PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Quessy (ranked 4201 p4p, 4114 weight class) and Pavel Sova (ranked 496 p4p, 486 weight class). Quessy comes to the cage accompanied by NTM - Ma Benz. Pavel Sova is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Quessy
vs
Sova

180 cm
25
176
2 - 3 - 0

186 cm
22
175
3 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Quessy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pavel Sova!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sova lands a right hook to the body.

Quessy decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Quessy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sova keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Quessy scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Quessy throwing shots but Sova is blocking nicely.
Sova is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Quessy working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Quessy trying to mount his opponent but Sova defends it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Sova is controlling Quessy's trapped leg to prevent Quessy from advancing to side control.
Sova wants to control but Quessy is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sova is defending against the submission attempts here by Quessy.
We've been hearing good reports from Quessy's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
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. Quessy connects with a nice short shot to Sova's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sova wants to control but Quessy is keeping busy.
Quessy wants to free his trapped foot but Sova is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sova wants to control but Quessy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Quessy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sova's head.
Quessy throwing shots but Sova is blocking nicely.
Sova is controlling Quessy's trapped leg to prevent Quessy from advancing to side control.
Sova is looking for a sweep. Quessy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sova keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Nice strikes from Quessy there.
Quessy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sova is looking to control Quessy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sova avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quessy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sova's head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Quessy trying to control from half guard but Sova is working away.
Quessy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Quessy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sova is trying to control but can't.
Quessy drops an elbow to the side of Sova's head.
Sova taking some punishment here, with Quessy in his half guard.
Sova wants to get back to full guard.
Quessy slips a nice elbow through Sova's hands, connecting with Sova's forehead.
Quessy prevents Sova from improving his position.
Quessy is looking to advance position but Sova won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sova is trying to maintain the position but Quessy is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quessy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Quessy takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nice strikes from Quessy there.
Sova tries to get to full guard but Quessy has control of the leg.

Quessy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sova keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Quessy throwing shots but Sova is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sova slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sova is trying to keep Quessy in close.
Quessy is looking to work some ground and pound but Sova has wrist control.
Quessy lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Quessy passes into half guard.
Sova tries to get to full guard but Quessy has control of the leg.
Sova trying to control but Quessy postures up.
Sova keeping control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sova is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Quessy scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Quessy dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Quessy gets a double leg takedown into Sova's guard.
Quessy won't allow Sova to sweep him here.
Quessy throws a big elbow that misses.
Quessy stands and throws Sova's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Quessy working away.
Sova is looking to regain half guard here but Quessy keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Quessy scoring with punches from side control.
Sova is looking for a sweep.
Quessy is working Sova over with some ground and pound from side control.
Quessy in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quessy in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sova keeps Quessy under control for a moment.
You can see the frustration on Sova's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Quessy in side control, throwing shots but Sova defends.
Sova tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Quessy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sova is still trying to improve position.
Quessy is chipping away with strikes.
Sova wants to control but Quessy postures up.
Quessy working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sova is trying to control Quessy's posture but Quessy avoids it.
Sova is not content to let Quessy control the position.
The strikes coming from Quessy are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quessy scores with a couple of short elbows.
Quessy looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sova is avoiding damage well.
An elbow from Quessy crashes against the mat.
Quessy cracks Sova with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sova stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Quessy sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sova is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Quessy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sova can do to turn this around?
You can see the frustration on Sova's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sova holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

Quessy is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sova has escaped the position, nice work there.
Quessy landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Quessy creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Quessy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Quessy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sova tries to improve position but can't.
Sova avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Quessy.
Quessy misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sova tries to improve position but can't.

Sova bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Quessy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sova pinned against the cage. Sova gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Quessy shoots in but Sova avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sova shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Quessy sprawls well. Quessy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sova gets slowly back to his feet.
Quessy closes the distance and clinches up with Sova, looking for a takedown. Quessy pushes Sova against the cage but Sova circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Quessy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quessy moves away from the strike by Sova.

Quessy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sova to the mat! Sova manages to get full guard.
Quessy stopping the sweep attempt from Sova.
Quessy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Quessy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Quessy throwing strikes but missing.
Quessy stands and throws Sova's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Quessy working away.
Quessy misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Quessy sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sova is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Quessy misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Quessy working the ground and pound but Sova is defending the strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Quessy.
You can see the frustration on Sova's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Quessy dominated that second round.
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!

Sova tries to close the distance and clinch but Quessy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Quessy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sova but Sova pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Quessy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sova's waist but Sova gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Quessy off to one side.
Quessy looks for a takedown but Sova sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Quessy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Quessy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sova defends it nicely.
Sova pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sova misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Quessy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sova swivels and escapes.
Sova looks to score with a jab to the body but Quessy is just out of range.
Sova tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Quessy was well out of range. Poor timing from Sova.
Quessy slips a jab from Sova.
Quessy feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sova fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Quessy changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Quessy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sova avoids it really well and circles away.
Quessy fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Quessy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sova looks for a takedown but Quessy sprawls well.

Quessy shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Quessy 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.
Sova is trying to get back to full guard.
Sova keeps trying to improve his position.
Thomas Quessy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sova trying to hold on to Quessy's head to control him but Quessy postures up.
Sova is trying to get back to full guard.
Quessy scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quessy working over Sova with some ground and pound. Sova looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sova tries to get to full guard but Quessy has control of the leg.
Sova is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Quessy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Quessy lands with a punch from half guard.
Quessy thows a huge punch but Sova dodges it nicely.
Quessy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sova wants to improve his position but Quessy is controlling well.
Sova regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sova trying to control the position.
Quessy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sova wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quessy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sova is trying to control the position but Quessy postures up.
Quessy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sova is keeping the position for now.
Sova is pulling down on Quessy's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sova is on top in guard.

Sova trying to control but Quessy is working from the bottom.

Quessy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sova showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quessy wants to sweep here but Sova controlling him for the moment.
Sova sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pavel Sova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Quessy looking for a guillotine here but Sova defends easily.
Thomas Quessy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

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 Thomas Quessy.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Quessy, 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Quessy!
Thomas Quessy thanked the fans post fight for their support.