PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shane Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Sopraano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Thomas
vs
Sopraano

189 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shane Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Sopraano!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sopraano tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
No luck for Sopraano with that takedown attempt.

Sopraano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sopraano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Thomas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sopraano's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sopraano's back!
Sopraano is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Sopraano breaks Thomas's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Thomas trying to control the position.
Thomas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sopraano wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas striking off his back but it's not causing Sopraano any problems.
Sopraano slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Thomas.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas actively working from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sopraano shoots for a double leg takedown but Thomas sprawls well. He's pushed Sopraano's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shane Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Sopraano.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Sopraano stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sopraano wants it to stay on the feet.
Sopraano slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sopraano with a poor takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sopraano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thomas thows a big elbow that misses.
Sopraano throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sopraano keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sopraano is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Thomas rolls with it to try and escape but Sopraano cranks on the arm and Thomas is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Toni Sopraano!