PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Corwin Anstey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Söderlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Anstey
vs
Söderlund

175 cm
37
178 lbs
32 - 12 - 0

185 cm
32
181 lbs
31 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 32 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Corwin Anstey!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mats Söderlund!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Söderlund lands a nice shot to the body.
Anstey throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Anstey checks a leg kick nicely.
Anstey takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Söderlund tries to land a front kick but Anstey steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Söderlund scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Anstey displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Söderlund throws out the jab.
It looked like Anstey wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Anstey throws a combination that misses
enabling Söderlund to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Corwin Anstey has been cut.

Anstey gets a double leg takedown into Söderlund's guard.
Anstey wants to pass the guard but Söderlund is keeping the position.
Söderlund told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Söderlund tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Söderlund looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anstey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Anstey looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Anstey trying to control but Söderlund is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Anstey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anstey trying to control but Söderlund is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Anstey throws a sloppy head kick and Söderlund moves out of range easily.
Söderlund throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Söderlund.
Söderlund takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Anstey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anstey takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Anstey gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Söderlund.
Anstey avoids the body shot from Söderlund.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Söderlund lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Anstey has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Anstey and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Söderlund lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Söderlund connects with a leg kick. Anstey looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Anstey.
Anstey scores with a crisp jab that stopped Söderlund in his tracks.
Söderlund on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A big right from Anstey misses.
Söderlund throws a sloppy body shot
and Anstey counters with a nice low kick that buckles Söderlund's knee momentarily.
Söderlund throws a half hearted mid kick.
That kick from Anstey tenderised Söderlund's leg. Söderlund is trying to keep his angry face on.
Anstey takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Anstey on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Anstey shoots in for a takedown but Söderlund shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Söderlund throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Anstey on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anstey darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Söderlund tries to roll over but Anstey keeps him under control.
Söderlund works his way to full guard. Good work.
Söderlund seems keen to control Anstey's posture.
Anstey throws a strike but Söderlund rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Söderlund trying to control but Anstey is working from the bottom.
Anstey pulls Söderlund in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Söderlund dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Corwin Anstey's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Anstey tries for a takedown but Söderlund sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Anstey throws a poor cross that misses
and Söderlund counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Söderlund lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Söderlund's jab looks to have found its range, popping Anstey under the eye.

Anstey is rocked!
Anstey dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Anstey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Söderlund manages to avoid it.
Söderlund has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Söderlund pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Anstey throws a body punch but Söderlund moves out of range.
Söderlund just misses with a punch to the body.
Anstey appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anstey throws a shot from downtown. Söderlund moves away and avoids it.
Söderlund digs a good body shot into Anstey's ribs.
Söderlund looks to land a body kick but Anstey moved away.
Anstey appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anstey tries to score a power double leg takedown but Söderlund sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Anstey somewhat.
Anstey throws a leg kick that misses.
Anstey misses with a few strikes there.
It seemed like Söderlund was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Anstey has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Söderlund finds it's way round the side to connect with Anstey's head.
Anstey slips a straight right by Söderlund.

Anstey has Söderlund up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Söderlund lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Söderlund goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Söderlund throws a head punch that misses.
Anstey misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund cracks Anstey with a nice body shot.
Anstey lands a body shot in the clinch.
Anstey doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Söderlund working aggressively here.
Anstey lands a shot to the body.
Söderlund misses with a body punch.
Söderlund throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A shot in the inside from Söderlund.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right hook to the body lands for Söderlund.
A left hand lands to the body for Söderlund.
Anstey lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Söderlund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Anstey is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Söderlund is keeping busy.
Söderlund misses with a hook to the ribs.
Söderlund working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Anstey is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Anstey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Söderlund gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corwin Anstey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Söderlund scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstey tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Anstey misses with a hook to the ribs.

Söderlund breaks the clinch.
Anstey lands a leg kick that knocks Söderlund off balance momentarily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Söderlund checks a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Anstey.
Mats Söderlund is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Söderlund tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Söderlund misses with a head kick.

Anstey dives in and scores a takedown into Söderlund's guard.
Söderlund keeping moving, preventing Anstey from controlling successfully.
Anstey working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund is controlling Anstey's posture.
Anstey 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.
Söderlund looking for a sweep. Not yet Söderlund, not yet.

Anstey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Anstey wants to control from the top but Söderlund keeps moving.
Anstey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Anstey trying to control but Söderlund is working from the bottom.
Söderlund has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Söderlund holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Söderlund showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Corwin Anstey's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A lazy body kick from Anstey
and Söderlund counters with a thumping low kick.
Anstey on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Söderlund throws a push kick but Anstey slaps the foot to one side.
Anstey thows a body kick. Söderlund tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Söderlund looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Söderlund 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 uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Anstey.
Söderlund throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Söderlund finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Söderlund misses with a hook
and Anstey counters with a three punch combo that has Söderlund backing up. Söderlund nods at Anstey to acknowledge the strikes.
Söderlund misses with a right hand
and Anstey counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Mats Söderlund has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Söderlund misses
and Anstey counters with a slapping leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Anstey blocks the low kick.
Anstey was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
An inside leg kick lands from Anstey.
Söderlund lands a slapping body shot.
Anstey thows a leg kick but Söderlund checks it
and Söderlund cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Söderlund misses with a kick to the body
and Anstey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anstey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Söderlund throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Söderlund misses with a head kick.
Anstey appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Söderlund swings for the body but Anstey moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anstey blocks the body kick.
Anstey lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mats Söderlund seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Söderlund misses with a low kick.
Anstey shoots in but no luck this time.
Anstey cracks Söderlund with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Söderlund goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Anstey changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A leg kick checked by Söderlund.
Söderlund throws a leg kick that is checked
and Anstey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anstey lands a nice looking kick to the body. Söderlund takes a step back to recover.
The crowd cheers as Söderlund lands an impressive looking overhand right. Anstey doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Anstey.
Söderlund avoids the body shot from Anstey.
A slow jab from Söderlund misses its intended target.
Anstey throws a left and a right that both miss
and Söderlund counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Söderlund scores with a body shot.
Söderlund misses with a wild body shot.
Söderlund displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Anstey.
Anstey dives in and grabs Söderlund's left leg, looking for a takedown. Söderlund pushes down on Anstey's head and hops out.
Söderlund tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Corwin Anstey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anstey connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck for Anstey with that takedown attempt.
Anstey dives in for a single leg takedown but Söderlund sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Söderlund slaps away a takedown attempt from Anstey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Söderlund appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Anstey has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Söderlund finds it's way round the side to connect with Anstey's head.
Söderlund misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Söderlund ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Söderlund really dominated that 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!

Söderlund pushes Anstey up against the cage in a clinch.
Söderlund lands a hook to the side of the head.
Anstey is working for takedown but Söderlund is calmly controlling the position for now.
Anstey wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Söderlund misses with a punch to the body.
Anstey doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mats Söderlund seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Anstey.
Söderlund gets through Anstey's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Anstey lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Anstey is thwarting Söderlund's attempts to control the position.
Anstey throwing shots but Söderlund is blocking nicely.
Corwin Anstey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Anstey looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Söderlund is controlling Anstey's trapped leg to prevent Anstey from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund is not content to let Anstey control the position.
Anstey lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Söderlund is trying to maintain the position but Anstey is very close to passing his half guard.
Anstey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Söderlund keeps working.
Anstey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Söderlund is looking to improve his position.
Söderlund trying to control here.
Söderlund preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Anstey misses with a leg kick
and Söderlund counters with an inside leg kick.
Anstey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Söderlund swings for the body but Anstey moves out of range.
Anstey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anstey misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund lands with an uppercut that bounces Anstey off the cage and back into range.
Söderlund throws a right and a left that both miss.
Anstey scores with the left hand. Söderlund knows he should have avoided that one.
Söderlund misses with a body kick.
Söderlund feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ansteys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Söderlund looks to throw the jab but Anstey is out of range.
Söderlund throws a big shot that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Anstey lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Söderlund has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Söderlund and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Anstey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Söderlund misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anstey feints and then cracks Söderlund's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Söderlund down.
Anstey scores with a spinning back kick!
Söderlund thows a left - swing and a miss!
Anstey attempts a counter takedown but Söderlund avoids it well and moves away.
Söderlund throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Anstey is looking to counter with head kicks.
Söderlund uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Anstey.
A left lands for Anstey.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anstey throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Söderlund misses with an uppercut.
Anstey looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Söderlund misses with a body shot
and Anstey counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Mats Söderlund will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Söderlund moves out of range as Anstey throws a body kick.
Söderlund throws a body kick that misses

and Anstey decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Söderlund's guard.
Anstey won't allow Söderlund to sweep him here.
Anstey is looking to work some ground and pound but Söderlund has wrist control.
Anstey throws a big right hand that misses.
Söderlund is pulling down on Anstey's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anstey pushes down on Söderlund's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Anstey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Söderlund defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Anstey.
Anstey wants to free his trapped foot but Söderlund is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Anstey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Söderlund is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Anstey's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Anstey's back!
Anstey breaks Söderlund's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Anstey postures up.
Anstey with a nice head shot there.
Söderlund is pulling down on Anstey's head. It's preventing any offense from Anstey, at least for the moment.
Söderlund wants to sweep here but Anstey controlling him for the moment.
Mats Söderlund is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anstey looking to pass the guard.
Anstey passes Söderlund's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Anstey is thwarting Söderlund's attempts to control the position.
Anstey throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Corwin Anstey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Anstey is working for a kimura but Söderlund is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstey is trying to control. Söderlund wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Anstey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Söderlund defending well though.
Söderlund is looking for a sweep. Anstey is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Anstey trying to control from half guard but Söderlund is working away.
Söderlund controlling the position well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Anstey shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Söderlund napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Söderlund struggling a bit here.
Söderlund is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Anstey lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Söderlund dodges the ground and pound from Anstey.

And that's the end of the fight!
Corwin Anstey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Söderlund 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 47:48
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 46:49
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mats Söderlund!
Mats Söderlund is the new welterweight champion!
Mats Söderlund thanked the fans post fight for their support.