PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marek Koltun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Söderlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Koltun
vs
Söderlund

182 cm
38
177 lbs
21 - 12 - 4

185 cm
35
181 lbs
37 - 20 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 4, fighting out of Helsinki, Marek Koltun!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mats Söderlund!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Söderlund connects with a body shot.
A slow jab from Koltun misses its intended target.
Koltun attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A nice side step and Söderlund releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Koltun.
Koltun gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Söderlund.

It looks like Marek Koltun has been cut.
A clash of legs there as Koltun blocks the low kick.
Koltun swings for the body but Söderlund moves out of range.
Söderlund misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koltun.
Söderlund scores with a jab. Koltun acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koltun throws a body shot but no joy.
Koltun moves out of range of the leg kick from Söderlund.
Söderlund tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koltun paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Koltun avoids the body shot from Söderlund.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun slips a straight right by Söderlund.
Koltun closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Söderlund to counter with a crisp jab.

Koltun is rocked!

Koltun fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Söderlund to the ground. Koltun is now in Söderlund's guard.

Söderlund looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Söderlund not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Söderlund is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Koltun throws a big elbow that misses.
Koltun won't allow Söderlund to sweep him here.
Söderlund being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Söderlund escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Koltun gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Koltun is looking to work some ground and pound but Söderlund has wrist control.
Koltun won't allow Söderlund to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Koltun's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Söderlund looking to hit a scissor sweep but Koltun is one step ahead there.
Our spies down at at Hey Steves Fight Shack inform us that Söderlund has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Söderlund working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koltun.
Söderlund working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koltun.
Söderlund lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Söderlund trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Koltun controls Söderlund momentarily but Söderlund frees himself.
Koltun is looking to sweep but instead, Söderlund has passed into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Söderlund tries to stand but can't do so whilst Koltun controls his leg.
Koltun 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.
Koltun wants to improve his position but Söderlund is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Söderlund working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Koltun's thigh. Koltun counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Söderlund won't allow Koltun to sweep him here.
Söderlund stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koltun swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Koltun controls Söderlund momentarily but Söderlund frees himself.
Söderlund loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Söderlund throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koltun works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koltun tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Söderlund dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marek Koltun's cut.
That's time! Koltun's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Söderlund displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Koltun.
Koltun takes a swing at Söderlund's ribcage but misses.
Koltun throws a leg kick but Söderlund moved away.
Koltun scoring well with a low kick there.
Söderlund throws a leg kick but Koltun sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Söderlund lands an overhand right.
Söderlund feints and then cracks Koltun's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Koltun down.
Söderlund moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Söderlund tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Koltun is able to avoid easily.
Koltun steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Söderlund.
Söderlund misses with a left hand
and Koltun counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Söderlund takes a swing at Koltun's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun fails with a takedown attempt.
Söderlund ducks under a wild hook from Koltun.
Koltun steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Söderlund.
Koltun misses with a lunging right hand
and Koltun takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mats Söderlund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koltun slips a jab from Söderlund.
Söderlund misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mats Söderlund seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Söderlund throws a left and a right that both miss
and Koltun counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Koltun fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marek Koltun. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Söderlund looks to throw the jab but Koltun is out of range.
Söderlund pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Söderlund misses the jab.
Koltun throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Söderlund connects with an inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Söderlund throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Söderlund misses with a leg kick.

Koltun changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Söderlund looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koltun connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Söderlund some visible discomfort.
Koltun advances to full mount.
A nice elbow there by Koltun.

It looks like Mats Söderlund has been cut.
Söderlund really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund is still trying to improve position.
Koltun has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Söderlund's face.
Koltun lands a big elbow.
Koltun lands a big shot there that rocks Söderlund but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That has opened up Mats Söderlund's cut even more.
Söderlund can't escape the position.
Koltun fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Söderlund is wriggling around trying to escape.
Koltun lands a nice shot to the head.

Mats Söderlund's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Mats Söderlund's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Marek Koltun!
Marek Koltun retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking Marek Koltun thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.