PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Timo Soini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Spico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Soini
vs
Spico

180 cm
21
178 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

184 cm
24
179 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Soini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, El Spico!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spico tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spico blocks a head kick by Soini.
Spico throws a wild body kick that Soini sees coming a mile off.
Spico throws a sloppy head kick and Soini moves out of range easily.
Soini avoids the head kick by Spico.
El Spico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soini moves out of range of the leg kick from Spico.

Soini clinches up against the cage.
Spico lands a body punch in the clinch.
Spico throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Soini dodges an elbow strike from Spico.
Spico lands a left hand.
Spico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soini blocking some punches.
Soini misses with an elbow over the top.
Spico working aggressively here.
Soini throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Soini gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like El Spico has been cut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Spico.
Soini throws an elbow but it misses.
Spico struggles to land a body shot inside as Soini controls his hands.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spico misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Spico fails to land.
Spico working aggressively here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Soini obliges.
Soini landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Soini working hard to break the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Spico throws an elbow but misses.
Spico misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Spico just misses with a elbow thrown towards Soini's brow.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spico takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice right hand lands inside from Spico.
Soini lands an elbow inside.
Spico is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soini is defending well for now.
Spico throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Spico avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Soini trying to control the position but instead, Spico has worked for underhooks and has pushed Soini into the cage.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Spico misses with a short punch on the inside.
Spico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Soini landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Soini throws an elbow that misses.
Soini blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Soini missing with knees to the body.
Soini blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
Spico misses with a hook to the ribs.
Spico throws a head punch that misses.
Soini creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Soini trying to control the position but instead, Spico has worked for underhooks and has pushed Soini into the cage.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
Spico scores with a nice hook to the head.
Soini is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Spico missing with knees to the body.
A short left from Spico.
A knee to the head by Soini.
Spico lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Spico.
Spico throws an elbow that misses.
Spico softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Spico misses with the head strike.
Soini lands an elbow inside.
Spico lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Soini or not.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soini blocking some punches.
Spico landing knees to the body.
Spico misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soini.
Spico missing with knees to the body.
Soini pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Spico pushes Soini back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Spico lands a hook to the side of the head.
Spico tries a body shot but Soini blocks it.
Spico tries to throw a body punch but Soini avoids it by throwing Spico back against the cage.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soini tries to land knees in the clinch but Spico avoids the damage to the body.
Spico crunches a lovely knee into Soini's ribcage.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Spico avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Soini unloads a knee to the mid-section. Spico lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Spico looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soini lands a knee to the body.
Soini crunches a lovely knee into Spico's ribcage.
Soini lands a knee to the body.
Soini is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Soini avoiding damage as Spico throws knees to the body.
Soini scores a nice knee to the body.
Soini tries to land knees in the clinch but Spico avoids the damage to the body.
Soini is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Knees in the clinch landing for Soini.
Soini lands an elbow inside that Spico shrugs off.
Spico lands a shot to the body.
Soini blocking some punches.
Spico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spico has a couple of punches blocked by Soini.
Spico tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soini utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Soini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spico avoids it.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Still in the clinch, Spico scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soini lands an elbow just above Spico 's eye.
Spico landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Spico connects with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spico softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Spico avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Soini taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Spico lands a nice shot to the body.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soini blocking some punches.
Soini blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Soini misses with an elbow over the top.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Spico just misses with a elbow thrown towards Soini's brow.
Spico throws a head punch that misses.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Spico creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Spico misses with the head strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Soini obliges.
Soini crunches a lovely knee into Spico's ribcage.
Spico throws a head punch that misses.
Spico with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Spico creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Spico lands a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spico working aggressively here.
Soini managing to block the knees to the body from Spico.
Soini lands an elbow inside.

That has opened up El Spico's cut even more.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Spico misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Soini dominated that round.
The cut man is working on El Spico's cut.
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.

A head kick from Soini lands but Spico takes it in his stride.

Soini rushes Spico and presses him up against the cage.
Soini lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Soini on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soini blocks an uppercut.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Spico tries to land knees in the clinch but Soini avoids the damage to the body.
Spico works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A left hand lands to the body for Spico.
Soini throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Soini lands an elbow inside that Spico shrugs off.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Soini takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soini lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Soini throws an elbow that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Spico.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Soini obliges.
Nice elbow from Spico.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Spico misses with some punches.
Soini avoids the elbow strike from Spico, against the cage.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Good body shot from Spico.
Timo Soini has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Spico lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soini misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spico.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Soini throws an elbow but misses.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Spico tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Soini avoids it.
Spico avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Spico lands a body punch.
Spico has a couple of punches blocked by Soini.
Soini on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soini blocks the elbow strike.
Soini tries to land knees in the clinch but Spico avoids the damage to the body.
Spico throws a punch but it's blocked by Soini.
Spico is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soini is defending well for now.
Soini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spico avoids it.
Soini is struggling to control the position.
Soini is trying to stall.
Soini missing with knees to the body.
Spico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Soini is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Spico scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Spico struggles to land a body shot inside as Soini controls his hands.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Soini obliges.
Spico can't find room to land a body shot as Soini controls the action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Soini throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Soini prevents a body shot from Spico.
Spico tries to work over Soini's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Soini tries to stall but Spico uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Spico misses with a short punch on the inside.
Spico misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soini.
Spico misses with a short punch on the inside.
Spico misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soini.
Soini has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Spico pushes off an throws an elbow but Soini leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Spico throws a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Soini.
Soini lands a nice elbow.
Spico lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Soini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spico will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Soini tries a head kick but it misses.
Soini throws a front kick that sends Spico stumbling back into the cage.

Soini moves into the clinch.
Spico can't find room to land a body shot as Soini controls the action.
Spico tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Soini's elbow.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soini lands a knee to the body.
Spico blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spico fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Spico using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Spico is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soini is defending well for now.
A right handed body shot lands from Spico.
Spico goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Soini putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Spico in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Soini lands an elbow that stopped Spico in his tracks for a moment.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soini trying to stall but Spico improves his position.
Soini lands a nice elbow.
Soini lands an elbow inside that Spico shrugs off.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spico avoids it.
Soini tries to land knees in the clinch but Spico avoids the damage to the body.
Soini avoids a wild elbow strike from Spico.
Soini lands an elbow just above Spico 's eye.
Spico avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Spico lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Soini or not.
Spico blocks an elbow strike from Soini.
A short left from Spico.
Spico lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Spico.
Spico is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soini is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spico misses with a punch on the inside.
Spico trying to land knees to the body.
Spico misses with an elbow over the top.
Spico lands a body shot in the clinch.
Spico swings wildly with an uppercut but Soini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spico cracks Soini with a nice body shot.
Spico lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Soini backwards.
Soini blocking some punches.
Soini on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soini pushes off an throws an elbow but Spico leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Soini prevents a body shot from Spico.
Soini tries to land knees in the clinch but Spico avoids the damage to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Soini.

Soini breaks the clinch.
Spico pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spico throws a head kick but Soini moves out of range.
Soini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soini throws a head kick that Spico semi-blocks.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Spico, as that shot connected.
Spico darts in trying to clinch
and Soini counters with a flying knee. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Soini dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on El Spico's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Soini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soini lands a front kick.

Soini closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Spico misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spico lands a shot to the body.
Soini is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Soini lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Spico swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Soini takes an elbow to the temple.
Soini lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

The cut above El Spico's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Spico is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soini is defending well for now.
Spico avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Soini missing with knees to the body.
Spico throws a punch but it's blocked by Soini.
Soini crunches a lovely knee into Spico's ribcage.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Spico throws a knee to the head but misses.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Soini.
Soini avoids the elbow strike from Spico, against the cage.
Spico swings wildly with an uppercut but Soini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soini landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Spico misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spico misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Soini.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Soini.
Soini blocks the elbow strike.
Soini is trying to maintain a safe position but Spico gets an underhook and turns Soini into the cage.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soini pushes off an throws an elbow but Spico leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Spico pushes off an throws an elbow but Soini leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Soini lands a nice elbow.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
Soini lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Spico just misses with a elbow thrown towards Soini's brow.
Spico tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Soini avoids it.
Soini lands a nice elbow.
Spico landing knees to the body.
Spico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
Spico lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Soini tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spico avoids it.
Spico fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Soini trying to land knees to the body.
Spico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soini lands an elbow inside that Spico shrugs off.
Spico struggles to land a body shot inside as Soini controls his hands.
Soini blocks an elbow strike from Spico.
El Spico has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Spico fails to land.
Spico takes a knee to the side of the body.
Spico working aggressively here.
Soini tries to land knees in the clinch but Spico avoids the damage to the body.
Soini lands an elbow just above Spico 's eye.
Spico lands a body punch.
Spico blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soini misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spico.
Spico is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Soini takes a shot to the head.
Spico lands a nice knee to the body.
Spico pushes Soini back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Spico stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Spico obliges.
Soini throws an elbow but it misses.
Spico lands a nice shot to the body.
Spico is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soini is defending well for now.
Spico throws an elbow that misses.
Soini lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Spico scores with a shot to the side of Soini's head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Spico.
Spico throws a head punch that misses.
Spico avoiding damage as Soini throws knees to the body.
Spico makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soini takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soini crunches a lovely knee into Spico's ribcage.
Soini avoiding damage as Spico throws knees to the body.
Soini landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Spico misses with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Soini obliges.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Spico blocks an elbow strike.
Nice body punch from Spico - that landed with a thud.
Spico lands a body shot in the clinch.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Soini avoiding damage as Spico throws knees to the body.
Spico lands an elbow inside that Soini shrugs off.
Soini landing knees to the body.
Spico throws a punch but it's blocked by Soini.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
Soini lands an elbow that stopped Spico in his tracks for a moment.
Spico lands a left hand that snaps the head of Soini backwards.
Spico has a couple of punches blocked by Soini.
Soini tries a knee to the head but Spico blocks it.
Soini throws an elbow but it misses.
Spico throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Soini blocks it with crossed arms.
Spico misses with a short punch on the inside.
Spico with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Spico misses with a knee strike.

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.
Spico blocks an elbow strike from Soini.
Spico pushes off an throws an elbow but Soini leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Soini landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Spico throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Soini blocks it with crossed arms.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
Soini missing with knees to the body.
Spico managing to block the knees to the body from Soini.
Spico lands a shot to the body.
Spico lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.
A nice left hand lands by Spico.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Spico.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Spico.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Spico creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Spico.
Spico tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Spico lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Spico on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Spico misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soini.
Soini is trying to maintain a safe position but Spico gets an underhook and turns Soini into the cage.
Spico lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Spico swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Spico pushes Soini back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Soini lands a nice knee to the body.
Soini is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spico is defending well for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Soini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Soini has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Soini!