PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zekariays Solomon (ranked 1569 p4p, 1948 weight class) and Loki Kvakkestad (ranked 239 p4p, 287 weight class). Kvakkestad has chosen Contempt - Jucifer as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Solomon
vs
Kvakkestad

190 cm
27
220
16 - 6 - 0

182 cm
32
211
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

30th Century Beer Store

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Zekariays Solomon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Loki Kvakkestad!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solomon scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kvakkestad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kvakkestad has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Solomon.
Kvakkestad wants to slow Solomon down by chopping away at his legs.
Kvakkestad takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Solomon changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kvakkestad looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Solomon landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Kvakkestad's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Solomon scores with punches from side control.
Solomon working away.
Kvakkestad stops Solomon from passing to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Solomon scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon scoring with punches from side control.
Kvakkestad holding on.
Solomon definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Solomon connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kvakkestad some visible discomfort.
Kvakkestad regains half guard.
Solomon prevents Kvakkestad from improving his position.
Kvakkestad gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kvakkestad trying to control the position.
Solomon lands a couple of elbows.
Kvakkestad controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvakkestad is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kvakkestad looking for a guillotine here but Solomon defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kvakkestad working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kvakkestad takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kvakkestad looks to land a combination but Solomon avoids it well.

Solomon feints and as Kvakkestad raises his hands in defense, Solomon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon looking to sit in guard and control but Kvakkestad gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kvakkestad wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.
Kvakkestad might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Solomon haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Solomon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kvakkestad can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kvakkestad is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kvakkestad with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zekariays Solomon dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Solomon throws a body punch but Kvakkestad moves out of range.
Kvakkestad feints a counter leg kick.
Solomon tests Kvakkestad's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Solomon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kvakkestad.
Kvakkestad shoots and misses
and Solomon counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kvakkestad thinking.
Kvakkestad shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Solomon just misses with a punch to the body.
Kvakkestad swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kvakkestad leaves Solomon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kvakkestad doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Solomon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kvakkestad can do to turn this around?
Sloppy strikes from Kvakkestad. Those never looked like landing.
Solomon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kvakkestad throws out the jab.
Loki Kvakkestad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Kvakkestad.
Solomon lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kvakkestad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kvakkestad.
Kvakkestad has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Solomon dives in and grabs Kvakkestad's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kvakkestad pushes down on Solomon's head and hops out.
Solomon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kvakkestad.
Zekariays Solomon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Solomon misses with a wild combination.
Kvakkestad throws a chopping leg kick but Solomon manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Solomon shoots in and bounces Kvakkestad off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kvakkestad is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kvakkestad wants to hit a sweep here but Solomon passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kvakkestad there!
Solomon has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kvakkestad's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kvakkestad is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Solomon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Solomon controlling the pace for now.
Solomon scores with a couple of good head shots there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kvakkestad working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvakkestad is still trying to improve position.
Kvakkestad bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Solomon is pulling down on Kvakkestad's head. It's preventing any offense from Kvakkestad, at least for the moment.
Kvakkestad throwing strikes from guard but Solomon blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Solomon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kvakkestad controls the pace.
Kvakkestad postures up in Solomon's guard and throws a big left but Solomon blocks it.
Kvakkestad looking to sit in guard and control but Solomon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kvakkestad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zekariays Solomon dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Solomon connects with an inside leg kick.
Good exchange - Kvakkestad coming out on top.
Kvakkestad throws a hook but Solomon avoids it easily.
Solomon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Solomon. Kvakkestad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kvakkestad tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Solomon darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Solomon darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Solomon scores with a sloppy right hand. Kvakkestad should have avoided that one.

Kvakkestad shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Solomon keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Solomon slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvakkestad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Solomon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kvakkestad trying to control the position from guard on top but Solomon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kvakkestad working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Solomon's head.
Kvakkestad wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.
Solomon is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Solomon looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Solomon looking for a sweep. Not yet Solomon, not yet.
Kvakkestad lands a couple of elbows.

Solomon is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zekariays Solomon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Solomon keeping full guard, as Kvakkestad tries to pass.
Kvakkestad trying to control the position from guard on top but Solomon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon looks for the body kick but Kvakkestad saw that one coming.
Solomon fails with a takedown attempt.
Kvakkestad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Solomon throws a nice outside leg kick.
Solomon throws a jab but it's blocked by Kvakkestad.
Kvakkestad misses with a wild body shot.

Solomon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kvakkestad is trying to maintain the position but Solomon is very close to passing his half guard.
Solomon thows a huge punch but Kvakkestad dodges it nicely.
Solomon with the ground and pound but Kvakkestad uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kvakkestad looking to hit a scissor sweep but Solomon is one step ahead there.
Solomon trying to control the position from guard on top but Kvakkestad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kvakkestad managing to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kvakkestad looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zekariays Solomon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Solomon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zekariays Solomon!
During a confident post fight interview, Zekariays Solomon thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.