PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xhorez Psylo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandy Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soto has chosen WASP - Wild Child as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Psylo
vs
Soto

188 cm
25
179 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Dragon

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Xhorez Psylo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sandy Soto!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Psylo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Soto to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Psylo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Soto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Psylo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Soto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Psylo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Soto defends it well.

Soto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Soto tries to get to full guard but Psylo has control of the leg.
Psylo wants to get back to his feet.

Psylo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.

Psylo seems to be working for a kimura but Soto defends the submission attempt.
Soto throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Soto throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Psylo is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Soto still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Soto has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Soto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Soto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Soto is looking to take a break and control but Psylo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Psylo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Psylo looking for submissions off his back.
Psylo wants to get back to his feet.
Soto slows the pace down in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Soto connects with a nice short shot to Psylo's temple.
Psylo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Soto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psylo wants to get back to his feet.
Soto drops an elbow to the side of Psylo's head.
Psylo tries to roll over but Soto keeps him under control.

Psylo looking for submissions off his back.

Psylo actively working from the bottom here.
Soto wants to pass to mount but Psylo is defending the position.
Psylo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Psylo wants to get back to full guard but Soto has passed into side control.
Soto trying to control the action but Psylo is working from the bottom.
Soto landing strikes.
Soto working the head and body with strikes.
Soto is looking to take a break and control but Psylo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Psylo tries to bench press Soto off him but Soto keeps the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Soto has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Psylo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Soto wants to improve his position but Psylo is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sandy Soto will probably get the nod.
That's time! Psylo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Psylo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Soto napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Psylo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Soto sneaks out the side door and pushes Psylo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Soto enables Psylo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Soto manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Psylo tries to stand but Soto is controlling from the bottom.
Psylo postures up.
Psylo preventing the sweep.
Soto doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Soto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soto working a defensive guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Soto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Psylo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Soto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Psylo, into his guard.
Soto wanted to stand there but Psylo had control of the position.

Psylo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Soto is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Psylo.
Psylo is trying to buck Soto off.
Psylo is looking to regain half guard here but Soto keeps moving and retains side control.
Psylo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Soto is controlling him well.

Soto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto wants to control but Psylo is keeping him busy.
Psylo is looking for a sweep.

Soto decides to stand back up. Soto steps back and let's Psylo get back to his feet.
Soto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Psylo swivels and escapes.
Xhorez Psylo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Soto fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Psylo to the ground. Soto is now in Psylo's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Psylo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Soto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Soto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Psylo looking for a guillotine here but Soto defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Soto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psylo keeping moving, preventing Soto from controlling successfully.

Soto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Psylo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Soto stays in close to Psylo's body and controls the position.
Soto lands a couple of elbows.
Soto is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Soto pushes down on Psylo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Psylo looking for submissions off his back.
Soto passes to side control.
Psylo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Soto wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Soto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Psylo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Psylo is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Psylo keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sandy Soto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Soto closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Soto lands in his opponent's guard.

Psylo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Soto uses it to pass to side control.
Sandy Soto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soto happy to just control the position for now.
Soto's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Psylo tries to buck Soto off but Soto is having none of it.
Soto is putting a hurting on Psylo here, landing some big shots from side control.
Psylo is trying to work for a sweep but Soto has mounted him!
Psylo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto is trying to control. Psylo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Psylo is looking to improve his position.

Psylo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Psylo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Psylo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Soto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Psylo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Soto is taking a breather. Psylo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Soto moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Psylo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Psylo is trying to work for a sweep but Soto has mounted him!
Soto dominating with strikes here.
Soto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Soto raining down hammerfists from mount.

Psylo is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soto postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Psylo in real trouble here! The ref calls for Psylo to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sandy Soto!
After winning the bout, Sandy Soto thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.