PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Duncan Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Soldier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ferguson comes to the cage accompanied by Duncan, Duncan Ferguson. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mike Soldier was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Ferguson
vs
Soldier

193 cm
21
218 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
213 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Duncan Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Soldier!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soldier takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Soldier walks into a left hand.
Soldier lands a head kick. Ferguson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Duncan Ferguson has been cut.
Ferguson misses with a wild combination.
Soldier misses with a head kick.
Ferguson tries to bum rush Soldier with a series of wild strikes but Soldier uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ferguson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Soldier does no damage.
Soldier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soldier throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson lands a nice shot that snaps Soldier's head back.
Soldier has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ferguson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ferguson scores with a jab. Soldier acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Soldier ducks under a wild hook from Ferguson.
Ferguson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soldier moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Soldier has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Soldier there as he acknowledges the shot.
Soldier misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson lands with a nice body punch.
Soldier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ferguson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldier throws a nice looking combination but Ferguson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ferguson lands with an uppercut that bounces Soldier off the cage and back into rage.

It looks like Mike Soldier has been cut.
Ferguson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Soldier is fending him off so far but Ferguson persists. Nope, Soldier circles away and we're back to standing.
Soldier tries to clinch up but Ferguson circles away and keeps his distance.
Ferguson lands a really nice looking cross but Soldier seems unphased.
Ferguson misses with a double jab.
Ferguson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A thudding body kick lands there by Soldier!
Soldier staying out of range there.
Soldier throws a jab but it's blocked by Ferguson.
Ferguson is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Soldier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Ferguson misses.
Soldier thumps Ferguson with a low kick.

Soldier clinches up against the cage.
Ferguson is trying to break the clinch but Soldier has him pressed against the cage.
Soldier lands a right hand.
Ferguson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A bit of stalling here from Ferguson.
Soldier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Soldier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ferguson avoids it.
Soldier looking to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Soldier just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ferguson's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soldier tries to land knees in the clinch but Ferguson avoids the damage to the body.
Soldier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ferguson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Soldier throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ferguson blocks it with crossed arms.
Ferguson is looking to break free of the clinch but Soldier has double underhooks.
Ferguson blocks an elbow strike.
Soldier prevents Ferguson from breaking the clinch.
Soldier lands a damaging elbow.
Soldier misses with an elbow over the top.
Soldier lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
With the fighters up against the cage, Soldier throws an elbow but misses.
Ferguson tries to pull guard but Soldier won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duncan Ferguson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Soldier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ferguson's defenses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferguson throws a punch but it's blocked by Soldier.
Ferguson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Soldier walks away with a smile on his face. Ferguson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Duncan Ferguson will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Soldier tries to clinch there but Ferguson circles away.
Duncan Ferguson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soldier looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ferguson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Soldier tries to clinch up.
Soldier slips a jab and a cross from Ferguson.
Soldier finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ferguson throws the left hand but Soldier avoids the punch easily.
Ferguson scores with a jab to the body.
Soldier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ferguson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ferguson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Soldier slips a jab and a cross from Ferguson.
A big left from Ferguson misses.
Soldier tries to close the distance and clinch but Ferguson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soldier wants to clinch up but Ferguson keeps it at a distance.
Ferguson misses with a few strikes there.
Ferguson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ferguson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Soldier eats them both and turns towards Ferguson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Ferguson tries to keep at a distance but Soldier has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ferguson wants to stall.
Soldier wants to stall.
Ferguson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Soldier fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ferguson swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldier throws a right hand that Ferguson ducks under and follows up with a left that Ferguson also avoids with ease.
Soldier moves in looking to clinch but Ferguson pushes him off.
Ferguson dodges the punch combination from Soldier.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ferguson is defended easily by Soldier.
Good exchange - Ferguson coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soldier blocks a jab.
A jab from Ferguson finds it's way through Soldier's defenses.
Ferguson throws a shot to the body.
Mike Soldier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soldier lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Soldier tries to clinch but Ferguson moves out of range.
Soldier tries to clinch there but Ferguson circles away.
Ferguson throws a body punch but Soldier moves out of range.
Soldier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ferguson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ferguson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ferguson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soldier was well out of range. Poor timing from Ferguson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soldier walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ferguson connects with the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson fails to land with a series of punches.
Ferguson throws a combination. Soldier tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Soldier takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Duncan Ferguson is winning the standup battle so far.
Ferguson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Soldier under the eye.
A head kick from Soldier lands but Ferguson takes it in his stride.
Ferguson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soldier throws a right hand that Ferguson ducks under and follows up with a left that Ferguson also avoids with ease.
Soldier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ferguson.
Soldier takes one on the chin but seems OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duncan Ferguson dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ferguson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Soldier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ferguson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Soldier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soldier gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jab from Ferguson.
Ferguson throws a series of punches but Soldier avoids them all with ease.
Ferguson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ferguson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ferguson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Soldier clinches up with Ferguson and pushes him back against the cage.
Soldier using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ferguson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson looking to slow down the pace here.
Soldier throws a knee to the head but misses.
Soldier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Soldier tries to land a knee to the head but Ferguson blocks with his arms.

Soldier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Soldier slips under a jab from Ferguson.
Ferguson circles away from the clinch attempt.
A bone on bone clash there as Ferguson blocks the leg kick.
A jab lands there for Ferguson.
Soldier displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ferguson.
Ferguson misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ferguson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ferguson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Soldier doesn't manage to clinch there - Ferguson circles away.
Ferguson cracks Soldier with an open hand slap.
Ferguson misses with the combination.
Soldier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soldier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ferguson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soldier doesn't manage to clinch there - Ferguson circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soldier tries a head kick but it misses.
Ferguson connects with a right hand. Soldier shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson avoids the head kick by Soldier.
Soldier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ferguson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ferguson scores with a one two! Soldier had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Soldier drops his hands momentarily and Ferguson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ferguson scores with a nice strike.
Soldier throws a sloppy head kick and Ferguson moves out of range easily.
Ferguson cracks Soldier with a right hand to the side of the head.
Soldier takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Soldier is looking to clinch.
Soldier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Soldier moves into the clinch successfully.
Soldier misses with a knee strike.
Ferguson wants to break free but Soldier has control.
Soldier with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Duncan Ferguson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ferguson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ferguson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Soldier is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ferguson is keeping busy.
Soldier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soldier misses with a knee to the head.

Soldier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mike Soldier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Soldier has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ferguson lands a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duncan Ferguson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ferguson, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duncan Ferguson!