PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksi Takala (ranked 6500 p4p, 176 weight class) and Ewart Soso (ranked 4125 p4p, 118 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Takala
vs
Soso

181 cm
20
224 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

192 cm
25
204 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksi Takala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ewart Soso!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Soso.
Soso is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Takala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takala throws a series of strikes that have Soso backpedaling.

It looks like Ewart Soso has been cut.
Left hook, right uppercut from Takala.

Soso darts in and clinches Takala up against the cage.

Soso jumps guard.
Soso trying to keep a closed guard but Takala is proving a slippery customer.
Takala is looking to stand up but Soso won't let him.
Takala is fighting to break Soso's control of his arms but Soso is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soso's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Takala is looking to stand up but Soso won't let him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Takala, as that shot connected.
Soso takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A telegraphed right hand from Takala misses the target.
Soso is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Takala lands a slapping body shot.

Soso clinches up with Takala and pushes him back against the cage.

Soso breaks from the clinch.
Soso has his takedown stuffed
and Takala counters with a stiff right hand.
Takala throws a big shot that misses.
Soso dives in for a single leg takedown but Takala sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Aleksi Takala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ewart Soso.
Takala works over Soso's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala scores with a sloppy right hand. Soso should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takala works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Aleksi Takala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soso ducks right into an uppercut from Takala.

Soso pushes Takala up against the cage in a clinch.
Soso jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Takala walks away with a smile on his face. Soso gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Soso takes the fight into the clinch.
Takala looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Takala lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Takala misses with a hook from the clinch.
Soso effectively controlling the action here.
Takala is pressed up against the cage. Soso has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Takala down to the mat. Takala avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Takala uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Soso has time to react.
Takala misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takala darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala fails with an attempt to clinch.

Soso moves into range and clinches up with Takala.
Takala misses with some punches.
Takala is trying to stall.

Soso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takala jabs Soso right on the nose. Soso blinks but takes it well.

Soso closes the distance and pushes Takala back into the cage.

Soso manages to break the clinch.
Takala lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soso circles away quickly and effectively.
Takala connects with a right hand. Soso shakes it off.
Takala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takala misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soso.
A nice side step and Soso releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Takala throws out a powerful jab.
Nice body punch from Takala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takala.
Takala tries to clinch

so Soso counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takala is keeping the position for now.
Takala working a defensive guard here.
Soso not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Soso stands up and waves to Takala to follow him.

Soso pushes Takala up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksi Takala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ewart Soso's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Takala scores with the left hand. Soso knows he should have avoided that one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Takala is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Soso wants a takedown.
Soso wants a takedown but no success here.
Aleksi Takala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ewart Soso.

Soso pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Soso rushes Takala and presses him up against the cage.
Soso jumps guard but Takala stands there with Soso around his waist. Soso gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Takala lands with a left to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Soso.
Takala trying to control the position but instead, Soso has worked for underhooks and has pushed Takala into the cage.
Soso jumps guard but Takala turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soso jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Takala walks away with a smile on his face. Soso gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Takala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soso can do to turn this around?
Takala misses with the combination.
Soso swats away the attempt to clinch by Takala.
A countering left hand to the body from Soso misses.
Soso shoots in and drives through. Takala sprawls well.

Takala gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Soso is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Takala to keep the fight standing.
Takala throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sosos head.
Soso is breathing heavily.
Takala stalling in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Takala.
Soso can't get the takedown.
Takala prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soso throws an elbow that misses.
Takala misses with some punches.
Soso tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Soso blocks an uppercut.
Soso jumps guard but Takala stands there with Soso around his waist. Soso gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Takala tries to throw a body punch but Soso avoids it by throwing Takala back against the cage.
Takala lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takala lands a right hand that snaps the head of Soso backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takala is trying to stall.
Takala looking to slow down the pace here.

Soso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takala stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takala wants it to stay on the feet.
Takala appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takala connects with a looping right hand.
Takala tries to clinch up but Soso circles away and keeps his distance.
Aleksi Takala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soso takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Takala catches Soso with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Takala cracks Soso with a good jab.
A jab lands there for Takala.
Takala lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Takala.
Soso on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Soso closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Takala's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soso trying to control but Takala is working from the bottom.
Soso stops Takala from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soso trying to control the position from guard on top but Takala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soso is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Takala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Takala throws out a leg kick but Soso moves out of range and Takala only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksi Takala dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ewart Soso'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. This is the final round!

Soso shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takala but Takala pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Takala scores with a jab to the head.
Soso with a poor takedown
and Takala counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Soso thinking.
Soso shoots and misses
and Takala counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Soso thinking.
Aleksi Takala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ewart Soso.
Takala doesn't manage to clinch there - Soso circles away.
Takala thuds a left hand into Soso's body.
Takala throws a right and a left that Soso avoids nicely.
Takala ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takala with a hook.
Takala misses with a jab, cross combination.
Soso avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soso drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Takala defends it well.
Soso fails with a takedown attempt.
Soso takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soso gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Takala throws a good cross that connects.
Takala tests Soso's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Takala with a nice cross.
Takala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Takala lands a two punch combo.

That has opened up Ewart Soso's cut even more.

Soso forces Takala back against the cage and clinches.
Takala misses with the head strike.
Soso is trying to push Takala away but Takala has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Takala throws a punch but it's blocked by Soso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Soso's elbow.
Soso tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Soso is trying to pull guard but Takala has him pressed against the cage.
Takala lands with a right to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takala lands a right hand.
A head punch on the inside from Takala fails to land.
Soso drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takala pulls his leg out and moves away.
Takala tries to clinch up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takala darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Takala throws a low kick but Soso moves out of range easily.
Soso tries for a takedown but Takala sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Takala's corner calls for a 1-2. Takala obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Takala dances in with a quick combination. Soso is being worked over with jabs and crosses. Oooh, a right straight from Takala snaps Soso's head back. Soso stumbles backwards against the cage. Takala steps forward and delivers a right cross that connects with Soso's jaw, simultaneously knocking him out and sending his mouthpiece into the crowd! There's a worthy souvenir for the fans. This one is over folks. Soso just didn't come prepared.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Aleksi Takala!