PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalevi Sorsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anselmi Samara (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.

Sorsa
vs
Samara

188 cm
28
218 lbs
13 - 8 - 1

183 cm
25
215 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kalevi Sorsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anselmi Samara!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorsa throws a head kick that misses.
Samara misses with a hook.
Sorsa looks to clinch
and Samara counters with a nice uppercut.
Sorsa defending well as Samara loads up on a big left hand.
Samara looks to land a combination. Sorsa sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Kalevi Sorsa has been cut.

Samara moves into the clinch.
Sorsa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Samara lands a left hand.
Samara stalling the fight.
Sorsa avoiding damage.
Samara has Sorsa pressed against the cage.
Sorsa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Samara gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Samara lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sorsa throws a punch but it's blocked by Samara.
Good body shot from Samara.
Samara working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sorsa tries to land knees in the clinch but Samara avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorsa blocks a body shot from Samara.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Samara.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Samara using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sorsa is breathing heavily.
Samara lands a nice knee to the body.
Samara presses Sorsa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Samara is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Samara keeps control of Sorsa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Samara tries to land a knee to the head but Sorsa blocks with his arms.
Samara lands a body shot.
Sorsa is working for takedown but Samara is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice left hand lands by Samara.
Knees to the body from Samara.
Samara leaning against his opponent.
A body shot lands from Samara.
Samara manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Samara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Samara lands a nice shot to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Samara tries to land knees in the clinch but Sorsa avoids the damage to the body.
Samara lands a shot to the body.
Samara lands with a right to the head.
Samara lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sorsa backwards.
Samara scores with a shot to the side of Sorsa's head.
Samara lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Samara lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Samara - that landed with a thud.
Samara throws a knee to the head but misses.
Samara avoiding damage.
A right hand to the body from Samara.
Nice body punch from Samara.
Samara taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sorsa takes a knee to the side of the body.
Samara manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Samara throws an elbow but misses.
Sorsa tries a body shot but Samara blocks it.
Sorsa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Samara cracks Sorsa with a nice body shot.
Sorsa takes a knee to the side of the body.
Samara avoiding damage.
Samara softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Samara stalling in the clinch.
Samara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sorsa.
Sorsa being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Anselmi Samara.

Samara is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sorsa's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samara thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sorsa's head.
Samara has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Samara uses his free foot to push down on Sorsa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sorsa.
Samara tries to control but Sorsa wriggling away.
A nice elbow there by Samara.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Samara controlling the position easily from mount.
Samara landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anselmi Samara dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kalevi Sorsa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sorsa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sorsa wants it to stay on the feet.

Samara moves into range and clinches up with Sorsa.
Samara stalling against the cage.
Sorsa is trying to break the clinch but Samara is controlling him.
Samara is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Samara stalling the fight.
Samara is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Samara lands a body shot.
Samara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sorsa's elbow.
Sorsa looking to stall.
Samara stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Samara lands a body shot.
Sorsa throws a punch but it's blocked by Samara.
Samara has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Samara takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Samara throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Samara lands a nice shot to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Samara.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Samara.
A left hand lands to the body for Samara.
Samara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sorsa.
Samara displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sorsa up against the cage.
Samara scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Samara gets underhooks to prevent Sorsa's takedown attempt.
Samara lands a shot to the body.
Samara works on Sorsa's body with a couple of short punches.
Samara is leaning against Sorsa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Samara is leaning against Sorsa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Samara lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Samara.
Samara effectively controlling the action here.
Samara receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Samara is leaning against Sorsa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Samara holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Samara.
Samara presses Sorsa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Samara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Samara stalling.
Samara lands a nice knee to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Samara.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Anselmi Samara.
Samara lands a nice hook to Sorsa's body. Sorsa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Samara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Samara gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samara effectively controlling the action here.
Samara stops a takedown attempt from Sorsa.
Samara's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Samara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sorsa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sorsa dodges an elbow strike from Samara.
Samara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sorsa takes a knee to the side of the body.
Samara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sorsa.
Samara slows down the pace here.
Samara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The referee calls for Samara to work.
Samara has Sorsa pressed against the cage, preventing Sorsa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Samara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Samara crunches a lovely knee into Sorsa's ribcage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Samara presses Sorsa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Samara taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sorsa managing to block the knees to the body from Samara.
Samara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sorsa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalevi Sorsa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Samara taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Samara is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Samara as the two fighters clinch.
Samara lands a body punch in the clinch.
Samara working Sorsa over with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anselmi Samara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kalevi Sorsa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Samara drives through and clinches with Sorsa against the cage.
Sorsa stalls.
Sorsa looking for a takedown.
Samara landing knees to the body.
Samara leaning against his opponent.
Samara lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sorsa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Samara works on Sorsa's body with a couple of short punches.
Samara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sorsa.
Anselmi Samara seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Samara is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Samara scores with a shot to the side of Sorsa's head.
Stalling in the clinch from Samara.
Samara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Samara pushes Sorsa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Samara.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sorsa managing to block the knees to the body from Samara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Samara lands a body punch in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Samara.
Samara digs a right hand into Sorsa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sorsa's gas tank.
Samara lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sorsa backwards.
Samara presses Sorsa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Samara scores with a hook to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Samara working Sorsa over with knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Samara.
Samara lands a hook that snaps the head of Sorsa backwards.
Samara lands a good knee to the midsection. Sorsa won't want to take too many of those.
A body shot lands from Samara.
Samara lands a left hand.
A body shot lands from Samara.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Samara takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sorsa avoiding damage as Samara throws knees to the body.
Kalevi Sorsa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Samara is working Sorsa over against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Samara.
Samara is leaning against Sorsa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Samara trying to land knees to the body.
Samara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sorsa.
Samara pushes Sorsa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Samara has Sorsa pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Samara.
Samara stalls.
Samara scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Samara trying to land knees to the body.
Samara works on Sorsa's body with a couple of short punches.
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!
Samara is leaning against Sorsa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Samara trying to land knees to the body.
Samara scores with a shot to the side of Sorsa's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Samara.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Samara.
Samara throws a knee to the head but misses.
Samara lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sorsa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sorsa avoiding damage as Samara throws knees to the body.
Sorsa letting Samara take a breather here.
Samara pushes Sorsa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Samara scores a nice knee to the body.
Samara is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sorsa is defending well for now.
A left hand lands to the body for Samara.
Samara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sorsa.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Samara obliges.
Samara misses with a knee to the head.
A hook to the body from Samara.
Sorsa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right handed body shot lands from Samara.
Anselmi Samara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samara works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Samara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sorsa.
Samara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Samara.
Still in the clinch, Samara scores with a nice short uppercut.
Samara lands an elbow inside that Sorsa shrugs off.
Samara gets underhooks to prevent Sorsa's takedown attempt.
Samara lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Samara working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Samara stalling.
Sorsa tries to land knees in the clinch but Samara avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anselmi Samara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Samara has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 24:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 24:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anselmi Samara!