PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kobus Barnard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Soderberg
vs
Barnard

179 cm
42
186 lbs
31 - 27 - 1

189 cm
30
201 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Lion Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 27 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kobus Barnard!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnard connects with a leg kick. Soderberg looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Barnard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soderberg circles away quickly and effectively.
Soderberg is trying hard to land a takedown here. Barnard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barnard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Soderberg.
Barnard throws a counter combo.
Barnard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Soderberg quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Barnard has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Soderberg jabs Barnard right on the nose. Barnard blinks but takes it well.
Soderberg catches Barnard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Soderberg lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Soderberg steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barnard.
Barnard with a nice cross.
A shot to the liver by Soderberg. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnard swinging wildly here.
Barnard stuffs the takedown.
Barnard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice shot by Barnard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnard scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Rufus Soderberg has been cut.
Barnard throws a left and a right that both miss

and Soderberg counters with a shoot takedown. Barnard fights it but they end up in guard.
Barnard seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Soderberg's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Soderberg throws a strike but Barnard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soderberg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barnard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Soderberg is looking for a triangle but Barnard pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg is trying to control the position but Barnard postures up.
Soderberg is really struggling to control Barnard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Soderberg is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barnard is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Barnard passes into half guard.
Barnard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Barnard stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Barnard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rufus Soderberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Soderberg digs a good hook to Barnard's body.
Soderberg is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Barnard.
Soderberg misses with a two punch combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Soderberg or perhaps it was just good defense by Barnard, which made it look bad.
Barnard closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Barnard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Soderberg.
Soderberg throws a body punch but Barnard moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good leg kick by Barnard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barnard stalks Soderberg and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Soderberg's face. Soderberg staggers backwards, shaken.
Soderberg takes a swing at Barnard's ribcage but misses.
Barnard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soderberg manages to avoid it.
Kobus Barnard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barnard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Soderberg.
A punch combination from Barnard misses.
Soderberg throwing a counter right hand but Barnard manages to avoid it.
Barnard thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Soderberg was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Barnard.
Barnard shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Soderberg eats them both and turns towards Barnard to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Soderberg slips under a jab from Barnard.
A big right from Soderberg misses.
It seemed like Barnard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobus Barnard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rufus Soderberg's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barnard misses with the combination.
Barnard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A right-left combo lands from Barnard.
A looping hook to the body misses from Soderberg. Barnard does a little dance to reset his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barnard! But no joy.
Soderberg shoots and misses
and Barnard counters with a straight right hand.
Soderberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barnard feints a counter leg kick.
Barnard throws a nice looking combination but Soderberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnard throws a head kick that half lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnard thuds a left hand into Soderberg's body.
Barnard pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Soderberg back to the cage. Barnard follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barnard.
Soderberg shoots for a takedown but Barnard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Soderberg misses with a wild body shot.
Barnard just misses with a punch to the body.
Barnard misses with a body shot.
A combination from Barnard does no damage.
Soderberg is looking to wear down Barnard with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Soderberg slips under a jab.
Soderberg throws a big shot that misses.
Soderberg catches Barnard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Soderberg sizes up Barnard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Barnard slaps away a takedown attempt from Soderberg, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rufus Soderberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg throws a lazy uppercut
and Barnard counters with a nice body shot.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barnard 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.
Barnard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Soderberg shoots in but Barnard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Barnard digs a good body shot into Soderberg's ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barnard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Soderberg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Barnard looks to land a combination. Soderberg sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It seemed like Barnard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Soderberg misses with a left hand
and Barnard counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnard looks to land a left hand but Soderberg moved out of range nicely.
Barnard throws a nice looking combination but Soderberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnard catches Soderberg with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Soderberg ducks right into an uppercut from Barnard.
Kobus Barnard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soderberg slips a jab and a cross from Barnard.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barnard.
Barnard catches Soderberg with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Barnard lands with a cross.
Soderberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Soderberg looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barnard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soderberg showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barnard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soderberg shoots in looking for a takedown. Barnard tries to sprawl out of it but Soderberg keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barnard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Soderberg misses with the combination.
Soderberg throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barnard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Soderberg walks into a left hand.
Soderberg misses with a jab to the body
enabling Barnard to counter with a crisp jab.
Barnard lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barnard.
Barnard throws a nice looking combination but Soderberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobus Barnard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rufus Soderberg's cut.
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!

Barnard misses with an uppercut.
Soderberg looks to land a right hand but Barnard moved out of range.
Barnard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nice shot lands for Barnard.
Barnard moves out of range of the strikes.
Soderberg looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Barnard throws a series of punches but Soderberg moves out of range.
Soderberg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Soderberg on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnard throws a nice looking combination but Soderberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barnard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Barnard.
Barnard lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barnard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnard slips a jab and a cross from Soderberg.
Barnard moves away from the strike by Soderberg.
Soderberg shoots in for a takedown but Barnard shows good takedown defense.
Barnard lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Soderberg is rocked!
Barnard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Oh Soderberg is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barnard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Soderberg feinted with a counter takedown.
Soderberg seems to have got his legs back now.
Soderberg looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Soderberg has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Soderberg misses with a straight left.
Soderberg tries to move into range but Barnard moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Soderberg scores with a leg kick.
Soderberg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Barnard counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rufus Soderberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soderberg misses the shot to the body.
Barnard connects with a crisp jab.
Barnard goes for a small jab and connects. Now Barnard goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Soderberg stumbles back but Barnard runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Soderberg to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Soderberg will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Kobus Barnard!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Kobus Barnard waved his t-shirt featuring Lion Fightwear's logo in front of the cameras.
Rufus Soderberg was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.