PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Soo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valerii Larichkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Soo
vs
Larichkin

184 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

Control Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Richard Soo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valerii Larichkin!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larichkin ducks under a wild hook from Soo.
Soo fails with the takedown.
Larichkin fails with the takedown
and Soo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Larichkin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Larichkin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Soo counters with a shoot takedown. Larichkin fights it but they end up in guard.
Soo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larichkin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Larichkin looks gassed!
Soo trying to control but Larichkin is working from the bottom.
Soo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Larichkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larichkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Larichkin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Soo.

Soo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Larichkin's guard.
Soo looking to pass the guard.
Soo trying to control the position from guard on top but Larichkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Larichkin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Soo wants to control from the top but Larichkin keeps moving.

Soo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Larichkin throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Soo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Larichkin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Soo has managed to get both his arms back between Larichkin's legs - danger averted.
Soo wants to control from the top but Larichkin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soo won't allow Larichkin to get back to his feet.
Soo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Larichkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Soo wanted to stand there but Larichkin had control of the position.
Larichkin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Larichkin goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Soo is on top in guard.
Soo preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.
Larichkin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Soo's guard.
Larichkin throws a strike but Soo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Larichkin wants to sweep but no luck.
Larichkin throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Larichkin wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Larichkin swivels and escapes.

Larichkin gets a takedown into half guard.
Larichkin lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larichkin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Soo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Larichkin.
Soo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Larichkin is nestled in close to Soo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Larichkin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Larichkin thows a huge punch but Soo dodges it nicely.
Larichkin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larichkin lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Soo is looking to clinch.
A head kick by Larichkin misses
and Soo counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Larichkin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Soo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Larichkin somewhat.
Larichkin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Soo is out of range and Larichkin settles back down.
Soo fails to land the takedown.

Larichkin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Larichkin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Soo tries to get to full guard but Larichkin has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larichkin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Soo's head.
Larichkin wants to control but Soo is keeping him busy.
Soo is trying is best to control the position here.

Larichkin is working for a submission of some sort.
Soo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Larichkin.

Larichkin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Soo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Larichkin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Soo defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Soo misses with a body shot.
Larichkin misses with a takedown attempt

so Soo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Soo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soo postures up.
Larichkin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Larichkin controls Soo momentarily but Soo frees himself.
Richard Soo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Soo wants to pass the guard but Larichkin is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soo wanted to stand there but Larichkin had control of the position.
Larichkin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Soo manages to get himself to full guard.

Larichkin stands up and waves to Soo to follow him.
Soo throws a head kick that half lands.
Larichkin fails with the takedown
and Soo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Richard Soo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valerii Larichkin.
Soo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valerii Larichkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Soo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Larichkin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Soo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Soo.
Soo preventing the sweep.
Larichkin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Soo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Larichkin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Larichkin won't allow Soo to pass to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Larichkin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Larichkin.
Larichkin 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larichkin is keeping the position for now.
Larichkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Larichkin is on top in guard.
Larichkin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Soo keeping full guard, as Larichkin tries to pass.
Larichkin postures up and lands a big shot to Soo's brow.
Larichkin wants to stand but Soo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Soo controls Larichkin momentarily but Larichkin frees himself.

Larichkin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Soo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Larichkin has managed to get both his arms back between Soo's legs - danger averted.
Soo controls Larichkin momentarily but Larichkin frees himself.
Larichkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Larichkin gets caught flat footed, as Soo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Larichkin wants to hit a switch here but Soo passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Larichkin there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larichkin can't escape the position.
Larichkin throwing hammer fists to the chest of Soo. What's that going to do exactly?
Larichkin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Larichkin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Soo's guard. Nice work there by Larichkin.
Larichkin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Soo controlling Larichkin's posture.
Soo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Larichkin throwing strikes but missing.
Larichkin trying to control but Soo is working from the bottom.
Larichkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Larichkin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Soo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Larichkin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Soo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Richard Soo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valerii Larichkin.
Larichkin has his takedown stuffed

and Soo counters with a takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Soo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Soo 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Soo!