PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Soto (ranked 23903 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lartem Obov (ranked 3871 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soto
vs
Obov

154 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rashad Soto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lartem Obov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obov connects with a high kick.
Obov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Soto appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Obov thows a left - swing and a miss!

Obov moves into range and clinches up with Soto.
Obov stalling against the cage.
Soto pressing his opponent against the cage.
Soto tries to circle away but Obov has him pinned against the cage.
Obov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto tries to score a body lock takedown but Obov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Obov jumps into guard, dragging Soto to the mat.
Obov is adopting a defensive guard.

Obov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obov trying to control the position.
Soto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Obov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Soto defends well.
Soto throws a big right hand that misses.
Soto with a nice head shot there.
Soto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soto trying to control but Obov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Obov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Obov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soto throws a big right hand that misses.

Obov looking for a guillotine here but Soto defends easily.
Obov controls Soto momentarily but Soto frees himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Obov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Obov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Soto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Soto throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Obov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Soto's head.
Soto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Obov.
Obov looks to land a left hand but Soto moved out of range nicely.
Soto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Obov to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Obov!
Soto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice shot by Obov.

Soto gets tackled into the cage by Obov. Obov maintains the clinch.
Soto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Obov has him pressed against the cage.
Obov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Obov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Soto blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Obov is keeping busy.
Obov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lartem Obov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Obov rushes Soto and presses him up against the cage.
Obov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Soto smiles and moves away.
Nice shot by Obov.
Obov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soto was well out of range. Poor timing from Obov.
Soto feinted with a counter takedown.

Obov drives through and clinches with Soto against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto wants a takedown.

Obov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Obov throws a head kick that misses.
Rashad Soto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Obov throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Obov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Soto sprawls well initially but Obov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Soto is looking to get back to is feet but Obov passes into side control.
Obov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Obov landing a few strikes.
Soto is trying to control Obov's posture but Obov avoids it.
Soto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Obov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Obov taking a break here but Soto is having none of it and regains half guard.
Obov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obov wants to work for an arm triangle but Soto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lartem Obov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soto is trying to get back to full guard.
Obov is trying to control. Soto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Soto is trying to control but can't.

Obov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Soto has managed to free his arm - good work.

Obov is working for a submission of some sort.
Obov is breathing heavily.
Soto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Obov is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obov drops an elbow to the side of Soto's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soto wants to get back to full guard.
Obov throwing shots but Soto is blocking nicely.
Soto is looking to escape.
Obov working over Soto with some ground and pound. Soto looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Obov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Obov is pressing down on Soto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Soto is holding on for now.
Obov slips a nice elbow through Soto's hands, connecting with Soto's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Obov is working away from the top position though.

Obov seems to be working for a kimura but Soto defends the submission attempt.
Soto is staying active underneath Obov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Obov is trying to work for a kimura but Soto is defending well.
Obov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Soto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice strikes from Obov there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lartem Obov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Obov throws a head kick that misses
and Soto counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Lartem Obov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Obov.

Soto tries to keep at a distance but Obov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Soto lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Soto tries to circle away but Obov has him pinned against the cage.
Soto is working for takedown but Obov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Soto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Obov looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto tries to break free but Obov pushes him back against the cage.

Obov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Obov misses with a double jab.
Soto tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Obov manages to circle out of the way.
Obov throws a body shot but no joy.
Obov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Soto in his tracks.
Obov throws a sloppy head kick and Soto moves out of range easily.
Soto tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Obov manages to circle out of the way.
Obov misses with a shot to the body
and Soto counters with a left to the body.
Obov lands with a straight right. Soto didn't see that one coming.

Obov pushes Soto up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Soto wants a takedown but no success here.
Soto tries to break the clinch but Obov is controlling the position.
Soto lands a body punch.
Soto could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Soto tries to score a body lock takedown but Obov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Soto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soto leaning his opponent against the cage.
Soto wants to stall.
Lartem Obov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Obov.
Obov lands a good knee to the midsection. Soto won't want to take too many of those.
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!
Soto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Obov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Soto's defenses.
Soto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Obov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soto is looking to break free of the clinch but Obov has double underhooks.
Obov looking to throw knees to the head but Soto is blocking nicely.
Obov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Obov gets through Soto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Obov lands a takedown into guard.
Obov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Obov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Obov trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soto trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obov stays in close to Soto's body and controls the position.
Lartem Obov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Obov trying to control the position from guard on top but Soto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Obov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Soto wants to sweep here but Obov controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Obov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soto is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lartem Obov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Obov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lartem Obov!