PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jethro Rusted (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rusted
vs
Soderberg

185 cm
31
194 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

179 cm
42
186 lbs
31 - 26 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

M.O. Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jethro Rusted!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 26 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Soderberg. Beautiful body shot.
Soderberg is looking to land body kicks.
Soderberg tries to bum rush Rusted with a series of wild strikes but Rusted uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rusted changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rusted seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Soderberg fails to land the takedown.
Soderberg catches Rusted with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Soderberg throws a hook but Rusted blocks it.
Soderberg looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted misses with a wild body shot.
Soderberg misses with a right hand
and Rusted counters with a nice low kick that buckles Soderberg's knee momentarily.
Soderberg tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rusted sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soderberg somewhat.
Jethro Rusted has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rusted ducks right into an uppercut from Soderberg.
Soderberg stuns Rusted with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Soderberg throws out a loose jab but Rusted uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soderberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Soderberg comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rusted scores with a nice body kick.
Rusted dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Soderberg. That did some damage!
Soderberg takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rusted slips under a jab.
Soderberg swings widly with a right hand
and Rusted counters with a straight right hand.
Rusted lands a nice looking kick to the body. Soderberg takes a step back to recover.
Rusted throws a push kick but Soderberg slaps the foot to one side.
Soderberg changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rusted scores with a leg kick.
Soderberg fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rusted on the side of the head.
Rusted throws a sloppy head kick and Soderberg moves out of range easily.
Rusted cracks a nice hook into Soderberg's ribs.
Rusted throws a leg kick but Soderberg sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rusted sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Soderberg connects with the punch.
Rusted scores with a leg kick.
Soderberg misses with a jab to the body
and Rusted counters with a nice low kick that buckles Soderberg's knee momentarily.
Soderberg misses with a wild body shot.
Rusted misses with the body kick
and Soderberg counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rusted throws a nice looking combination but Soderberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rusted moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rusted uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Soderberg has time to react.
Soderberg throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rusted stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rusted scores with a decent looking hook.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rusted blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusted wants to slow Soderberg down by chopping away at his legs.
Soderberg clobbers Rusted with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Soderberg feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rusted's calf.
Soderberg lands a jab to Rusted's midsection.
Soderberg changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rusted tries to avoid it but Soderberg manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rusted to the ground. Rusted escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Soderberg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rusted moves away.
Soderberg closes the distance and clinches up with Rusted, looking for a takedown. Soderberg pushes Rusted against the cage but Rusted circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rusted moves out of range as Soderberg throws a body kick.
Soderberg rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rusted counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rusted.
Soderberg pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rusted dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soderberg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rusted as he jumps to the side.
Rusted fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rusted is looking to slow Soderberg down with leg kicks.
Rusted lands a leg kick that knocks Soderberg off balance momentarily.
Soderberg's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A head kick by Soderberg misses
and Rusted makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Soderberg might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Rusted has got the better of the exchanges.
Soderberg swings widly with a right hand
and Rusted makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soderberg.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rusted, right into the meat.

Soderberg fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rusted to the ground. Soderberg is now in Rusted's guard.
Soderberg wants to control from the top but Rusted keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rusted has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Soderberg is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rusted.
Soderberg creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rusted sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Soderberg staying calm.
Soderberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rusted keeps working.
Rusted parries the strikes from Soderberg easily there. Soderberg is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rusted to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Soderberg content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Soderberg swings around for an armbar but Rusted sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Soderberg's guard.
Rusted content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Soderberg wants to sweep but no luck.

Rusted gets to his feet - Soderberg follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soderberg drives through with a takedown into guard.
Soderberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusted is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rusted keeping full guard, as Soderberg tries to pass.
Rusted has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Soderberg working some strikes from top position.
Rusted pulls Soderberg in to control the position.

Rusted is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Soderberg defends well.
Soderberg trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rusted manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg 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.

Soderberg escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rusted gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rusted content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soderberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Soderberg is trying to keep Rusted in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rusted dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soderberg on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rusted is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soderberg can do to turn this around?
Rusted throws a push kick but Soderberg slaps the foot to one side.
Soderberg drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rusted defends it well.
Rusted moves away from the strike by Soderberg.
A combination from Soderberg does no damage.
Soderberg misses with a jab to the body
and Rusted counters with a nice body kick.
Rusted lands a nice looking body shot.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rusted as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted cracks the inside of Soderberg's front leg.
Rusted uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soderberg.
Rusted tries to counter with a takedown but Soderberg is quick to defend against it.
Soderberg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rusted moves out of range of the body kick from Soderberg.
Soderberg on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted misses with a jab to the body
letting Soderberg counter with a right hand.
Rusted connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Soderberg has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rusted.
Soderberg takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Soderberg swings for the body but Rusted moves out of range.
A lazy body kick from Soderberg
and Rusted counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rusted is looking to wear down Soderberg with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A head kick from Rusted lands but Soderberg takes it in his stride.
A solid body kick from Rusted.
Rusted pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And Soderberg tries to counter it with a takedown but Rusted pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rusted with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rusted tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soderberg was well out of range. Poor timing from Rusted.
Rusted tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg swings widly with a right hand
and Rusted counters with a low kick, right behind Soderberg 's knee.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A solid leg kick lands there for Rusted.
Rusted connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Soderberg's hands.
Soderberg misses the body punch
and Rusted counters with an inside leg kick.
Rusted lands with a nice body kick.
Soderberg takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rusted dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rusted scores with a body shot.
Rusted lands a jab to the head.
Rusted fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusted ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rusted swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Soderberg.
Soderberg looks for a takedown but Rusted sprawls well.
Sloppy strikes from Rusted. Those never looked like landing.
A shot to the liver by Rusted. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Rusted finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Soderberg takes one on the button.
Rusted will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A shot to the liver by Rusted. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusted thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Soderberg if he has to take too many more of those.
A left lands for Rusted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soderberg throws a hook to the side of Rusted's head but Rusted sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rusted lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rusted fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Soderberg has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rusted throws a nice inside leg kick.
Soderberg misses with a jab to the body
and Rusted counters with a solid body kick.
Soderberg dodges the punch combination from Rusted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rusted clearly takes that round.
That's time! Rusted's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rusted lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Soderberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Rusted.
Rusted tried to counter with a leg kick but Soderberg avoided it.
Rusted scores with a leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Soderberg or perhaps it was just good defense by Rusted, which made it look bad.
Soderberg takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted thuds his shin into the meat of Soderberg's side.
Rusted thuds his shin into the meat of Soderberg's side.
Rusted fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted tried to score with a low kick but Soderberg checks it.
Soderberg changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Soderberg throws a poor cross that misses
and Rusted counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A cross from Rusted lands.
Soderberg avoids a kick to the body.
Soderberg with the counter takedown but Rusted avoids it easily.
Soderberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Rusted.
A leg kick checked by Rusted.
Rusted explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Jethro Rusted is winning the standup battle so far.
Soderberg on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Soderberg is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Soderberg throws a sloppy body shot
and Rusted connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rusted. That's going to slow Soderberg down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusted wants to slow Soderberg down by chopping away at his legs.
Rusted throws a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rusted takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rusted leaves Soderberg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rusted jabs Soderberg to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Soderberg throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rusted counters with a nice body kick.
Nice shot lands for Rusted.
Rusted bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Soderberg's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusted throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rusted comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Soderberg dodges the punch combination from Rusted.
Rusted cracks the inside of Soderberg's front leg.
Soderberg checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Soderberg on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Soderberg has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rusted.
Rusted throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rusted.
Soderberg throws a right hand that misses
and Rusted makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rusted throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rusted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rusted checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rusted looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Soderberg misses with a hook
and Rusted counters with a nice body kick.
Soderberg misses with a wild combination.
Rusted throws a leg kick
and Soderberg counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rusted had his way with Rufus Soderberg in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Soderberg stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rusted.
You can see that Soderberg has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Soderberg throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rusted misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rusted moves away from the strike by Soderberg.
Soderberg throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rusted counters with a right hand to the body.
Rusted wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Soderberg tries for a takedown but Rusted circles away easily
and Rusted counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted lands with an uppercut that bounces Soderberg off the cage and back into range.
Soderberg is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Rusted wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rusted scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted pushes Soderberg away with a front kick.
Rusted lands a nice shot to the body.
Rusted fakes the leg kick and cracks Soderberg in the body.
Rusted fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Soderberg.
Rusted looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A head kick from Rusted lands but Soderberg takes it in his stride.
Rusted dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rusted throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And Soderberg tries to counter it with a takedown but Rusted pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rusted throws a front kick that sends Soderberg stumbling back into the cage.
Soderberg avoids the body shot from Rusted.
Soderberg drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rusted defends it well.
Rufus Soderberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusted lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soderberg misses the body punch
and Rusted counters with a nice low kick that buckles Soderberg's knee momentarily.
Soderberg takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Soderberg takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
An inside leg kick from Rusted misses.
A lazy left from Rusted finds it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rusted. Soderberg does a little dance to reset his feet.
Soderberg swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rusted digs a good body shot into Soderberg's ribs.
Good exchange - Rusted coming out on top.
Rusted ducks under a wild hook from Soderberg.
Jethro Rusted is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusted throws a left and a right that both miss
and Soderberg counters with a nice uppercut.
That kick from Rusted tenderised Soderberg's leg. Soderberg is trying to keep his angry face on.
Soderberg misses with a hook
and Rusted makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rusted uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soderberg.
Rusted feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Rusted connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice body kick from Rusted.
Rusted fakes the leg kick and cracks Soderberg in the body.
Rusted lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rusted throws a half hearted mid kick.
Soderberg misses with a hook
and Rusted counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusted scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Soderberg feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rusteds jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Soderberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Rusted.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rusted!
Soderberg misses with a body shot
and Rusted counters with a nice body kick.
Rusted fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Soderberg tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Soderberg tries for a takedown but Rusted circles away easily
and Rusted counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Soderberg thinking.
Rusted fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jethro Rusted showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rusted, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 50:44
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 50:43

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jethro Rusted!
An out of breath Jethro Rusted thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Rufus Soderberg was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.