PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sauli Somelainen (ranked 3704 p4p, 4044 weight class) and Oscar Blaydes (ranked 440 p4p, 467 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Somelainen
vs
Blaydes

181 cm
24
160
2 - 3 - 0

171 cm
22
158
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

FF Gear

Altitude Clothing

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sauli Somelainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oscar Blaydes!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaydes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Somelainen.
Blaydes scores with the left hand. Somelainen knows he should have avoided that one.
Somelainen defending well as Blaydes loads up on a big left hand.
Blaydes fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Somelainen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sauli Somelainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Somelainen looks to land a left hand but Blaydes moved out of range nicely.
Somelainen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Blaydes.
Blaydes scoring well with a low kick there.
Blaydes misses with a straight left.
A solid body kick from Blaydes.
Somelainen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Somelainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Somelainen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Somelainen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blaydes's head.
Blaydes controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Blaydes gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes pulls Somelainen in to control the position.
Our spies down at at Ironside Fitness inform us that Blaydes has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Somelainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blaydes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Somelainen throwing strikes but missing.
Blaydes has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Blaydes wants to sweep but no luck.
Somelainen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Somelainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blaydes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Somelainen 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.
Somelainen throws a big right hand that misses.
Blaydes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes has his hands on Somelainen's head, controlling the position.
Blaydes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blaydes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Somelainen's coaches at FF Forever have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blaydes wants to work for an arm triangle but Somelainen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Somelainen is looking for a sweep. Blaydes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Somelainen actively working from the bottom here.
Ground and pound from Blaydes.
Somelainen is staying active underneath Blaydes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blaydes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Somelainen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Somelainen tries to roll over but Blaydes keeps him under control.
Blaydes tries to pass to full mount but Somelainen defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Somelainen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blaydes.
Somelainen is looking to get back to full guard here but Blaydes has managed to pass to side control instead.
Blaydes grinds an elbow into Somelainen's temple.
Somelainen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Somelainen works his way to full guard. Good work.

Somelainen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Blaydes wants to pass the guard but Somelainen is keeping the position.
Blaydes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Somelainen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen landing with the ground and pound.
Blaydes trying to control the position here.
Somelainen preventing the sweep.
Somelainen with a nice head shot there.
Somelainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaydes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Somelainen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Somelainen stopping the sweep attempt from Blaydes.
Somelainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Somelainen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Somelainen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sauli Somelainen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Blaydes buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Somelainen scores with a decent looking hook.
Somelainen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Blaydes connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Somelainen scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd cheers as Somelainen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Blaydes doesn't seem phased though.
Blaydes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Somelainen.
Blaydes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Good work by Somelainen as he checks the leg kick.
Blaydes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Somelainen misses with a two punch combination.
Somelainen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blaydes.
Somelainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Blaydes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Somelainen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Blaydes passes into side control.
Blaydes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Somelainen to see if he's OK.
Blaydes scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes scoring with punches from side control.
Somelainen is looking to reverse the position.
Oscar Blaydes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Somelainen is working hard here to advance position.
Somelainen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Somelainen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Blaydes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Blaydes wants to pass the guard but Somelainen is keeping the position.
Blaydes works over Somelainen with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes wants to control from the top but Somelainen keeps moving.
Somelainen working a defensive guard here.
Somelainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Somelainen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blaydes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Somelainen trying to control but Blaydes is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blaydes is on top in guard.

Blaydes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Somelainen's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen wants to sweep here but Blaydes controlling him for the moment.
Blaydes trying to control the position from guard on top but Somelainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Somelainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Blaydes drops back looking for a leg! Somelainen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Somelainen manages to kick Blaydes off! Blaydes jumps back into Somelainen's guard.

Somelainen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blaydes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Blaydes with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Somelainen wants to sweep here but Blaydes controlling him for the moment.

Blaydes drops back looking for a leg! Somelainen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Somelainen manages to kick Blaydes off! Blaydes jumps back into Somelainen's guard.
Blaydes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Blaydes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blaydes throws a big elbow that misses.
Blaydes landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blaydes stopping the sweep attempt from Somelainen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Somelainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blaydes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Blaydes 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!

Somelainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blaydes takes one on the button.
Blaydes swings for the body but Somelainen moves out of range.
Somelainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Somelainen throws a low kick, looking for Blaydes's leg but Blaydes calmly moves out of range.
Somelainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Blaydes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Somelainen is looking for a counter combo.
Somelainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Somelainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blaydes takes a jab right on the kisser.
Blaydes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Blaydes moves out of range of the strikes.
Somelainen works Blaydes's body with a nice hook.
Somelainen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Blaydes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Somelainen.
Somelainen throws a nice inside leg kick.

Somelainen gets a takedown into half guard.
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!
Somelainen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blaydes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somelainen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blaydes defending well though.
Blaydes is trying to get back to full guard.
Somelainen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Blaydes tries to get to full guard but Somelainen has control of the leg.
Blaydes keeping control of the position.
Blaydes is looking to control Somelainen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Blaydes avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Somelainen connects with a nice short shot to Blaydes's temple.
Blaydes trying to control but Somelainen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Blaydes tries to roll over but Somelainen keeps him under control.
Somelainen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Somelainen wants to take a breather but Blaydes is having none of it.
Blaydes gets full guard.
Blaydes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Somelainen manages to get himself to full guard.

Blaydes won't allow Somelainen to sweep him here.

Somelainen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Blaydes defends it easily.
Somelainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Somelainen, not yet.
Blaydes is working Somelainen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Somelainen is trying to control the position but Blaydes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes wants to control from the top but Somelainen keeps moving.
Somelainen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Blaydes passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Blaydes working the body and head with strikes.
Somelainen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Somelainen is trying to improve his position.
Somelainen can't do much from the bottom here.
Somelainen tries to bench press Blaydes off him but Blaydes keeps the position.
Blaydes scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Blaydes connects with a decent elbow.
Somelainen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blaydes in side control lands a decent elbow.
Somelainen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Somelainen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Somelainen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Blaydes connects with a decent elbow.
Somelainen is not content to let Blaydes control the position.
Somelainen sneaks back into half guard.
Blaydes prevents Somelainen from improving his position.
Blaydes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sauli Somelainen.
I think Somelainen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Sauli Somelainen!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Oscar Blaydes!

The fight ends as a draw!