PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaheli Sonni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flavio Lazzarini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sonni comes to the cage accompanied by Chica. Lazzarini has chosen Goffredo Mameli - 'Il Canto degli Italiani' as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sonni
vs
Lazzarini

186 cm
32
185 lbs
25 - 16 - 2

185 cm
34
201 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaheli Sonni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Flavio Lazzarini!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonni looks to score with a jab to the body but Lazzarini is just out of range.
Sonni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lazzarini misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sonni. Lazzarini does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sonni throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lazzarini tried to score with a low kick but Sonni checks it.
Good exchange - Sonni coming out on top.

Sonni shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sonni was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sonni works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sonni trying to control the action but Lazzarini is working from the bottom.
Lazzarini is looking to regain half guard here but Sonni keeps moving and retains side control.
Lazzarini is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sonni is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzarini regains half guard.
Lazzarini is looking for a sweep. Sonni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Sonni there.
Lazzarini is looking for a sweep. Sonni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sonni lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lazzarini is not content to let Sonni control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sonni lands a nice short elbow.
Sonni drops an elbow to the side of Lazzarini's head.
Sonni is trying to control the action in half guard but Lazzarini is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lazzarini wants to control but Sonni is keeping busy.
Sonni thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lazzarini actively working from the bottom here.
Lazzarini is holding on to half guard well.
Sonni drops an elbow to the side of Lazzarini's head.
Sonni controlling the pace.
Lazzarini is refusing to be controlled, as Sonni sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lazzarini is trying to maintain the position but Sonni is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Sonni there.
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. Sonni connects with a nice short shot to Lazzarini's temple.
Lazzarini has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Lazzarini is not content to let Sonni control the position.
Lazzarini blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sonni.
Sonni thows a huge punch but Lazzarini dodges it nicely.
Sonni is nestled in close to Lazzarini, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sonni is taking a breather. Lazzarini 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.
Sonni seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lazzarini does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Sonni wants to work for an arm triangle but Lazzarini is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sonni working over Lazzarini with some ground and pound. Lazzarini looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lazzarini is looking for a sweep. Sonni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarini moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sonni postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lazzarini is trying to keep Sonni in close.
Sonni is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lazzarini is trying to control the position but Sonni postures up.
Sonni postures up and lands a big shot to Lazzarini's brow.
Lazzarini is adopting a defensive guard.
Lazzarini wants to sweep here but Sonni controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lazzarini is trying to control the position but Sonni postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaheli Sonni dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sonni jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lazzarini's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sonni connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lazzarini scrambles back to his feet.
Lazzarini walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sonni checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Lazzarini fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sonni, pushing him back against the cage.
Sonni lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sonni struggles to land a body shot inside as Lazzarini controls his hands.
Lazzarini looking to throw knees to the head but Sonni is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Lazzarini throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sonni is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lazzarini can do to turn this around?
Lazzarini tries to land knees in the clinch but Sonni avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lazzarini landing knees to the head.
I was talking to Sonni's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Lazzarini throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lazzarini is trying to stall.
Lazzarini blocks a body shot from Sonni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni trying to control the position but instead, Lazzarini has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sonni into the cage.
Lazzarini looking to throw knees to the head but Sonni is blocking nicely.

Sonni manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sonni lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sonni distracts Lazzarini with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sonni missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lazzarini tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sonni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lazzarini swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lazzarini wants to sweep here but Sonni controlling him for the moment.
Lazzarini utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarini has momentary wrist control but Sonni slips an elbow through the middle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sonni's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lazzarini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sonni manages to get himself to full guard.

Sonni 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.
Sonni keeping moving, preventing Lazzarini from controlling successfully.
Sonni tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sonni working a defensive guard here.
Lazzarini trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lazzarini avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sonni wants to control but Lazzarini passes easily into half guard.
Sonni gets full guard.
Sonni keeping moving, preventing Lazzarini from controlling successfully.
Sonni is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lazzarini is looking to control Sonni's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lazzarini avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonni scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sonni missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sonni is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lazzarini defends it well.
Lazzarini keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lazzarini trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lazzarini is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sonni scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sonni sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lazzarini defending well though.
Sonni is nestled in close to Lazzarini, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaheli Sonni dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sonni takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sonni has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lazzarini.
Sonni slips a jab and a cross from Lazzarini.
Sonni cracks Lazzarini with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kaheli Sonni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lazzarini stalks Sonni and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sonni's face. Sonni staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Kaheli Sonni has been cut.
Nice uppercut lands for Sonni. That snapped Lazzarini's head back.

It looks like Flavio Lazzarini has been cut.
Sonni moves out of range of the leg kick from Lazzarini.
Lazzarini ducks under a wild hook from Sonni.
Sonni throws a shot to the body.
Kaheli Sonni is winning the standup battle so far.
Sonni is looking to score with low kicks.
Lazzarini ducks right into an uppercut from Sonni.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lazzarini connects with a single shot there.
Sonni lands an overhand right.
Lazzarini on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Lazzarini closes the distance and pushes Sonni back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzarini landing knees to the head.
Sonni lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sonni pushes Lazzarini back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sonni is trying to pull guard but Lazzarini has him pressed against the cage.
Sonni jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lazzarini walks away with a smile on his face. Sonni gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A slow jab from Sonni misses its intended target.
Sonni misses the body punch

and Lazzarini counters with a head kick that drops Sonni to the mat! Sonni scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Sonni is rocked!
Sonni misses with a low kick.
Oh Sonni is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lazzarini ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lazzarini connects with a solid leg kick.
Lazzarini drops Sonni with a huge uppercut! Sonni drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Lazzarini is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Flavio Lazzarini!
A very excited looking Flavio Lazzarini rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.