PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Rufus Soderberg enters the ring!

Sullivan
vs
Soderberg

180 cm
29
185 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

179 cm
39
186 lbs
27 - 20 - 1

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeremy Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 20 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Sullivan - just one landing.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soderberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soderberg lands a body shot.
Soderberg lands with a cross.
Sullivan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sullivan takes one on the button.
Sullivan slips a straight right by Soderberg.
Sullivan tries to clinch there but Soderberg circles away.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sullivan sprawls well. Sullivan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Soderberg gets slowly back to his feet.
Sullivan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sullivan scores with a jab to the jaw.

Sullivan rushes Soderberg and presses him up against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soderberg misses with a punch on the inside.

Soderberg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sullivan connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Sullivan misses.
Soderberg blocks a jab.
Soderberg connects with the punch.

It looks like Jeremy Sullivan has been cut.
Sullivan misses with a double jab
and Soderberg counters with a stiff right hand.
Soderberg avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sullivan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Soderberg.
Sullivan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jeremy Sullivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sullivan tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Sullivan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sullivan moves in looking to clinch but Soderberg pushes him off.
Soderberg is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sullivan with a body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Sullivan. That snapped Soderberg's head back.
Soderberg connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sullivan moves away.
Soderberg throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sullivan's waist but Sullivan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soderberg off to one side.
Sullivan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
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!
Sullivan misses with a looping right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Soderberg! But no joy.
Good standup being displayed there by Sullivan as he connects with a hook.
Soderberg lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Soderberg.
Sullivan is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Sullivan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Soderberg wants to control but Sullivan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Soderberg looking for submissions off his back.
Soderberg is trying to get back to full guard.
Soderberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Sullivan there.
Sullivan working over Soderberg with some ground and pound. Soderberg looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sullivan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Soderberg with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sullivan wants to take a breather but Soderberg is having none of it.
Sullivan prevents Soderberg from improving his position.

Soderberg actively working from the bottom here.
Soderberg taking some punishment here, with Sullivan in his half guard.
Sullivan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Soderberg is trying to get back to full guard.
Sullivan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soderberg keeps working.
Sullivan winds up and cracks Soderberg with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Soderberg looking for submissions off his back.
Soderberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sullivan winds up and cracks Soderberg with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sullivan lands a nice short elbow.
Sullivan trying to advance position but Soderberg counters by regaining guard.
Sullivan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Soderberg's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sullivan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soderberg swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sullivan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sullivan trying to control but Soderberg is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Sullivan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jeremy Sullivan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Soderberg pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sullivan misses with a lunging right hand
and Soderberg counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sullivan lands with a straight right. Soderberg didn't see that one coming.
Soderberg ducks under a wild hook from Sullivan.
Sullivan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soderberg can do to turn this around?
Sullivan throws a lazy right hand but Soderberg sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sullivan throws the left hand but Soderberg avoids the punch easily.
Sullivan looks to land a left hand but Soderberg moved out of range nicely.
Soderberg looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sullivan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soderberg.
A shot to the liver by Soderberg. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice side step and Soderberg releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sullivan misses with an uppercut. Soderberg saw that one coming.
Soderberg connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice cross by Soderberg.
Soderberg misses with a takedown attempt - Sullivan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Soderberg connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sullivan momentarily.
Sullivan tries to clinch but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Sullivan clinches with his opponent.
Soderberg lands a shot to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sullivan.
A right hand to the body from Soderberg.
Sullivan throws a punch but it's blocked by Soderberg.

Soderberg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sullivan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg tries to move into range but Sullivan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sullivan tries to clinch
and Soderberg connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sullivan misses with a looping right.
As Sullivan backs off Soderberg throws a huge counter combo but Sullivan manages to avoid it all.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soderberg changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Soderberg uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sullivan.
Sullivan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soderberg moves out of range of the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soderberg feints the counter takedown.
Sullivan misses with an uppercut.
Sullivan looks to throw the jab but Soderberg is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sullivan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Soderberg.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soderberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soderberg takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Soderberg slips under a jab.
Sullivan gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sullivan throws a lazy right hand but Soderberg sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Soderberg tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sullivan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sullivan misses with a hook. Soderberg ducked under it nicely.
Soderberg closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Jeremy Sullivan's cut is getting worse.

Sullivan closes the distance and clinches.
Sullivan misses with a punch on the inside.
Soderberg is looking to take this one to the mat.
Jeremy Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sullivan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan misses with the head strike.
Soderberg can't get the takedown.
Sullivan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Soderberg.
Sullivan misses with a punch on the inside.
Sullivan misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Soderberg scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sullivan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sullivan lands a left hand.
Sullivan gets through Soderberg's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Soderberg.
Soderberg blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
I was talking to Sullivan's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Soderberg is looking for a takedown.
Sullivan blocks an uppercut.
Sullivan trying to stall but Soderberg improves his position.
Sullivan misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jeremy Sullivan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jeremy Sullivan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Soderberg scores with a decent looking hook.

Sullivan clinches with his opponent.
Soderberg blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sullivan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Soderberg avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Soderberg lands with a light punch inside.
Sullivan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nice body punch from Soderberg.
Soderberg lands a nice shot to the body.

Soderberg manages to break the clinch.
Sullivan throws a big shot that misses.
Soderberg connects with a right hand. Sullivan shakes it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Sullivan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sullivan.
Sullivan tests Soderberg's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Soderberg connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Soderberg misses with a kick to the body.
Sullivan misses with an uppercut. Soderberg saw that one coming.
Soderberg drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sullivan defends it well.

Sullivan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Jeremy Sullivan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Soderberg is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sullivan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Soderberg is refusing to be controlled, as Sullivan sits in half guard.
Soderberg won't allow Sullivan to pass to mount.
Sullivan trying to control from half guard but Soderberg is working away.
Sullivan thows a huge punch but Soderberg dodges it nicely.
Soderberg tries to roll over but Sullivan keeps him under control.
Soderberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Sullivan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sullivan trying to control from half guard but Soderberg is working away.

Soderberg actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sullivan working over Soderberg with some ground and pound. Soderberg looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sullivan trying to pass the guard but Soderberg defending well.
Sullivan working the head and body with strikes.
Sullivan working Soderberg over with strikes.
Soderberg is looking for a sweep. Sullivan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Soderberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Sullivan there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg trying to control but Sullivan postures up.
Soderberg trying to get back to full guard but Sullivan takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Sullivan looking to control but Soderberg is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee warns Soderberg that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sullivan scoring with strikes but Soderberg is staying in there.

Soderberg is rocked!
Sullivan loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Soderberg scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Sullivan land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Sullivan stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jeremy Sullivan!
An out of breath Jeremy Sullivan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Rufus Soderberg had this to say: 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.