PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Krister Soderberg (ranked 23704 p4p, 3775 weight class) and Miguel Garces (ranked 493 p4p, 395 weight class). Garces has chosen Light into the Darkness as his entrance music. Miguel Garces is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Soderberg
vs
Garces

180 cm
23
195
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
198
6 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Furnace Performance 🔥
Fantasy Threads

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Krister Soderberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Miguel Garces!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Ben Hemmingworth and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Garces. No joy for Soderberg on that attempt.
Garces tries to clinch but Soderberg is having none of it.
Miguel Garces seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soderberg thows a left - swing and a miss!
Garces moves in looking to clinch but Soderberg pushes him off.
Garces throws a push kick but Soderberg slaps the foot to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Soderberg.
Garces replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Soderberg blocks it well.
Garces goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Garces wants to clinch up but Soderberg keeps it at a distance.
Garces stalks Soderberg and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Soderberg's face. Soderberg staggers backwards, shaken.
Horrible takedown attempt by Soderberg or perhaps it was just good defense by Garces, which made it look bad.
Garces wants to counter the offense by Soderberg and move into the clinch position.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krister Soderberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garces tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Garces scores with a kick to the midsection.
Soderberg circles away from the clinch attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Soderberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garces has managed to clinch.
Garces tries to break the clinch but Soderberg is controlling the position.

Soderberg manages to pull guard.
Garces looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Soderberg managing to control the position.
Garces lands a couple of digs.
Garces missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Garces wants to control from the top but Soderberg keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garces sitting in guard here, content to control.

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

Soderberg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garces can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Garces in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Soderberg is adopting a defensive guard.
Soderberg wants to sweep here but Garces controlling him for the moment.
Garces really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Soderberg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garces trying to control the position from guard on top but Soderberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soderberg is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Garces's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Garces lands a couple of elbows.
Garces controls from within his opponent's guard.
Garces stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soderberg swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garces trying to control but Soderberg is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soderberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Soderberg has Garces pulled in close to control his posture.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garces looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soderberg has a takedown stuffed.

Garces clinches up with Soderberg and pushes him back against the cage.

Soderberg's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garces tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg drops down looking for a counter takedown but Garces sprawls and moves away.
Soderberg looks to land a left hand but Garces moved out of range nicely.
Garces fails with an attempt to clinch.

Garces pushes Soderberg up against the cage in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Garces dominated that round.
That's time! Soderberg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Garces moves into the clinch.
Garces gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Soderberg.

Garces breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soderberg swats away the attempt to clinch by Garces.
Garces has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Garces stuffs the takedown attempt from Soderberg. Soderberg gets slowly back to his feet.

Garces gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Garces clinches up with Soderberg and pushes him back against the cage.

Garces breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Garces misses with an attempted mid kick.
Soderberg feinted with a counter takedown.
Garces fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garces moves in looking to clinch but Soderberg pushes him off.
Soderberg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Garces scores with a kick to the midsection.
Garces tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Garces tries to clinch there but Soderberg circles away.
Garces lands a leg kick that knocks Soderberg off balance momentarily.
Garces tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soderberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Garces stuffs the takedown.
Despite the aggression on Garces's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krister Soderberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garces tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg drops down looking for a counter takedown but Garces sprawls and moves away.
Garces fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soderberg half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Soderberg changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Garces tries to avoid it but Soderberg manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Garces to the ground. Garces escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Krister Soderberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garces tries to clinch there but Soderberg circles away.
Miguel Garces seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Soderberg throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Garces tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Soderberg is in Garces's guard.
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Garces keeps moving.
Garces being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garces is trying to hold Soderberg in close to prevent damage but Soderberg has managed to pass into half guard.
Garces is trying to stand.
Garces is looking to get back to full guard here but Soderberg has managed to pass to side control instead.
Garces tries to bench press Soderberg off him but Soderberg keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Garces's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Krister Soderberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soderberg misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Garces is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garces tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Garces is just holding on here. Soderberg manages to take his back.
Garces can't escape the position.

Garces is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Garces trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Garces is defending well though. Soderberg let's go of the attempt for now.
Garces wants to escape the position.

Garces manages to escape to his feet.
Garces wants to clinch.
Soderberg with a poor takedown

and Garces counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soderberg fails to pull guard.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Garces just misses with a elbow thrown towards Soderberg's brow.
Garces swings wildly with an uppercut but Soderberg uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soderberg tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Garces smiles and moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Miguel Garces will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Soderberg moves out of range of the body kick from Garces.
Garces is looking to clinch.

Garces clinches up against the cage.
Soderberg tries to break free but Garces pushes him back against the cage.

Garces jumps guard and drags Soderberg to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Soderberg works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Garces has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Soderberg is working away from the top position though.
Garces wants to control the action here but instead Soderberg manages to pass to full mount!
Soderberg tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garces working to try and regain half guard.
Soderberg controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg is working for a guillotine from mount but Garces frees his head quite easily.
Garces is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Garces tries to reverse the position but Soderberg maintains control.

Soderberg working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Garces can't escape the position.
Garces is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Soderberg tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Garces drives through and clinches with Soderberg against the cage.

Soderberg jumps guard and drags Garces to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Soderberg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garces can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Garces postures up.
Soderberg keeping moving, preventing Garces from controlling successfully.
Garces throws an elbow that misses. Soderberg uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Garces's guard. Nice move by Soderberg!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg slips nicely into half guard.
Soderberg stops Garces from getting back to his feet.
Garces trying to control but Soderberg postures up.

Soderberg is working for a kimura here but Garces manages to reverse the position and he's now in Soderberg's guard.
Garces trying to control the position from guard on top but Soderberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soderberg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Soderberg has his foot on Garces's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Garces works his way back into a safe position though.

Garces got a little sloppy there for a moment and Soderberg has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Garces has managed to get both his arms back between Soderberg's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garces scoring with some ground and pound.
Soderberg controls Garces momentarily but Garces frees himself.
Garces stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soderberg swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Garces wanted to stand there but Soderberg had control of the position.
Miguel Garces is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garces works over Soderberg with some ground and pound from guard.
Garces trying to control but Soderberg is working from the bottom.
Krister Soderberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Garces is posturing up here but Soderberg has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Garces tries to roll out but it's too tight and Garces has to tap! Slick submission there by Soderberg!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Krister Soderberg!
Krister Soderberg thanked the fans post fight for their support.