PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Vernon (ranked 1294 p4p, 2412 weight class) and Sauli Somelainen (ranked 165 p4p, 289 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vernon
vs
Somelainen

180 cm
25
165
11 - 8 - 0

181 cm
25
160
4 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
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FF Gear

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaac Vernon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sauli Somelainen!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vernon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Somelainen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Isaac Vernon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Somelainen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vernon scores with a leg kick.
Somelainen with a poor takedown
and Vernon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vernon throws a poor cross that misses
and Somelainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice uppercut there from Somelainen.
Vernon looks to throw the jab but Somelainen is out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Somelainen blocks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Somelainen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Somelainen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Somelainen tries to clinch up
and Vernon makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vernon scores with a leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Somelainen.
Somelainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Somelainen loads up on a big right hand but Vernon slips the punch.
Vernon scores with a one two! Somelainen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Vernon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vernon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Somelainen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Somelainen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A big right from Somelainen misses.
The fighters circling - Vernon throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon lands a jab to the head.
Vernon lunges at Somelainen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Somelainen's hand.
Vernon throws a hook but Somelainen blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Somelainen missing with a left hand there. Vernon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slapping leg kick lands for Vernon.
Somelainen lands a nice shot that snaps Vernon's head back.
Somelainen slips under a jab.
Somelainen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Somelainen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vernon throws a shot to the body.
Nice cross by Somelainen.
Somelainen tries to bum rush Vernon with a series of wild strikes but Vernon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon misses with a left hand
and Somelainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vernon feints and then cracks Somelainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Somelainen down.
Somelainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vernon.
Vernon walks into a jab.
Vernon swings widly with a right hand
and Somelainen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Somelainen throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Vernon wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Somelainen missing with a left hand there. Vernon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Somelainen.
Vernon swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Vernon throws a hook but Somelainen avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Somelainen! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vernon digs a good hook to Somelainen's body.
Vernon scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vernon missing with a left hand there. Somelainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Somelainen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Somelainen is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Vernon had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice shot lands for Somelainen.
Vernon swings widly with a right hand
and Somelainen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Somelainen lands with a shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Vernon lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Somelainen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Somelainen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Somelainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vernon.
Somelainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Somelainen looks to land a left hand but Vernon moved out of range nicely.
Somelainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Vernon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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 Isaac Vernon will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vernon misses with an uppercut.
Somelainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Vernon tried to counter with a leg kick but Somelainen avoided it.
Vernon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Somelainen.
Somelainen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Somelainen slips a jab and a cross from Vernon.
Somelainen jabs at Vernon's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Vernon misses.
Somelainen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Vernon takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Isaac Vernon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somelainen throws a combination that misses
and Vernon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A clash of legs there as Vernon blocks the low kick.
Vernon just misses with a punch to the body.
Vernon connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Vernon fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Somelainen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Somelainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vernon catches Somelainen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Somelainen looks to land a right hand but Vernon moved out of range.
Somelainen swings widly with a right hand
and Vernon counters with a low kick, right behind Somelainen 's knee.
Nice uppercut lands for Vernon. That snapped Somelainen's head back.
Nice shot by Vernon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vernon is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Somelainen.
Vernon walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Somelainen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Vernon backing away here, and Somelainen unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Good leg kick by Vernon.
Isaac Vernon is winning the standup battle so far.
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 throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Vernon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vernon swings widly with a right hand
and Somelainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vernon throws a hook to the side of Somelainen's head but Somelainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vernon throws a hook but Somelainen avoids it easily.
Vernon missing with a left hand there. Somelainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Somelainen scores with a jab.
Somelainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Somelainen as he checks the leg kick.
Vernon stuffs the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Somelainen is defended easily by Vernon.
The crowd cheers as Vernon lands an impressive looking overhand right. Somelainen doesn't seem phased though.
Vernon throws an overhand right that lands on Somelainen's shoulder, as Somelainen tries to avoid the shot.
Vernon misses with a body shot
and Somelainen counters with a head kick.
Somelainen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vernon has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Somelainen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Somelainen fails with the takedown
and Vernon counters with a stiff right hand.
Isaac Vernon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sauli Somelainen.
Somelainen looks to land a left hand but Vernon moved out of range nicely.
Somelainen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vernon on the side of the head.
Somelainen swinging wildly here.
Vernon swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vernon tries to land a leg kick but Somelainen saw it coming and moves away.
Somelainen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vernon counters with a lovely shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Isaac Vernon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Somelainen misses with an uppercut
and Vernon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Somelainen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vernon clobbers Somelainen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Somelainen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Somelainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Somelainen feints a counter leg kick.
Vernon listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sauli Somelainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Somelainen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vernon, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Somelainen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vernon prevents a body shot from Somelainen.
A head punch on the inside from Somelainen fails to land.
Somelainen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Somelainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vernon is trying to stall.

Somelainen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vernon uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somelainen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vernon controls the pace.
Vernon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Somelainen keeping moving, preventing Vernon from controlling successfully.
Vernon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vernon trying to control but Somelainen is working from the bottom.
Vernon looking to sit in guard and control but Somelainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Vernon keeping moving, preventing Somelainen from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Somelainen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vernon has his hands on Somelainen's head, controlling the position.
Somelainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Vernon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vernon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Somelainen working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Vernon has Somelainen pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vernon misses with a body shot.
Vernon ducks under a wild hook from Somelainen.

Somelainen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Somelainen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vernon.

Vernon gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Somelainen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vernon is aware though and is defending well.

Somelainen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vernon defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Somelainen, not yet.
Somelainen working a defensive guard here.
Vernon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Somelainen wants to sweep but no luck.
Vernon trying to control the position from guard on top but Somelainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Somelainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Somelainen keeping moving, preventing Vernon from controlling successfully.

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 Isaac Vernon.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vernon, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Isaac Vernon!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Sauli Somelainen!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!