PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yogi Dhamma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dhamma's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Power Of Soul. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dhamma
vs
Soto

179 cm
29
182 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

182 cm
27
181 lbs
14 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Good kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yogi Dhamma!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Carlos Soto!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dhamma shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Dhamma on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dhamma ducks under a wild hook from Soto.
Soto throws an overhand right that lands on Dhamma's shoulder, as Dhamma tries to avoid the shot.
Dhamma is looking to counter the offense by Soto and move into the clinch.
Soto throws a looping overhand right but Dhamma ducks down to avoid it.
Soto throws the left hand but Dhamma avoids the punch easily.
Dhamma feinted with a counter takedown.
Soto lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Dhamma is trying hard to land a takedown here. Soto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Soto's coach down at Bonsai Club MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Soto's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Soto bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Soto doesn't manage to clinch there - Dhamma circles away.
Soto leaves Dhamma with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Soto gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhamma blocks an uppercut.
Dhamma blocking some punches.
Dhamma blocking some punches.

Dhamma breaks the clinch.
Dhamma shoots for a double leg takedown but Soto sprawls well. He's pushed Dhamma's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yogi Dhamma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dhamma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Soto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Soto looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Soto has taken the fight to the clinch.

Dhamma turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dhamma manages to end up in side control.
Soto is trying to get back to his feet.

Dhamma working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Soto is trying to buck Dhamma off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dhamma wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Soto, who protects the arm well.
Soto tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Dhamma has control of Soto's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Soto regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dhamma throws some wild stikes that Soto manages to avoid easily.
Dhamma dominating with strikes here.

Dhamma has control of Soto's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Soto regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dhamma looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Dhamma won't let Soto get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Dhamma is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Soto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Soto wants it to stay on the feet.
Dhamma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dhamma looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd cheers as Soto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dhamma doesn't seem phased though.
Dhamma fails with the takedown

and Soto moves into the clinch.
Soto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dhamma fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhamma blocks an uppercut.
Dhamma is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Soto is defending well.
Dhamma blocks an uppercut.
Soto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dhamma blocks an uppercut.
Dhamma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Soto misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dhamma.
Dhamma blocks an uppercut.
Soto lands with a light punch inside.
Dhamma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Soto misses with a punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Soto fails to land.

Dhamma wants the takedown. Soto is fighting it off but Dhamma persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Soto's guard against the cage.

Dhamma drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Soto dives on top into guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soto tries to clinch

so Dhamma counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Soto pushes Dhamma off and scrambles back to his feet.
Soto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Soto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dhamma misses with a takedown attempt - Soto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Soto moves in looking to clinch but Dhamma pushes him off.
Soto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Soto connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soto doesn't manage to clinch there - Dhamma circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto doesn't manage to clinch there - Dhamma circles away.
Soto wants to clinch.
Carlos Soto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soto bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Dhamma's head.
Dhamma will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fighters circle momentarily. Soto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dhamma tries to counter by clinching up but Soto breaks away and moves out of range.
Dhamma moves away from the strike by Soto.

Soto drives through and clinches with Dhamma against the cage.
Soto swings wildly with an uppercut but Dhamma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dhamma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Soto swings wildly with an uppercut but Dhamma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Soto throws a head punch that misses.
Soto misses with some punches.
Soto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Soto throws a head punch that misses.
Soto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yogi Dhamma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dhamma has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Soto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dhamma blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Soto lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Soto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Soto misses with a punch on the inside.
Soto lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Carlos Soto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Soto misses with the head strike.
Dhamma blocking some punches.
Soto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Soto misses with some punches.
Dhamma blocking some punches.
Soto throws a punch but it's blocked by Dhamma.
Soto misses with a punch on the inside.
Dhamma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhamma tries to pull guard but Soto forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Soto fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Soto.
Soto misses with a punch on the inside.

Dhamma pulls Soto into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soto wants to stand but Dhamma has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Soto is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Dhamma has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Soto is looking to defend but Dhamma has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Soto! Dhamma pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Soto taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Yogi Dhamma!
Yogi Dhamma is the new middleweight champion!
An out of breath and clearly excited Yogi Dhamma thanked Spartan Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).