PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kane Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harri Soikkeli (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.

Hughes
vs
Soikkeli

200 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

202 cm
20
297 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kane Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Soikkeli!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Hughes blocks the low kick.
Hughes could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Soikkeli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Soikkeli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Soikkeli gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Soikkeli has his hands on Hughes's head, controlling the position.
Hughes wants to stand but Soikkeli has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Soikkeli.
Hughes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Soikkeli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hughes wants to get up but he can't break Soikkeli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Hughes gets to his feet. Soikkeli looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Hughes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Soikkeli wants to improve his position but Hughes is controlling well.
Hughes tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes prevents Soikkeli from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli is looking to control Hughes's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Soikkeli avoid being mounted?

Soikkeli is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hughes pulls his head out easily.
Soikkeli looks gassed!

Hughes escapes and gets back to his feet.
Soikkeli misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hughes shoots in and bounces Soikkeli off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Soikkeli controls Hughes momentarily but Hughes frees himself.

Soikkeli wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Hughes dominated that round.
That's time! Hughes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hughes swinging wilding here.
Hughes misses with a wild combination.
Soikkeli gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

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

Hughes gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Soikkeli throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Hughes counters with a shoot takedown. Soikkeli fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soikkeli is proving hard to escape from.
Soikkeli is breathing heavily.

Soikkeli is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Soikkeli manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hughes manages to get himself to full guard.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet but Soikkeli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Soikkeli wants to get up but he can't break Hughes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Soikkeli won't allow Hughes to get back to his feet.
Soikkeli looking to sit in guard and control but Hughes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli has a closed guard, preventing Hughes from standing up.
Soikkeli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hughes's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hughes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soikkeli.
Soikkeli looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Soikkeli decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with Soikkeli, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes Soikkeli against the cage but Soikkeli circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Hughes dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Soikkeli shoots and misses

and Hughes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Soikkeli's guard now.
Soikkeli is trying to control the position but Hughes postures up.
Hughes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soikkeli is proving hard to escape from.
Soikkeli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Soikkeli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soikkeli pulls Hughes in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes wants to get up but he can't break Soikkeli's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Soikkeli kicks Hughes off and gets to his feet.
Soikkeli tries for a takedown but Hughes circles away easily
and Hughes counters with a one-two to the body.

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.
Soikkeli tries to clinch up

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Soikkeli won't be happy with that.
Soikkeli wants to get back to his feet.

Hughes decides to stand back up. Hughes steps back and let's Soikkeli get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli has his takedown stuffed
and Hughes counters with a three punch combo that has Soikkeli backing up. Soikkeli nods at Hughes to acknowledge the strikes.
Kane Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harri Soikkeli.
Hughes's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hughes duly obliges.
Hughes lands a jab-cross combination.
Harri Soikkeli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Soikkeli shoots and misses

and Hughes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Soikkeli's guard.

Soikkeli manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Soikkeli closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is not content to let Soikkeli control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Soikkeli is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hughes has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughes pushes Soikkeli away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Soikkeli gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kane Hughes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hughes 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kane Hughes!