PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Dyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Soprano (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.

Dyer
vs
Soprano

188 cm
33
268 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

195 cm
25
279 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute
$10

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Dyer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Enzo Soprano!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soprano connects with a nice looking jab.
Dyer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dyer rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Soprano counters with a nice body shot.
Dyer throws a hook but Soprano avoids it easily.
Dyer tries to land a front kick but Soprano steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Dyer tests Soprano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Soprano.
A low kick from Dyer misses
and Soprano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Soprano connects with the punch.

It looks like Stephen Dyer has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dyer misses with a hook. Soprano ducked under it nicely.
Soprano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dyer.
A big left from Dyer misses.
Soprano swings for the body but Dyer moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano throws a good cross that connects.
A looping hook to the body misses from Soprano. Dyer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dyer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Soprano looks for a takedown but Dyer sprawls well.
Soprano thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big left from Soprano misses.
A punch lands to the side of Soprano 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dyer avoids the body shot from Soprano.
Both fighters circling a little - Soprano finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Soprano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Soprano thows a left - swing and a miss!
Soprano has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dyer closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dyer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Soprano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dyer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Soprano backs up against the cage.

It looks like Enzo Soprano has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dyer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soprano throws an overhand right that lands on Dyer's shoulder, as Dyer tries to avoid the shot.
Soprano jabs at Dyer's body.
Dyer misses with a hook. Soprano ducked under it nicely.
Dyer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Soprano.
Dyer goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Soprano shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Dyer closes the distance and clinches.
Dyer working hard to break the clinch.
Soprano is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The crowd are getting on Soprano's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dyer.

Dyer manages to break the clinch.
Soprano looks to throw the jab but Dyer is out of range.
Dyer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soprano.
Dyer staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dyer closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Soprano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dyer counters with a two punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dyer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dyer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Soprano closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Soprano is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dyer wants to get back to full guard.
Dyer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soprano on the ground.
Dyer is trying to stand up here but Soprano is controlling him well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Soprano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dyer tries to get to full guard but Soprano has control of the leg.
Dyer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dyer.
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 Stephen Dyer will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soprano fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dyer moves out of range as Soprano strikes.
Dyer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Soprano.
Soprano connects with a body shot that sends Dyer's belly button to the back.
Soprano scores with a jab to the body.
Enzo Soprano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soprano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dyer slips a straight right by Soprano.
Dyer lands a jab to the nose.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dyer has closed the distance and engaged Soprano in a clinch.
Soprano manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Dyer working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano lands a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from Soprano.
Soprano trying to stall but Dyer improves his position.

Soprano jumps into guard, dragging Dyer to the mat.
Soprano has momentary wrist control but Dyer slips an elbow through the middle.
Dyer trying to control the position from guard on top but Soprano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dyer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soprano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Soprano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soprano has Dyer pulled in close to control his posture.
Soprano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dyer's guard.
Dyer wants to get back to his feet but Soprano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Soprano postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dyer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Soprano is controlling him.
Soprano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Soprano trying to control the position from guard on top but Dyer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soprano working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dyer's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dyer controls Soprano momentarily but Soprano frees himself.
Soprano is fighting to break Dyer's control of his arms but Dyer is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Soprano postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dyer wants to stand and escape but Soprano is having none of it.
Dyer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soprano is one step ahead there.
Enzo Soprano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dyer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Soprano is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dyer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dyer manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dyer throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Soprano because Dyer loaded up on that one.
Soprano tries to hold on but Dyer postures up.
Dyer throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Dyer tries to control but Soprano wriggling away.
Soprano wants to control but Dyer is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dyer trying to control but Soprano is having none of it.
Soprano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dyer misses with a head shot.

Dyer is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Soprano to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Soprano shrugs it off.
Soprano can't escape the position.
Dyer throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Soprano bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soprano is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dyer holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Soprano is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soprano won't allow Dyer to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Enzo Soprano will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Donk. Soprano catches Dyer right on the button with a cross.
Soprano lands a jab.
Soprano misses with a hook to the body
enabling Dyer to counter with a crisp jab.
Soprano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soprano throws out a powerful jab.
Dyer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Soprano throws out the jab.
Jab, jab by Dyer - just one landing.
Soprano connects with a right hand. Dyer shakes it off.
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!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dyer.
Soprano misses with a looping left.
Soprano throws a low kick but Dyer avoids it.
Both fighters circling a little - Soprano finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano throws a lazy uppercut
and Dyer counters with a left to the body.
Dyer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soprano manages to avoid it.

Soprano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dyer tries to kick Soprano off but Soprano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Soprano with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dyer is looking to control Soprano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dyer avoid being mounted?
Dyer is staying active underneath Soprano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dyer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dyer trying to control but Soprano postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Soprano closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dyer quickly recovers to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dyer pushes Soprano off looking to stand but Soprano dives back in and keeps control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soprano tries to pass to full mount but Dyer defends it.
Soprano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dyer is not content to let Soprano control the position.
Soprano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Dyer pushes Soprano off looking to stand but Soprano dives back in and keeps control.
Dyer trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soprano lands strikes from half guard.
Soprano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Soprano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Soprano lands with a punch from half guard.

Stephen Dyer's cut is getting worse.
Dyer is trying to maintain the position but Soprano is very close to passing his half guard.

Soprano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dyer keeps working.
Soprano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Soprano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soprano scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Dyer trying to control from the bottom.
Soprano throwing shots but Dyer is blocking nicely.
Soprano seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dyer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Soprano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dyer is controlling Soprano's trapped leg to prevent Soprano from advancing to side control.

Soprano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dyer sees it coming and defends easily.
Dyer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soprano.

Soprano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dyer wants to improve his position but Soprano is controlling well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Still in half guard, Soprano seems content to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dyer wants to get back to his feet.
Soprano working Dyer over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enzo Soprano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soprano 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enzo Soprano!
Enzo Soprano took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, $10 for their support in the buildup to the fight.