söderlund checks a low kick from Anstey.

Anstey shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anstey working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Söderlund's head.
Anstey trying to control but Söderlund is working from the bottom.
Anstey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Anstey with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anstey postures up.
Anstey passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund is trying to improve his position.
Söderlund taking a bit of punishment here - Anstey scoring with strikes.
Söderlund is not content to let Anstey control the position.
Söderlund gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Anstey not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anstey thows a huge punch but Söderlund dodges it nicely.
Anstey working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Anstey.
Anstey 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.
Ground and pound from Anstey.
Anstey takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Söderlund is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Söderlund keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Anstey seems to be working for a kimura but Söderlund defends the submission attempt.
Anstey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Söderlund's head.
Söderlund keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Anstey missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund is trying to get back to full guard.
Söderlund keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Anstey lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Anstey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Söderlund defending well though.
Söderlund wants to improve his position but Anstey is controlling well.
Anstey throwing shots but Söderlund is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Anstey there.
Söderlund is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corwin Anstey dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mats Söderlund's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Söderlund misses with a jab to the body
and Anstey counters with a one-two to the body.
Söderlund connects with a leg kick. Anstey looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Anstey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Söderlund pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Söderlund is looking to chop away at Anstey's legs.
Anstey looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Söderlund lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Söderlund lunges at Anstey with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Anstey's hand.
Anstey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Söderlund misses with a kick to the body.
Söderlund lands a head kick. Anstey smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Söderlund connects with a body shot that sends Anstey's belly button to the back.
Mats Söderlund is winning the standup battle so far.
Söderlund throws a front kick aimed at Anstey's knee but Anstey avoids it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A low kick from Söderlund is predictable there
and Söderlund takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Söderlund connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Anstey's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Söderlund does no damage.
Anstey flicks out a counter leg kick but Söderlund steps away.
Söderlund throws a leg kick that misses.
A low kick from Söderlund is predictable there
and Anstey cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Söderlund misses with a body kick.
Söderlund throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Anstey counters with a straight right hand.
Söderlund lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Anstey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Anstey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Söderlund uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Anstey.
Anstey throws a head kick that misses.
Söderlund lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Anstey tries to close the distance and clinch but Söderlund swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Söderlund moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Söderlund throws a hook but Anstey avoids it easily.
Söderlund lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Söderlund misses with a double jab
and Anstey counters with a stiff right hand.
Söderlund bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Söderlund throws a leg kick
and Anstey connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Söderlund motions for Anstey to come forward. Söderlund throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Söderlund throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Anstey lands with a nice body kick.
Söderlund throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Anstey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Söderlund was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstey throws a head kick but Söderlund moves out of range.
Söderlund just misses with a punch to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Anstey.
Söderlund misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Anstey.
Söderlund just misses with a punch to the body.
Anstey feints and then cracks Söderlund's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Söderlund down.
Söderlund scores with a punch to the head.
Söderlund stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Söderlund wants it to stay on the feet.
Söderlund scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Söderlund lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Söderlund fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Anstey manages to avoid it.
A low kick from Söderlund is predictable there

and Anstey counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Söderlund!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Söderlund is not content to let Anstey control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund gets back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Anstey.
Corwin Anstey has got the better of the ground game so far.
Anstey is thwarting Söderlund's attempts to control the position.
Anstey thows a huge punch but Söderlund dodges it nicely.
Anstey is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Anstey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mats Söderlund will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mats Söderlund's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Anstey throws a head kick that misses.
Anstey takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Söderlund takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Anstey ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Söderlund scores with a sloppy right hand. Anstey should have avoided that one.
Anstey on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Anstey takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Anstey is looking to clinch.
A low kick from Anstey misses
and Söderlund counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Söderlund misses with a leg kick
and Anstey counters with a solid body kick.
A big left from Söderlund misses.
Söderlund swings for the body but Anstey moves out of range.
Söderlund looks to land a combination. Anstey sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anstey throws a head kick that misses.
Söderlund blocks a jab.
Anstey lands a leg kick that knocks Söderlund off balance momentarily.
Mats Söderlund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anstey throws a looping overhand right but Söderlund ducks down to avoid it.

Anstey closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Anstey on the inside.
Anstey drops down looking for an ankle pick but Söderlund pulls his leg out and moves away.
Söderlund cracks Anstey with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Söderlund scores with a kick to the body.
It looks like Söderlund has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Söderlund misses with a few strikes there.
Söderlund wants to slow Anstey down by chopping away at his legs.
Anstey feints a counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Söderlund misses
and Anstey finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Anstey tries a head kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Söderlund on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Anstey walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Söderlund checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Söderlund seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Söderlund throws a solid leg kick but Anstey takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Söderlund.
Söderlund misses with a straight right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anstey takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Söderlund takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Söderlund is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Söderlund keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Söderlund attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Anstey takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Söderlund.
A shot to the body from Söderlund misses
and Anstey counters with a left to the body.
Anstey works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Anstey gets a takedown into half guard.

Anstey is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Söderlund defends it well.
Söderlund wants to control but Anstey is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Anstey is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Söderlund is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anstey throwing shots but Söderlund is blocking nicely.
Anstey landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Söderlund tries to roll over but Anstey keeps him under control.
Anstey wants to take a breather but Söderlund is having none of it.
Anstey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Söderlund wants to improve his position but Anstey is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Corwin Anstey just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Mats Söderlund's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Anstey throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
No luck for Anstey with that takedown attempt.
Söderlund scores with a jab.
Söderlund scores with a sloppy right hand. Anstey should have avoided that one.
Anstey has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Söderlund.
Söderlund displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Anstey.
A counter left hand to the body from Söderlund misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Söderlund dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Anstey. That did some damage!
Söderlund throws an overhand right that lands on Anstey's shoulder, as Anstey tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund misses with an uppercut
and Anstey counters with a left to the body.
Söderlund misses with an uppercut. Anstey saw that one coming.
Anstey looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Anstey shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Söderlund manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Anstey in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anstey trying to control the position from guard on top but Söderlund is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anstey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Söderlund's head.
Söderlund wants to sweep here but Anstey controlling him for the moment.
Anstey working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Anstey scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anstey trying to control but Söderlund is working from the bottom.

Söderlund throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Anstey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Söderlund tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Anstey is looking to work some ground and pound but Söderlund has wrist control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Anstey landing some decent shots from guard.
Anstey lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund keeping moving, preventing Anstey from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anstey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anstey preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Söderlund swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Söderlund bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Anstey scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Anstey scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Söderlund misses with a right hand
and Anstey counters with a nice uppercut.
A leg kick checked by Anstey.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anstey scores with a decent looking hook.
Söderlund keeps the fight on the outside.
Anstey on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Söderlund throws the kick towards the body but Anstey avoids it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Söderlund, as that shot connected.
Anstey checks a low kick from Söderlund.
Söderlund misses with a low kick.
Söderlund scores with a jab to the jaw.
Anstey waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Söderlund.
Söderlund thinks about countering with a body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anstey slips a straight right by Söderlund.
Anstey swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Anstey throws a shot from downtown. Söderlund moves away and avoids it.
Anstey with a poor takedown
and Söderlund cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mats Söderlund will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mats Söderlund's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Anstey swings for the body but Söderlund moves out of range.
Anstey catches Söderlund with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Anstey takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Söderlund misses with a hook to the body
and Söderlund takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Anstey throws a hook but Söderlund avoids it easily.

Anstey rushes Söderlund and presses him up against the cage.
Söderlund digs a right hand underneath Anstey's ribcage. Anstey let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Anstey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Söderlund misses with a right hand
and Anstey counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anstey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Anstey moves out of range as Söderlund strikes.
Söderlund tries to score with a low kick but Anstey moves his leg out of the way.
Söderlund misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Anstey. Anstey obviously looking to wear him down.
Anstey shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Söderlund eats them both and turns towards Anstey to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Anstey uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Söderlund.
Anstey cracks Söderlund with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Söderlund lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Anstey at a distance.
Söderlund is looking to chop away at Anstey's legs.
Anstey checks a low kick from Söderlund.
Söderlund scores with a jab to the head.
Anstey ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Anstey lands an overhand right.
Söderlund cracks the inside of Anstey's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anstey scores with a jab. Söderlund acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Söderlund swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Anstey.
A clash of legs there as Anstey blocks the low kick.
Anstey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anstey ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Söderlund throws a leg kick that is checked
and Anstey counters with a straight right hand.

Mats Söderlund's cut is getting worse.
Anstey lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Anstey on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Söderlund takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Anstey pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund misses with a head kick.
Söderlund tries to land a front kick but Anstey steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Söderlund misses with a right hand
and Anstey counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Anstey closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Söderlund is looking for a sweep.
Anstey cracks Söderlund with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Anstey trying to control the position but Söderlund is working away.
Söderlund takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Söderlund is trying to work for a sweep but Anstey has mounted him!
Söderlund regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anstey perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ground and pound from Anstey.
Söderlund is looking to get back to full guard here but Anstey has managed to pass to side control instead.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Anstey goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Söderlund rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Anstey's guard! Nice work there by Söderlund!
Anstey looking for a sweep. Not yet Anstey, not yet.

Söderlund is sitting in close to Anstey's body. Anstey has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Söderlund is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Söderlund is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Anstey.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Corwin Anstey!
Corwin Anstey is the new welterweight champion!
Corwin Anstey decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.