PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mats Söderlund (ranked 2204 p4p, 315 weight class) and Eddy Maiden (ranked 2486 p4p, 349 weight class). Maiden has chosen Iron Maiden as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Söderlund
vs
Maiden

185 cm
37
181 lbs
40 - 25 - 1

185 cm
42
174 lbs
32 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

FORCEE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mats Söderlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddy Maiden!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maiden misses with a leg kick.
Söderlund wants to land a leg kick but Maiden is out of range.
Maiden tries to work over Söderlund's front leg with a kick but Söderlund checks it.
Maiden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A low kick from Maiden misses
and Söderlund connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maiden throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Maiden 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.
Maiden throws a head kick that misses.
Söderlund lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maiden's sensitive parts.
Söderlund throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maiden sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Söderlund throws a looping overhand right but Maiden ducks down to avoid it.
Söderlund has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Maiden.
Maiden lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Maiden takes one to the side of the head.
Söderlund pivots, looking for a leg kick but Maiden is out of range and Söderlund settles back down.
Maiden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Söderlund moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Söderlund darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maiden lands a front kick.
Maiden avoids the body shot from Söderlund.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Söderlund works the jab nicely.
Söderlund takes a kick to the side of the head.
Söderlund misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund avoids the head kick by Maiden.
Maiden turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Maiden.
Maiden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Söderlund appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Söderlund does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Maiden misses with a body kick.
Söderlund blocks a head kick by Maiden.
Söderlund moves out of range of the body kick from Maiden.
Söderlund throws a body shot but no joy.
Söderlund lunges at Maiden with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Maiden's hand.
Maiden misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maiden takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Maiden moves out of range as Söderlund strikes.
Maiden throws a head kick that misses
and Söderlund counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Söderlund avoids a kick to the body.
Söderlund fires out a quick counter leg kick but Maiden just manages to avoid it.
Maiden fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Söderlund is out of range.
Maiden slips a jab from Söderlund.
A head kick misses from Maiden.
Söderlund fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maiden on the side of the head.
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!
Söderlund misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maiden throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Maiden keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Söderlund.
Söderlund sets himself, and Maiden steps forward looking for the clinch! Söderlund avoids it this time.
Maiden with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Söderlund to score with a decent uppercut.
Söderlund throws a jab when Maiden was well out of range.
Maiden slips under a jab from Söderlund.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Maiden. Söderlund shrugs it off though.
Eddy Maiden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Söderlund takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Söderlund's jab looks to have found its range, popping Maiden under the eye.
Maiden throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Söderlund counters with a straight right hand.
Maiden attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Söderlund throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maiden tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Söderlund manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maiden throws a low kick but Söderlund avoids it.
Maiden lands a leg kick that knocks Söderlund off balance momentarily.
Maiden throws a head kick that misses
and Söderlund counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maiden throws a series of punches but Söderlund avoids them all with ease.
Söderlund throws a series of punches but Maiden avoids them all with ease.
Söderlund throws a hook but Maiden blocks it.
A bone on bone clash there as Söderlund blocks the leg kick.
Maiden misses with the body kick
and Söderlund counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maiden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Söderlund was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Crunch! Maiden slams his shin into Söderlund's torso.
Maiden misses with the body kick
and Söderlund counters with a right hand to the body.
Maiden staying out of range there.
Söderlund is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Maiden misses with a low kick.
Maiden bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Maiden tries to clinch but Söderlund moves out of range.
Söderlund has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Maiden.
Maiden throws a lazy body kick
and Söderlund counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Maiden shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Söderlund throwing a counter right hand but Maiden manages to avoid it.
Maiden has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Söderlund.
Maiden throws a head kick that misses
and Söderlund counters with an inside leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Söderlund.
Maiden tries a head kick but it misses.
Maiden throws a body kick that misses
and Söderlund counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maiden avoids the body shot from Söderlund.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maiden takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maiden moves out of range of the strikes.
Söderlund looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Söderlund moves out of range as Maiden throws a body kick.
Söderlund throws a wild body kick that Maiden sees coming a mile off.
Söderlund throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maiden avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maiden throws a low kick but Söderlund avoids it.
Söderlund throwing a counter right hand but Maiden manages to avoid it.
Maiden takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Söderlund misses with a hook.
Söderlund lands with a thumping leg kick.
Maiden moves away from the strike by Söderlund.

Maiden instigates a clinch.
Maiden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maiden misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maiden.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Söderlund.
Good body shot from Maiden.
Söderlund tries a body shot but Maiden blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Söderlund fails to land.
Söderlund throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maidens head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Söderlund dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maiden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maiden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maiden tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maiden lands a head kick!
The fighters circling - Söderlund throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Maiden in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Söderlund pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Söderlund throws a wild body kick that Maiden sees coming a mile off.
Söderlund throws a big shot that misses.
Söderlund misses with a body kick.
Maiden steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Söderlund.
Maiden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Söderlund quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Maiden lands a head kick!
Maiden moves out of range of the strikes.
Söderlund scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Söderlund scores with a push kick.
Maiden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Eddy Maiden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Maiden rushes Söderlund and presses him up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Söderlund misses with some punches.
Söderlund makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Söderlund lands a body punch in the clinch.
Maiden goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Söderlund prevents a body shot from Maiden.
Söderlund pushes Maiden back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maiden's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Söderlund lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Maiden or not.
Maiden misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maiden lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Söderlund works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Maiden tries to throw a body punch but Söderlund avoids it by throwing Maiden back against the cage.
Söderlund pushes Maiden back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Mats Söderlund has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Maiden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Söderlund lands an uppercut.
Maiden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Söderlund doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maiden swings wildly with an uppercut but Söderlund uses good head movement to avoid it.
Söderlund lands with a light punch inside.
Maiden misses with a punch to the body.
Söderlund goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Söderlund working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maiden misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maiden tries to throw a body punch but Söderlund avoids it by throwing Maiden back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Söderlund scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maiden can't find room to land a body shot as Söderlund controls the action.
Maiden is trying to stall.
Maiden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Söderlund swings wildly with an uppercut but Maiden uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Söderlund fails to land.
Söderlund lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Eddy Maiden has been cut.
Maiden misses with the head strike.
Maiden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Söderlund blocks an uppercut.
Maiden prevents a body shot from Söderlund.
Söderlund gets through Maiden's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Söderlund is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maiden can do to turn this around?
Maiden misses with the head strike.
Söderlund goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maiden lands a nice uppercut.
Söderlund misses with a body punch.
Söderlund lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maiden throws a head punch that misses.
Maiden content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Söderlund misses with a body punch.
A right hand to the body from Söderlund.
Söderlund goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Söderlund.
Maiden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Söderlund is leaning against Maiden and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Maiden blocks a body shot from Söderlund.
Maiden misses with a hook from the clinch.
Söderlund blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Söderlund makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Maiden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maiden misses with a hook from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Söderlund.
Maiden is breathing heavily.
Söderlund tries a body shot but Maiden blocks it.

Söderlund manages to break the clinch.
Maiden throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Good leg kick by Söderlund there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maiden misses with a head kick.
Söderlund cracks Maiden with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Söderlund takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Söderlund dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Söderlund dips to his left and cracks Maiden with an uppercut!
Söderlund lands a head shot.
Söderlund throws a nice inside leg kick.
Maiden throws a head kick that misses
and Söderlund counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maiden fails with an attempt to clinch.
Söderlund scores with a crisp jab that stopped Maiden in his tracks.
Maiden is looking to land body kicks.
A head kick misses from Maiden.
Söderlund explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Maiden chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maiden takes one to the chin there.
Maiden misses with a low kick.
Maiden misses with a low kick.
Maiden fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Söderlund checks it well.
As Maiden backs away, Söderlund returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Söderlund dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eddy Maiden's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Maiden has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Söderlund.
Söderlund blocks a head kick by Maiden.

Maiden closes the distance and pushes Söderlund back into the cage.
Maiden tries to throw a body punch but Söderlund avoids it by throwing Maiden back against the cage.
Söderlund avoiding damage as Maiden throws knees to the body.
Maiden's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Söderlund misses with a punch to the body.
Söderlund working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Söderlund.
Söderlund struggles to land a body shot inside as Maiden controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Söderlund.
Söderlund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Söderlund is working Maiden over against the cage.
Maiden lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Söderlund tries to work over Maiden's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maiden scores with a hook to the body.
Maiden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Söderlund misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Söderlund gets through Maiden's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maiden makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Söderlund lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maiden struggles to land a body shot inside as Söderlund controls his hands.
Söderlund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Söderlund misses with a short punch on the inside.
Söderlund lands a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Söderlund.
Söderlund lands a hook that snaps the head of Maiden backwards.
Maiden misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Söderlund misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Söderlund.
Söderlund lands a body punch.
Söderlund presses Maiden against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Söderlund lands a body punch in the clinch.
Söderlund lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maiden backwards.

Maiden is rocked!
Söderlund cracks Maiden with a nice body shot.
Maiden is still on wobbly legs! Can Söderlund finish him?
Söderlund scores with a hook to the body.
Good body shot from Söderlund.
Maiden seems to have recovered his senses.
Söderlund scores with a shot to the side of Maiden's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short uppercut from Söderlund.
Söderlund lands a hook to the side of the head.
Söderlund lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Eddy Maiden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mats Söderlund is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maiden tries to throw a body punch but Söderlund avoids it by throwing Maiden back against the cage.
Maiden tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Söderlund's elbow.
Söderlund lands a big right hand that drops Maiden! The killer instinct kicks in and Söderlund finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Söderlund!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mats Söderlund!
Mats Söderlund gave a mention to FORCEE in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).