PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Sotto Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lu Hao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sotto Jr
vs
Hao

176 cm
38
146 lbs
25 - 26 - 2

172 cm
31
148 lbs
14 - 13 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 25 - 26 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Umberto Sotto Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lu Hao!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sotto Jr lands a leg kick that knocks Hao off balance momentarily.
Hao misses with a wild body shot.
Sotto Jr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hao throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sotto Jr is looking to counter with a body kick.
Hao connects with the punch.
Sotto Jr lands a head kick. Hao smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nice body punch from Hao.
Hao keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sotto Jr takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A jab from Hao finds it's way through Sotto Jr's defenses.
Sotto Jr misses with a hook. Hao ducked under it nicely.
Hao lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sotto Jr.
Hao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sotto Jr takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Hao shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hao's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sotto Jr is trying to control the position but Hao postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotto Jr seems keen to control Hao's posture.
Hao tries to free his leg and advance position but Sotto Jr is retaining full guard.
Sotto Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
Hao in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sotto Jr is pulling down on Hao's head. It's preventing any offense from Hao, at least for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sotto Jr misses with a two punch combination.
Sotto Jr throws a body kick that misses.
Sotto Jr tries to move into range but Hao moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sotto Jr scores with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Sotto Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hao connects with a solid leg kick.
Sotto Jr has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Umberto Sotto Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sotto Jr throws a head kick that Hao semi-blocks.
Sotto Jr takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hao throws a shot from downtown. Sotto Jr moves away and avoids it.
Hao looks to land a left hand but Sotto Jr moved out of range nicely.
Hao uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sotto Jr.
Sotto Jr misses with a body kick.
Sotto Jr takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hao throws a hook but Sotto Jr avoids it easily.
A combination from Hao does no damage.
Hao scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sotto Jr throws a lazy right hand but Hao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sotto Jr lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hao listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hao lands a nice looking body shot.
Hao lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sotto Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hao.
Hao swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hao looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hao misses with a body shot.
Hao moves out of range of the body kick.
Sotto Jr will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Good exchange - Hao coming out on top.
Hao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sotto Jr.
Hao takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hao lands a head shot.
Hao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sotto Jr throws a head kick that misses.

Hao shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sotto Jr keeping full guard, as Hao tries to pass.
Sotto Jr is trying to keep Hao in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hao controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hao wants to control from the top but Sotto Jr keeps moving.

Sotto Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sotto Jr keeping full guard, as Hao tries to pass.
Hao trying to control but Sotto Jr is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lu Hao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A swing and a miss from Sotto Jr.
Hao with the counter takedown but Sotto Jr avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hao. Sotto Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hao throws a hook but Sotto Jr avoids it easily.
Sotto Jr will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hao scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sotto Jr thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hao takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hao with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sotto Jr throws a head kick but Hao moves out of range.
Sotto Jr lands with an uppercut that bounces Hao off the cage and back into range.
Hao misses the body punch
and Sotto Jr finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Hao 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sotto Jr throws a hook to the side of Hao's head but Hao sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Umberto Sotto Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sotto Jr buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hao lands a right hook to the body.
Hao on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sotto Jr. Sotto Jr obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hao lands with a hook. Sotto Jr tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sotto Jr has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Sotto Jr lands with a straight right. Hao didn't see that one coming.

Hao fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sotto Jr sprawls well initially but Hao persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sotto Jr tries to get to full guard but Hao has control of the leg.

Hao is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sotto Jr is just riding it out for now. Hao eventually gives up the hold.
Hao trying to control the action but Sotto Jr is working from the bottom.
Hao with the ground and pound but Sotto Jr uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hao wants to pass the guard but Sotto Jr is keeping the position.
Hao is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sotto Jr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hao trying to control the position from guard on top but Sotto Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hao is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sotto Jr is trying to keep Hao in close.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hao slips a straight right by Sotto Jr.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hao! But no joy.
Sotto Jr swings for the body but Hao moves out of range.
Sotto Jr walks into a jab.
Sotto Jr attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hao fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sotto Jr blocks the body kick.
Sotto Jr throws a body punch but Hao moves out of range.
Sotto Jr lands the left hand.
A jab from Sotto Jr misses.
Sotto Jr lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hao takes a swing at Sotto Jr's ribcage but misses.
Hao lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sotto Jr ducks under a wild hook from Hao.
Umberto Sotto Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sotto Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotto Jr throws an overhand right that lands on Hao's shoulder, as Hao tries to avoid the shot.
Nice defenses there by Hao.
Hao changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hao avoids the body shot from Sotto Jr.
Hao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sotto Jr manages to avoid it.
Hao lands a jab to the nose.
Sotto Jr connects with a right hand. Hao shakes it off.
Sotto Jr looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A bone on bone clash there as Sotto Jr blocks the leg kick.
Sotto Jr takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A punch lands to the side of Sotto Jr 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hao changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hao blocks a low kick nicely.
Hao throws out a counter right but Sotto Jr avoids it with no problem.
Sotto Jr takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sotto Jr tests Hao's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab from Hao misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lu Hao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hao stuns Sotto Jr with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sotto Jr scores with a spinning back kick!
Hao bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sotto Jr's head.

Sotto Jr is rocked!
Hao ducks down into range and throws a picture perfect right hook that connects with Sotto Jr's jaw. Sotto Jr's eyes stare off into space as he falls to the mat, out cold! Hao does the decent thing and steps back, rather than landing any shots to his unconscious opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Lu Hao!
Lu Hao was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.