PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Haily (ranked 3396 p4p, 324 weight class) and Simo Solmu (ranked 5790 p4p, 461 weight class). The key to victory for Paul Haily has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Haily
vs
Solmu

179 cm
25
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Haily!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simo Solmu!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solmu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Haily to the mat! Haily manages to get full guard.
Solmu sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Solmu trying to control the position from guard on top but Haily is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solmu might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Haily haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Solmu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solmu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Solmu looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice jab there from Haily.

Solmu gets a double leg takedown into Haily's guard.
Solmu sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Solmu has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Solmu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Haily stops Solmu from passing to mount.
Solmu controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solmu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haily keeps working.
A lull in the action here.
More stalling from Solmu.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Solmu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Haily, who protects the arm well.

That's four 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.
Solmu taking a breather here.
Haily on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
We've been informed that Solmu has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Solmu trying to control the position but Haily is working away.
Solmu staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Solmu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Solmu lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Solmu misses with a takedown attempt - Haily sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Solmu tries for a takedown but Haily sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Haily closes the distance and pushes Solmu back into the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Haily.
Still in the clinch, Haily scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haily goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haily goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haily lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Haily fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haily misses with a short punch on the inside.
Haily working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Solmu is looking for a takedown.
Paul Haily has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simo Solmu.
Haily tries to throw a body punch but Solmu avoids it by throwing Haily back against the cage.
Solmu tries to pull guard but Haily forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Solmu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Haily prevents it.
Haily on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haily working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Haily lands a hook to the side of the head.
Haily tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Solmu's elbow.
Haily lands a hook that snaps the head of Solmu backwards.
Haily working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Haily tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Solmu's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solmu blocks an uppercut.
Haily working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

It looks like Simo Solmu has been cut.
Haily lands a body shot in the clinch.
Solmu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Haily smiles and moves away.
We've been told by Haily's head coaches at LOD-Guts & Glory Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
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!

Haily gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Haily tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Solmu's elbow.
Haily lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Haily goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Haily works on Solmu's body with a couple of short punches.
Haily scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haily lands a body punch.
Haily is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Solmu can do to turn this around?
Haily lands a nice uppercut.
Haily misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Haily.
A short uppercut from Haily.
A right hook to the body lands for Haily.
Solmu is trying to push Haily away but Haily has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Haily creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Haily gets through Solmu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Haily pushes Solmu back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Haily lands a left hand.

Solmu is rocked!
A short left from Haily.
Solmu is still on wobbly legs! Can Haily finish him?
Haily softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Haily lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Solmu backwards.
Haily working aggressively here.
Solmu seems to have recovered his senses.
Haily lands a left hand that snaps the head of Solmu backwards.
Haily struggles to land a body shot inside as Solmu controls his hands.
Haily lands a nice shot to the body.

Haily has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Solmu regains guard immediately.
Solmu is trying to keep Haily in close.

Solmu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Solmu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Haily dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Simo Solmu's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Haily gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Solmu is trying to pull guard but Haily has him pressed against the cage.
Solmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Haily.
Haily lands with a light punch inside.
Haily misses with a short punch on the inside.

Solmu gets control of Haily's arms and successfully pulls guard. Solmu will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Solmu is trying to control the position but Haily postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Solmu has his foot on Haily's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Haily works his way back into a safe position though.

Solmu working for a triangle but Haily defends it easily.
Solmu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solmu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Solmu.
Haily won't allow Solmu to pass to mount.
Solmu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Solmu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Haily is just riding it out for now. Solmu eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Solmu is looking to take a break and control but Haily is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Haily on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Haily tries to get out of the position.

Solmu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Solmu is thwarting Haily's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solmu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Solmu passes to full mount!
Solmu controlling from mount.
Haily working to try and regain half guard.

Solmu is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Haily is surviving well by controlling Solmu's body position as best he can.
Haily knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Solmu on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solmu wants to control the pace but Haily is squirming around nicely.
Solmu looking to finish with strikes here!

Solmu goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Haily is on top in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haily postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simo Solmu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Solmu 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!