PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Moltov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rufus Soderberg has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Moltov
vs
Soderberg

190 cm
24
170 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

179 cm
23
186 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Moltov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moltov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Left hook, right uppercut from Moltov.
Soderberg blocks a head kick by Moltov.
Soderberg checks a leg kick.

Soderberg gets a double leg takedown into Moltov's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Soderberg thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moltov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Soderberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Moltov keeping moving, preventing Soderberg from controlling successfully.
Soderberg sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Moltov's guard.
Moltov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Soderberg is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Soderberg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moltov regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg stays in close to Moltov's body and controls the position.
Soderberg works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Soderberg is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Soderberg is working for a submission of some sort.
Soderberg controlling the action here.
Moltov is looking for a sweep. Soderberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Soderberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moltov keeps working.

Soderberg is looking for a kimura but Moltov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Soderberg to get the leverage.
Soderberg trying to control the action but Moltov is working from the bottom.
Soderberg wants to free his trapped foot but Moltov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Moltov tries to roll over but Soderberg keeps him under control.
Moltov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Moltov tries to get out of the position.

Soderberg is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg stops Moltov from getting back to his feet.
Moltov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soderberg on the ground.
Soderberg is thwarting Moltov's attempts to control the position.
Moltov is looking to escape.

Soderberg is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Soderberg is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Moltov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Soderberg.
Soderberg seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Soderberg wants to control but Moltov is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Soderberg is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Moltov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Soderberg dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soderberg shoots in for a double leg but Moltov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Moltov leaves Soderberg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Moltov throws a right and a left that Soderberg avoids nicely.
Moltov misses with a series of wild punches.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Moltov enables Soderberg to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Moltov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Moltov controls Soderberg momentarily but Soderberg frees himself.

Moltov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Soderberg passes into side control.

Soderberg thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Moltov is trying to control Soderberg's posture but Soderberg avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soderberg tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Moltov is not content to let Soderberg control the position.

Soderberg looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Soderberg is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Moltov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rufus Soderberg has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moltov keeps working.
Moltov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Soderberg is controlling him well.
Moltov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Soderberg wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Soderberg trying to control the action but Moltov is working from the bottom.
Soderberg controlling from side mount.

Soderberg is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Moltov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moltov is not content to let Soderberg control the position.
Moltov struggling a bit here.

Soderberg is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Moltov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Moltov manages to get back to half guard.

Soderberg is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Moltov is looking for a sweep. Soderberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Moltov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Soderberg is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soderberg with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Soderberg is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Moltov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Soderberg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Soderberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Moltov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Soderberg shoots in for a double leg but Moltov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Soderberg tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Moltov swivels and escapes.
Moltov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Moltov throws a combination that misses

and Soderberg counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Soderberg.
Moltov looking to control.

Moltov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Soderberg defends well.
Soderberg is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Moltov keeps moving.
Moltov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Soderberg passes Moltov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Soderberg wants to work for an arm triangle but Moltov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Soderberg trying to control from half guard but Moltov is working away.
Soderberg is stalling here. Moltov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Soderberg seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Moltov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Moltov tries to stand but Soderberg is controlling his head.
Soderberg can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg sneaks back into half guard.
Soderberg is looking to improve his position.
Moltov wants to stand up but Soderberg is controlling the position.
Soderberg gets full guard.
Moltov wants to stand but Soderberg is controlling his posture from full guard.
Soderberg manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ivan Moltov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moltov is looking to get to half guard.

Soderberg looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Soderberg manages to capitalize on a mistake by Moltov to take his back!

Moltov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Soderberg's arms.
Moltov trying to get back to his feet but Soderberg is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg looking for the RNC.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Soderberg has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Moltov! Can he survive? No! He's out! Soderberg gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rufus Soderberg!