PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Scott Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahti Sonni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed's entrance music is Tough as Steel by Wolfsbane. A fine choice. Sonni has chosen Aki & Turo - Mahtisonni - as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Speed
vs
Sonni

180 cm
29
150 lbs
16 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
151 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Gilop®
160!

Perkele!
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scott Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mahti Sonni!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sonni instigates a clinch.
Speed wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Speed pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Speed throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sonni has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Speed.
Sonni misses with a two punch combination.
Speed swings widly with a right hand

and Sonni counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonni postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Speed keeping moving, preventing Sonni from controlling successfully.
Sonni stopping the sweep attempt from Speed.
Speed controlling Sonni's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sonni accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sonni trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sonni postures up in Speed's guard and throws a big left but Speed blocks it.
Speed managing to control the position.
Sonni throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonni trying to control but Speed is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Speed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Speed lands a nice looking body shot.
Scott Speed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Speed misses with a double jab
and Sonni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Speed defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sonni.
Sonni just misses with a punch to the body.
Speed tries to bum rush Sonni with a series of wild strikes but Sonni uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Speed thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sonni shoots in for a takedown but Speed shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Speed scores with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonni drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice cross by Sonni.
Sonni wants to land a leg kick but Speed is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Sonni shoots in and bounces Speed off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sonni throwing strikes from guard but Speed blocks nicely.
Speed working a defensive guard here.
Sonni trying to control but Speed is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Speed preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speed wants to stand and escape but Sonni is having none of it.
Sonni has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sonni wants to control from the top but Speed keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sonni pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Speed is keeping the position for now.
Sonni postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sonni trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonni throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sonni controlling from the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Speed swings for the body but Sonni moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahti Sonni dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sonni has a takedown stuffed.
Speed fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Speed paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sonni throws out a loose jab but Speed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Scott Speed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sonni lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Speed circles away quickly and effectively.
Speed throws a head kick but Sonni moves out of range.
Speed feints and then cracks Sonni's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sonni down.
Speed throws a head kick but Sonni moves out of range.
Speed avoids the body shot from Sonni.

Sonni has closed the distance and engaged Speed in a clinch.
Speed blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sonni is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sonni is trying to pull guard but Speed turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Scott Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahti Sonni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speed's elbow.
Speed looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sonni misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sonni misses with a punch on the inside.
Speed is trying to push Sonni away but Sonni has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sonni tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Speed wants to get back to striking at distance but Sonni won't allow it.
Sonni lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sonni lands with a short shot to the head.
Speed prevents a body shot from Sonni.
A right handed body shot lands from Sonni.
Sonni digs a right hand into Speed's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Speed's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sonni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sonni throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sonni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Speed's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sonni under the eye.
Speed works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sonni lands a jab to Speed's midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonni avoids the head kick by Speed.
Speed throws a head kick that misses.
Speed throws a right and a left that Sonni avoids nicely.
Speed ducks under a wild hook from Sonni.
Sonni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Speed looks to score with a jab to the body but Sonni is just out of range.
Sonni lands with a kick to the temple. Speed shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Scott Speed has been cut.
Sonni lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni scores with a jab to the jaw.
Speed stuffs the takedown.
Speed fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sonni is out of range.
Sonni ducks under a wild hook from Speed.
Speed is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Speed lands a body shot.
Sonni throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Speed's waist but Speed gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sonni off to one side.
Speed misses with the combination.
Sonni misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Speed misses the jab.
Speed avoids a punch combination nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Speed scores with a four punch combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonni with a jab.
Speed misses with a wild body shot.
Sonni digs a good body shot into Speed's ribs.
Speed throws a sloppy head kick and Sonni moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circle momentarily. Sonni darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sonni shoots for a double leg takedown but Speed sprawls well. He's pushed Sonni's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sonni tries to clinch there but Speed circles away.
Sonni lands a nice hook to Speed's body. Speed takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Sonni scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Speed is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonni tries to move to mount but Speed blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahti Sonni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Scott Speed's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Sonni.
Sonni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Speed moves away.
Sonni shoots in but no luck this time.

Sonni darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Speed is staying active underneath Sonni, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Sonni is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Speed sees it coming and defends easily.
Speed wants to control but Sonni is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni trying to control the action but Speed is working from the bottom.
Mahti Sonni has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sonni tries to pass to full mount but Speed defends it.
Sonni thows a huge punch but Speed dodges it nicely.
Sonni lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sonni missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sonni is keen to just control but Speed is a slippery customer.
Sonni throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Speed keeping control of the position.
Sonni not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni with the ground and pound but Speed uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sonniis looking to pass into half guard but Speed pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Speed is in guard.
Sonni looking for a sweep. Not yet Sonni, not yet.

Sonni looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Scott Speed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonni manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Speed suckers Sonni into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Speed is now in Sonni's guard!
Sonni bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Speed's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonni trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Speed manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Sonni is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Speed is aware though and is defending well.
Mahti Sonni is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sonni has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sonni wants to control the position but Speed says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonni is looking for a sweep. Speed is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sonni looking for a kimura from the bottom but Speed passes into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mahti Sonni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sonni has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mahti Sonni!
A relieved looking Mahti Sonni thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.