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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Keller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keller comes to the cage accompanied by War Music. 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.
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| 184 cm
37
197 lbs
32 - 20 - 0 |
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179 cm
42
186 lbs
31 - 25 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
32 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Virgil Keller!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
31 - 25 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Keller as he avoids it easily.
Soderberg lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Keller backs up against the cage.
Soderberg throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Keller was covering up waiting for the punch and Soderberg finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Keller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soderberg.
Keller working a defensive guard here.
Soderberg got a little sloppy there for a moment and Keller has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Soderberg has managed to get both his arms back between Keller's legs - danger averted.
Keller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soderberg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soderberg looking to sit in guard and control but Keller gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Keller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Soderberg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Keller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soderberg is keeping the position for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Keller is working hard here to advance position.
Keller has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Soderberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Soderberg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Keller gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Keller preventing the sweep.
Keller looking to pass the guard.
Keller postures up in Soderberg's guard and throws a big left but Soderberg blocks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soderberg is trying to control the position but Keller postures up.
Keller wants to control from the top but Soderberg keeps moving.
Keller is really struggling to control Soderberg but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Soderberg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Keller is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soderberg looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Keller passes into half guard.
Keller thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Soderberg's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keller is trying to control the action in half guard but Soderberg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Keller thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Keller passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Soderberg!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keller tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Keller scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Soderberg?
Soderberg is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Soderberg tries to control Keller's body but Keller pushes him off. Soderberg squirms to his side and now Keller has his back!
Soderberg breaks Keller's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Soderberg trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Keller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Keller looking for a sweep. Not yet Keller, not yet.
Keller keeping moving, preventing Soderberg from controlling successfully.
Soderberg pushing down on Keller's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg trying to control from half guard but Keller is working away.
Keller looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Soderberg thows a huge punch but Keller dodges it nicely.
Keller wants to control but Soderberg is keeping busy.
Keller is looking for a sweep. Soderberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Soderberg seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keller wants to improve his position but Soderberg is controlling well.
Soderberg wants to control but Keller is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Rufus Soderberg will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
A jab from Soderberg finds it's way through Keller's defenses.
Soderberg looks to land a right hand but Keller moved out of range.
It looked like Keller wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Keller, right into the meat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Keller, as that shot connected.
Keller misses with a wild body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Soderberg there.
Soderberg takes a swing at Keller's ribcage but misses.
Soderberg walks into a stiff left hand from Keller.
Keller misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keller swings widly with a right hand
and Soderberg counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Keller misses with a series of wild punches.
Keller thows a leg kick but Soderberg checks it
and Soderberg counters with a nice uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Keller looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Keller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Soderberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keller.
Keller looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Keller connects with a solid leg kick.
Keller takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Soderberg connects with a body shot that sends Keller's belly button to the back.
Keller lands a lovely overhand right.
Soderberg scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Keller with a nice cross.
Keller displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soderberg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soderberg throws a wild body kick that Keller sees coming a mile off.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keller throws a hook but Soderberg avoids it easily.
And Soderberg tries to counter it with a takedown but Keller pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A jab from Soderberg misses.
Keller scores with a crisp jab that stopped Soderberg in his tracks.
Soderberg pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Keller wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Keller throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Soderberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keller.
Keller throws a head kick that misses.
And Soderberg tries to counter it with a takedown but Keller pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Soderberg on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Keller displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Soderberg throws out the jab.
Soderberg throws a body kick that misses
and Soderberg takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Keller connects with a body shot that sends Soderberg's belly button to the back.
Keller swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice side step and Soderberg releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg scores with a hook.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soderberg closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Keller did well to prevent Soderberg getting side control.
Soderberg is breathing heavily.
Keller is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Keller makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Keller.
Keller utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Soderberg slips nicely into half guard.
Keller trying to control from the bottom.
Keller is looking to get back to full guard here but Soderberg has managed to pass to side control instead.
Keller manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Soderberg seems to be looking for submissions.
Soderberg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Keller tries to get to full guard but Soderberg has control of the leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Keller has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Soderberg. Oh but Keller has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Soderberg goes limp - he's gone! Keller jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Virgil Keller!
Virgil Keller retains his middleweight title!
Virgil Keller thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Rufus Soderberg stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
40% |
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