PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ninja Monk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Monk might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to On To The Next One. This should be fireworks!

Monk
vs
Soderberg

185 cm
36
176 lbs
34 - 24 - 1

179 cm
34
186 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Perkele!

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 34 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ninja Monk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monk takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Monk looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Soderberg has his takedown stuffed
and Monk counters with a nice uppercut.
Monk tries a head kick but it misses.
Soderberg with a poor takedown
and Monk counters with a two punch combo.
Soderberg on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Soderberg tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Monk swivels and escapes.
Ninja Monk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.
Monk jabs Soderberg right on the nose. Soderberg blinks but takes it well.
Monk looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Monk moves in looking to clinch but Soderberg pushes him off.
Soderberg drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Monk defends it well.
Soderberg uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Monk.
Soderberg lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Monk. Soderberg does a little dance to reset his feet.
Soderberg connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Monk's hands.
Soderberg lands a nice leg kick that just misses Monk's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg lands a really nice looking cross but Monk seems unphased.
Soderberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Monk is just out of range.
Soderberg throws a leg kick that misses.
Monk missing with a left hand there. Soderberg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Monk clinches up with Soderberg and pushes him back against the cage.
Monk lands a right hand.
Monk scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Monk working hard to break the clinch.
Monk lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Soderberg backwards.
Monk misses with the head strike.
Monk is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Monk lands a hook that snaps the head of Soderberg backwards.
Monk scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg is working for takedown but Monk is calmly controlling the position for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Monk.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monk looking to slow down the pace here.
Soderberg blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Monk.
Monk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Monk has a couple of punches blocked by Soderberg.

Soderberg tightens his grip and picks Monk up, before dumping him to the ground. Monk manages to land in guard.
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Monk keeps moving.

Soderberg drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Monk manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Soderberg has Monk in his guard.

Soderberg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monk is pushing down on Soderberg's leg trying to pass to half guard. Soderberg is fighting to maintain full guard but Monk has managed to sneak the leg through.
Soderberg is looking for a sweep. Monk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Monk slows the pace down in half guard.
Monk wants to pass the guard but Soderberg is defending well.
Soderberg is trying to get back to full guard.
Monk stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Soderberg actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Soderberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Soderberg actively working from the bottom here.
Monk is taking a breather. Soderberg 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.
Soderberg wants to get back to full guard.
Soderberg felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Monk wants to pass to mount but Soderberg is defending the position.
Soderberg is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ninja Monk dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Monk's jab looks to have found its range, popping Soderberg under the eye.

Soderberg closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Monk quickly recovers to half guard.
Monk controlling the position for now.
Soderberg with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Monk trying to control from the bottom.
Soderberg is trying to control the action in half guard but Monk is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monk won't allow Soderberg to pass to mount.
Monk moves into full guard.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Monk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monk keeping full guard, as Soderberg tries to pass.
Monk working a defensive guard here.
Soderberg passes into half guard.
Monk wants to control but Soderberg is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Soderberg is looking to advance position but Monk won't allow it.

Soderberg seems to be looking for submissions.
Soderberg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Monk does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Monk is controlling Soderberg's position as best he can from this difficult position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Soderberg swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Monk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Monk slips a jab and a cross from Soderberg.
A head kick misses from Monk.
Monk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soderberg can do to turn this around?
Soderberg displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Monk throws out the jab.
Soderberg keeps the fight on the outside.
Soderberg looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Monk is fending him off so far but Soderberg persists. Nope, Monk circles away and we're back to standing.
Monk tries to clinch there but Soderberg circles away.
Monk throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Soderberg shoots in and drives through. Monk sprawls well.
Monk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Soderberg decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg wants to advance to full mount but Monk doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Soderberg stopping the sweep attempt from Monk.
Monk keeping moving, preventing Soderberg from controlling successfully.
Monk has his hands on Soderberg's head, controlling the position.
Monk's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Monk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soderberg is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Monk keeping moving, preventing Soderberg from controlling successfully.
Monk looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Monk misses with a wild combination.

Soderberg drives through with a takedown into Monk's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soderberg trying to control but Monk is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Soderberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Monk avoids the body shot from Soderberg.
Soderberg shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Monk defends it nicely.
Monk is looking to clinch.
No joy there for Soderberg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Soderberg closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Soderberg gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Soderberg tries to bum rush Monk with a series of wild strikes but Monk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monk stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Soderberg drops his hands momentarily and Monk takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Soderberg sizes up Monk with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Monk tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown but Monk shows good takedown defense.
Sloppy strikes from Monk. Those never looked like landing.
And Soderberg tries to counter it with a takedown but Monk pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Soderberg misses with the body kick
enabling Monk to counter with a crisp jab.
Monk tries a low kick but Soderberg avoids it.
Ninja Monk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soderberg thows a leg kick but Monk checks it
and Monk counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Soderberg scores with a nice body kick.
Soderberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Monk moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Monk throws a nice looking combination but Soderberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Soderberg cracks the inside of Monk's front leg.
Monk goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A good leg kick by Monk.
Monk throws a head kick that Soderberg semi-blocks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Soderberg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soderberg connects with a good right hand that stumbles Monk. Monk circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Monk throws a body shot but no joy.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Monk as he jumps to the side.
Ninja Monk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.
Soderberg tries to land a body kick
and Monk counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Monk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab from Monk.
Soderberg is looking to score with low kicks.
Monk ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ninja Monk is winning the standup battle so far.
Soderberg stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Monk.
Monk throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg is looking to chop away at Monk's legs.
Monk doesn't manage to clinch there - Soderberg circles away.
And Soderberg tries to counter it with a takedown but Monk pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown but Monk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Monk rushes Soderberg and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Soderberg prevents Monk from breaking the clinch.
Monk misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Monk.
Soderberg wants to take the fight to the mat but Monk manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Monk swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Monk is working Soderberg over against the cage.
Soderberg tries to pull guard but Monk forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ninja Monk has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Soderberg blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Soderberg is trying to drag Monk to the mat but Monk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Soderberg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A frustrated look appears on Monk's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Monk takes a swing at Soderberg's ribcage but misses.
Soderberg has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Monk.
Soderberg scoring well with a low kick there.
Monk lands with a nice body punch.
Soderberg tries to work over Monk's front leg with a kick but Monk checks it.
Monk jabs Soderberg right on the nose. Soderberg blinks but takes it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt.
Monk tried to counter with a leg kick but Soderberg avoided it.
Monk throws a leg kick but Soderberg sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A big left from Soderberg misses.
Monk quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ninja Monk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Monk has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ninja Monk!
Ninja Monk thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Rufus Soderberg spoke after the fight, saying 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.