PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mats Söderlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Adamson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Söderlund
vs
Adamson

185 cm
34
181 lbs
34 - 20 - 0

189 cm
31
180 lbs
14 - 13 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Lion Fightwear

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 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mats Söderlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Raphael Adamson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Adamson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Adamson showed some decent athleticism there.
Söderlund wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Söderlund looking for submissions off his back.

Söderlund looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Söderlund manages to get to full guard.

Adamson drops back looking for a leg! Söderlund is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Söderlund manages to kick Adamson off! Adamson jumps back into Söderlund's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Söderlund is trying to keep Adamson in close.
Söderlund 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.

Söderlund looking for a guillotine here but Adamson defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Söderlund wants to sweep but no luck.
Adamson stands and throws Söderlund's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Adamson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Söderlund is looking to regain half guard here but Adamson keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund gets back to half guard.

Adamson is working for a kimura but Söderlund is defending it quite comfortably.

Söderlund looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Söderlund is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Söderlund is trying to maintain the position but Adamson is very close to passing his half guard.
Söderlund tries to roll over but Adamson keeps him under control.

Söderlund is defending against the submission attempts here by Adamson.
Söderlund works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Adamson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Adamson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Söderlund was covering up waiting for the punch and Adamson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Adamson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Söderlund isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Adamson stacks Söderlund on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Adamson!
Söderlund is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Adamson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Raphael Adamson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Söderlund wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Söderlund is working hard here to advance position.
Söderlund wants to get back to full guard but Adamson has mounted him!

Adamson working for a submission but Söderlund is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund is wriggling around trying to escape.
Söderlund tries to improve his position but instead Adamson has taken his back!
Adamson is trying to stick to Söderlund's back but Söderlund is turning into Adamson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Adamson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Söderlund.
Söderlund controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Söderlund pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Adamson is keeping the position for now.
Söderlund throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Söderlund accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund wants to control from the top but Adamson keeps moving.
Söderlund distracts Adamson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Adamson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Söderlund wants to control from the top but Adamson keeps moving.
Adamson managing to control the position.
Söderlund wants to pass the guard but Adamson is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Söderlund accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund wants to get up but he can't break Adamson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Söderlund trying to control but Adamson is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mats Söderlund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Söderlund throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Söderlund connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Söderlund wants to slow Adamson down by chopping away at his legs.
Adamson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Adamson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Söderlund manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Adamson looking to pass the guard.

Adamson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Söderlund seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Söderlund wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Söderlund throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Söderlund is looking to take a break and control but Adamson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Söderlund sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Adamson defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Söderlund thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Adamson's head.
Söderlund thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Adamson's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Söderlund works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Söderlund dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Adamson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Söderlund throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Söderlund working a defensive guard here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Söderlund is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Adamson has control of Söderlund's left arm, preventing Söderlund from doing any damage.
Söderlund working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund with a flurry of punches that miss.
Söderlund passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Söderlund moves into full mount!
Adamson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Söderlund tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Adamson is squirming around, avoiding Söderlund's attempts to control the action.
Adamson is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund throwing strikes here but Adamson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Söderlund with good strikes from the mount here!
Söderlund is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Adamson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Söderlund throws some wild stikes that Adamson manages to avoid easily.
Söderlund can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Adamson is looking to escape.
Söderlund unloads with some shots from mount but Adamson bucks and avoids them well.
Söderlund controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adamson is working to get back to half guard.
Adamson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Söderlund tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Adamson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Söderlund.
Söderlund looking to ground and pound but Adamson is blocking nicely.
Söderlund throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Söderlund controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Söderlund wants to finish this one by submission but Adamson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Söderlund.
Söderlund thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Söderlund with shots to the head and body - Adamson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Söderlund lands a big elbow.
Poor strikes thrown by Söderlund there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Söderlund controlling the position easily from mount.
Adamson blocking the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mats Söderlund showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Söderlund has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mats Söderlund!
An out of breath Mats Söderlund thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.