PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dzhugashvili's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Gosudarstvenniy Gimn SSSR . Soprano has chosen Got Yourself a Gun as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili
vs
Soprano

187 cm
31
212 lbs
19 - 17 - 2

188 cm
38
215 lbs
37 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 19 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tony Soprano!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Soprano. Beautiful body shot.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dzhugashvili is looking to clinch.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but Soprano moves away
and Soprano counters with a nice kick to the body.
Soprano misses with a body kick.
Soprano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A left lands for Soprano.
Dzhugashvili throws a series of strikes that have Soprano backpedaling.
Soprano throws out a powerful jab.
Soprano swings for the body but Dzhugashvili moves out of range.
Dzhugashvili stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Soprano.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up but Soprano circles away and keeps his distance.
Soprano takes a swing at Dzhugashvili's ribcage but misses.
Soprano staying out of range there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Soprano, as that shot connected.
Dzhugashvili has been working on his boxing with his coaches at CW's Elite Kung-Fu Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Soprano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Dzhugashvili has closed the distance and engaged Soprano in a clinch.
Soprano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A nice left hand lands by Soprano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzhugashvili lands a body punch in the clinch.
Soprano throws a head punch that misses.
Dzhugashvili tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Soprano avoids it.
Dzhugashvili misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soprano.
Soprano swings wildly with an uppercut but Dzhugashvili uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soprano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Soprano makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Soprano misses with the head strike.
Dzhugashvili keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Soprano's efforts to push away.
Dzhugashvili scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dzhugashvili working Soprano over with knees to the body.
Dzhugashvili doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soprano avoiding damage as Dzhugashvili throws knees to the body.
Dzhugashvili misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Dzhugashvili.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soprano wants to break free but Dzhugashvili has control.
Dzhugashvili using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano takes a knee to the side of the body.
Dzhugashvili misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soprano.
Dzhugashvili prevents a body shot from Soprano.
Soprano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Soprano looking to slow down the pace here.
Soprano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Soprano tries to work over Dzhugashvili's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dzhugashvili trying to stall but Soprano improves his position.

Soprano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soprano keeps the fight on the outside.

Dzhugashvili takes the fight into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Soprano.

Dzhugashvili breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A slow jab from Dzhugashvili misses its intended target.
Dzhugashvili walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Soprano throws a sloppy head kick and Dzhugashvili moves out of range easily.
Dzhugashvili checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Soprano.
Dzhugashvili lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up but Soprano circles away and keeps his distance.
Dzhugashvili throws a hook but Soprano blocks it.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Soprano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up
and Dzhugashvili takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dzhugashvili moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A jab from Soprano misses.
Soprano avoids the body shot from Dzhugashvili.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up
and Dzhugashvili takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but Soprano moves out of range.
Dzhugashvili uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Soprano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dzhugashvili closes the distance but Soprano moves to the side
and Soprano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soprano lands the left hand.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up.
Soprano throws a sloppy head kick and Dzhugashvili moves out of range easily.
Soprano throws a quick inside leg kick.
Soprano is looking to chop away at Dzhugashvili's legs.
Soprano looks to land a right hand but Dzhugashvili moved out of range.
Soprano swings for the body but Dzhugashvili moves out of range.
Soprano loads up on a big right hand but Dzhugashvili slips the punch.
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soprano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dzhugashvili is looking to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch there but Soprano circles away.
Soprano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soprano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dzhugashvili on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Soprano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Soprano will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Soprano scores with a push kick.
Soprano looks to land a left hand but Dzhugashvili moved out of range nicely.
Dzhugashvili uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soprano.
The fighters circle momentarily. Soprano darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Dzhugashvili gets a clinch.
Soprano misses with a short punch on the inside.

Dzhugashvili breaks the clinch.
Dzhugashvili takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Dzhugashvili's corner calls for a 1-2. Dzhugashvili obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but Soprano moves away
and Soprano counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Soprano lands a nice looking body shot.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up but Soprano circles away and keeps his distance.
Dzhugashvili blocks a head kick by Soprano.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soprano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dzhugashvili moves away from the strike by Soprano.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soprano keeps the fight on the outside.
Tony Soprano seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dzhugashvili closes the distance and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Soprano as Dzhugashvili tries to tie him up.

Soprano breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dzhugashvili looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but Soprano moves out of range.
Soprano misses with a body shot.
Dzhugashvili wants to clinch but Soprano slips to the side
and Soprano makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch but Soprano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch there but Soprano circles away.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up.
Soprano scores with a hook to the body. Dzhugashvili takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up.
Soprano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano loads up on a big right hand but Dzhugashvili slips the punch.
Dzhugashvili is looking to clinch but Soprano is avoiding it.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up but Soprano circles away and keeps his distance.
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soprano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soprano wants to land a leg kick but Dzhugashvili is out of range.
A clash of legs there as Dzhugashvili blocks the low kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Soprano lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Dzhugashvili has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Dzhugashvili and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Dzhugashvili takes one to the chin there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soprano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dzhugashvili wants to clinch.
Soprano throws the kick towards the body but Dzhugashvili avoids it.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up but Soprano circles away and keeps his distance.
Dzhugashvili throws a shot to the body.
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soprano paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up but Soprano circles away and keeps his distance.
Soprano misses with an attempted mid kick.
Soprano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soprano lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Dzhugashvili wants to clinch
and Soprano counters with a slapping leg kick.
Soprano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Soprano throws a nice head kick!
Soprano on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Dzhugashvili has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short uppercut from Dzhugashvili.
Soprano looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dzhugashvili keeps control of Soprano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Soprano manages to break the clinch.
Soprano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soprano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soprano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dzhugashvili.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Soprano looks to score with a jab to the body but Dzhugashvili is just out of range.
Soprano throws a solid leg kick but Dzhugashvili takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Soprano.
An inside leg kick from Soprano misses.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up
and Soprano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Dzhugashvili fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Soprano, pushing him back against the cage.
Dzhugashvili lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Dzhugashvili has Soprano pressed against the cage, preventing Soprano from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dzhugashvili tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Soprano avoids it.
Dzhugashvili misses with a knee strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Soprano throws a punch but it's blocked by Dzhugashvili.
A short right from Soprano.
Dzhugashvili tries to throw a body punch but Soprano avoids it by throwing Dzhugashvili back against the cage.
Soprano is trying to break the clinch but Dzhugashvili is controlling him.
Soprano misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tony Soprano will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soprano paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Dzhugashvili closes the distance and pushes Soprano back into the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dzhugashvili.

It looks like Tony Soprano has been cut.
Dzhugashvili is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soprano is defending well for now.
Soprano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Soprano can't find room to land a body shot as Dzhugashvili controls the action.

Soprano breaks from the clinch.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but Soprano is having none of it.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but Soprano is having none of it.
Dzhugashvili will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Dzhugashvili doesn't manage to clinch there - Soprano circles away.
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch but Soprano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soprano finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dzhugashvili tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Soprano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Soprano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dzhugashvili fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dzhugashvili throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano feints and then cracks Dzhugashvili's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dzhugashvili down.
Dzhugashvili is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dzhugashvili wants to clinch.
Dzhugashvili uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soprano.

Dzhugashvili has closed the distance and engaged Soprano in a clinch.
Soprano taking a breather.
Dzhugashvili looking to throw knees to the head but Soprano is blocking nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dzhugashvili.

Soprano breaks from the clinch.
Dzhugashvili looks to clinch
and Soprano counters with a straight right hand.
Dzhugashvili tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Dzhugashvili gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dzhugashvili blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dzhugashvili lands a hook that snaps the head of Soprano backwards.
Soprano trying to control the position but instead, Dzhugashvili has worked for underhooks and has pushed Soprano into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dzhugashvili lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Soprano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Soprano is trying to break the clinch but Dzhugashvili is controlling him.
Dzhugashvili comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Dzhugashvili crunches a lovely knee into Soprano's ribcage.
Dzhugashvili is looking to control Soprano's arms but Soprano gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dzhugashvili has his back to the cage.
Dzhugashvili lands a body punch.
Soprano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Soprano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dzhugashvili is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Dzhugashvili blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dzhugashvili struggles to land a body shot inside as Soprano controls his hands.
Dzhugashvili blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano is looking to break free of the clinch but Dzhugashvili has double underhooks.
Dzhugashvili tries to throw a body punch but Soprano avoids it by throwing Dzhugashvili back against the cage.
Soprano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Soprano is trying to force a seperation but Dzhugashvili has the dominant position.
A short right from Dzhugashvili.
Soprano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Soprano is looking to break free of the clinch but Dzhugashvili has double underhooks.
Dzhugashvili throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dzhugashvili has Soprano pressed against the cage, preventing Soprano from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dzhugashvili keeps control of Soprano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dzhugashvili's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Soprano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dzhugashvili has him pressed against the cage.
Soprano misses with a body punch.
Dzhugashvili is trying to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Soprano.
Dzhugashvili unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right handed body shot lands from Dzhugashvili.
Tony Soprano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano blocks a body shot from Dzhugashvili.
Dzhugashvili tries to throw a body punch but Soprano avoids it by throwing Dzhugashvili back against the cage.
Dzhugashvili doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dzhugashvili with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dzhugashvili misses with a punch to the body.
Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right hook to the body lands for Dzhugashvili.
Dzhugashvili utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dzhugashvili lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dzhugashvili putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Soprano in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Dzhugashvili throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Soprano blocks it with crossed arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Soprano has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Soprano!
Tony Soprano seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.