PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sauli Somelainen (ranked 1340 p4p, 2609 weight class) and Riley Hatfield (ranked 174 p4p, 301 weight class). Hatfield has chosen Cruel World- Willie Nelson as his entrance music. Riley Hatfield acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Somelainen
vs
Hatfield

181 cm
26
160
6 - 4 - 2

174 cm
26
160
10 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Groove 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 6 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sauli Somelainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riley Hatfield!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hatfield misses the shot to the body.
Somelainen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hatfield under the eye.
Somelainen throws a hook to the side of Hatfield's head but Hatfield sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Somelainen backing away here, and Hatfield unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hatfield walks into a straight right hand from Somelainen.
Somelainen throws a leg kick that misses.
Somelainen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hatfield connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Somelainen scrambles back to his feet.

Somelainen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hatfield quickly recovers to half guard.
Hatfield wants to get back to his feet.

Hatfield kicks off Somelainen and gets to his feet.
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!
Hatfield throws a leg kick but Somelainen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Somelainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hatfield was well out of range. Poor timing from Somelainen.
Somelainen tries to score with a low kick but Hatfield moves his leg out of the way.
Somelainen blocks a jab.
Somelainen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Somelainen.
Hatfield looks to land a right hand but Somelainen moved out of range.
Somelainen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hatfield is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Somelainen is looking to chop away at Hatfield's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somelainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Somelainen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hatfield takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hatfield works the jab nicely.
Somelainen works Hatfield's body with a nice hook.
Somelainen throws a sloppy head kick and Hatfield moves out of range easily.
Somelainen tried to score with a low kick but Hatfield checks it.
Hatfield takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Somelainen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hatfield as he avoids it easily.
Hatfield cracks Somelainen with an open hand slap.
Hatfield moves into range and connects with a jab.
Somelainen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hatfield connects with a solid leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A swing and a miss from Somelainen.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Somelainen.
Somelainen misses with a head kick.
Somelainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Somelainen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hatfield sprawls and moves away.
Somelainen scores with a nice head shot.
Hatfield misses the jab.
A jab from Hatfield misses.
Hatfield gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Somelainen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Hatfield misses.
Somelainen swings for the body but Hatfield moves out of range.
Hatfield sizes up Somelainen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hatfield connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hatfield throws a big shot that misses.
Hatfield throws a right hand that Somelainen ducks under and follows up with a left that Somelainen also avoids with ease.
Somelainen tries to counter with a takedown but Hatfield is quick to defend against it.

Somelainen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Somelainen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hatfield's guard.
Somelainen is nestled in close to Hatfield, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Somelainen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Somelainen is working for a kimura but Hatfield is defending it quite comfortably.
Somelainen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hatfield looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Somelainen lands strikes from half guard.
Hatfield looks like he's trying to stand up.
Somelainen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Somelainen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hatfield reverses the position - he's now on top in Somelainen's guard.

Somelainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hatfield wanted to stand there but Somelainen had control of the position.
Somelainen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hatfield has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen is looking for a sweep.
Somelainen trying to control but Hatfield flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Hatfield is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Hatfield not allowing Somelainen to control his hands.
Hatfield slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Hatfield has the hooks in. Somelainen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Somelainen trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hatfield gets back to his feet - a bit of a stange decision given the position he was in.
Somelainen walks into a left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hatfield cracks a nice hook into Somelainen's ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Riley Hatfield will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Somelainen.
Hatfield pushes Somelainen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Somelainen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Somelainen working the ground and pound.
Hatfield is trying to buck Somelainen off.
Somelainen is working Hatfield over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hatfield wants to get back to his feet.
Somelainen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hatfield down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hatfield wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hatfield tries to buck Somelainen off but Somelainen is having none of it.
Hatfield takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Somelainen prevents Hatfield from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Somelainen is trying to get an arm triangle but Hatfield is defending well.
Somelainen scoring with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Somelainen working the head and body with strikes.
Somelainen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hatfield some visible discomfort.
Hatfield is trying to buck Somelainen off.

Somelainen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Somelainen prevents Hatfield from escaping the position.
Somelainen landing strikes.
Somelainen scoring with punches from side control.
Hatfield tries to escape but Somelainen is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen cracks Hatfield with a big elbow.
Hatfield on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hatfield on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hatfield pushes Somelainen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Somelainen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Somelainen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hatfield wants to get back to his feet.
Somelainen working the head and body with strikes.
Hatfield taking a bit of punishment here - Somelainen scoring with strikes.
Somelainen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hatfield some visible discomfort.

Somelainen tries for a kimura but Hatfield is defending well.
Hatfield wants to get back to his feet but Somelainen drags him back down.
Somelainen scoring with punches and elbows.
Hatfield is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen scoring with punches and elbows.
Somelainen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Somelainen scores with punches from side control.
Hatfield is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Somelainen working the head and body with strikes.
Somelainen lands some shots froms side control.
Somelainen prevents Hatfield from escaping the position.
Somelainen working the head with strikes.
Hatfield on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
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.
Hatfield takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Somelainen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hatfield pushes Somelainen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Somelainen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Somelainen scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Somelainen working the body and head with strikes.
Somelainen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hatfield is trying to buck Somelainen off.
Somelainen lands some shots froms side control.
Somelainen grinds an elbow into Hatfield's temple.
Hatfield is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Somelainen is controlling him well.
Somelainen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hatfield wants to get back to his feet.
Hatfield takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hatfield is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Somelainen cracks Hatfield with a big right hand but Hatfield just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Hatfield is rocked!
We've been hearing that Somelainen has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Somelainen cracks Hatfield with a big right hand but Hatfield just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hatfield is still in real trouble! Can Somelainen finish him?
Somelainen in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Hatfield looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Somelainen turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sauli Somelainen!
Sauli Somelainen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.