PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mats Söderlund (ranked 2291 p4p, 352 weight class) and Pops Maellard (ranked 1284 p4p, 204 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Söderlund
vs
Maellard

185 cm
36
181 lbs
39 - 24 - 1

183 cm
34
178 lbs
17 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

FORCEE
Aspire Clothing

RAGS of a RONIN

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 39 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mats Söderlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Pops Maellard!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Söderlund gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Maellard.
Maellard closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Mats Söderlund has been cut.
Maellard takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Söderlund stuns Maellard with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maellard misses with a wild body shot.
Maellard lands with an uppercut that bounces Söderlund off the cage and back into range.
Söderlund looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Söderlund throws a jab when Maellard was well out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maellard.
Maellard misses with a low kick.

Söderlund gets tackled into the cage by Maellard. Maellard maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Söderlund working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Söderlund can't find room to land a body shot as Maellard controls the action.
Söderlund can't find room to land a body shot as Maellard controls the action.
Söderlund digs a right hand into Maellard's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Maellard's gas tank.
Maellard prevents a body shot from Söderlund.
Maellard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Söderlund pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Maellard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Maellard blocks an uppercut.
Söderlund tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Maellard.
Maellard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Maellard is pushing Söderlund up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Söderlund takes a shot to the head.
Maellard tries to throw a body punch but Söderlund avoids it by throwing Maellard back against the cage.
Söderlund throws a punch but it's blocked by Maellard.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A right hand to the body from Maellard.
Söderlund blocks an uppercut.
Maellard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maellard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maellard pressing his opponent against the cage.
Maellard lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Söderlund misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maellard throws a head punch that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maellard misses with a punch on the inside.
Maellard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Söderlund backwards.
Maellard misses with a body punch.
Söderlund has a couple of punches blocked by Maellard.
Maellard misses with a punch to the body.
Maellard tries to work over Söderlund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Söderlund scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Söderlund misses with the head strike.
Söderlund tries to work over Maellard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Maellard - that landed with a thud.
Maellard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Söderlund or not.
Söderlund lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Maellard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Maellard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maellard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Söderlund tries to throw a body punch but Maellard avoids it by throwing Söderlund back against the cage.
Maellard pushes Söderlund back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Söderlund tries to work over Maellard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Söderlund lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maellard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maellard lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maellard wants to stall.
Maellard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maellard throws a head punch that misses.
Maellard blocks a body shot from Söderlund.
Maellard scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short left from Maellard.
Maellard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Söderlund.
Still in the clinch, Maellard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maellard digs a right hand into Söderlund's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Söderlund's gas tank.
Maellard misses with a punch to the body.
Maellard wants to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Söderlund fails to land.
Maellard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Söderlund backwards.
Söderlund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maellard.
Maellard misses with the head strike.
Maellard pushes Söderlund back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short right from Maellard.
Söderlund tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maellard's elbow.
Maellard tries a body shot but Söderlund blocks it.
Söderlund misses with the head strike.
Maellard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Söderlund fails to land.
Maellard pushes Söderlund back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maellard misses with a body punch.
Maellard tries to work over Söderlund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Söderlund breaks the clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maellard scores with a body shot.
Söderlund lands with an overhand left.
Maellard's jab looks to have found its range, popping Söderlund under the eye.
Maellard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Söderlund manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sloppy strikes from Maellard. Those never looked like landing.
Maellard throws out a leg kick but Söderlund moves out of range and Maellard only half commits.
Söderlund takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A quick step to the side and Söderlund tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maellard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Söderlund 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.

Pops Maellard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mats Söderlund's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Maellard staying out of range there.
Söderlund cracks Maellard with an open hand slap.
Söderlund uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maellard.
Söderlund misses with an uppercut. Maellard saw that one coming.
Söderlund lets loose with a powerful body kick. Maellard will feel that in the morning.
Maellard connects with a body shot.
Söderlund lands a leg kick that knocks Maellard off balance momentarily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maellard connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Söderlund throws a big shot that misses.
Pops Maellard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Söderlund dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Maellard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maellard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Söderlund moves away.
Söderlund misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Maellard to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
A solid leg kick lands there for Maellard.
Maellard blocks a jab.
Maellard steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Söderlund.
Söderlund chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maellard can pounce on him.
Maellard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Söderlund chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maellard can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maellard wants to clinch up but Söderlund keeps it at a distance.
Söderlund scores with a nice body kick.
Maellard connects with a high kick.
Maellard slips under a jab.
Söderlund lands with an overhand left.
That kick from Maellard tenderised Söderlund's leg. Söderlund is trying to keep his angry face on.
Söderlund uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maellard.
A chopping leg kick lands by Maellard.
Maellard ducks under a wild hook from Söderlund.
Söderlund stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maellard.
Söderlund works the jab nicely.
Maellard looks to land a left hand but Söderlund moved out of range nicely.
Söderlund is looking to counter punch.
Söderlund misses with a body shot.
Maellard lands a leg kick that knocks Söderlund off balance momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab from Söderlund.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Maellard.
Maellard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund throws a looping overhand right but Maellard ducks down to avoid it.
Söderlund uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maellard.
Maellard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Söderlund slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Maellard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maellard looks to land a left hand but Söderlund moved out of range nicely.
Söderlund looks to land a right hand but Maellard moved out of range.
Maellard lands an overhand right.
Maellard looks to land a left hand but Söderlund moved out of range nicely.
Söderlund stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maellard.
Söderlund looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Söderlund steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maellard.
Söderlund looks to score with a jab to the body but Maellard is just out of range.
Maellard throws out a counter right but Söderlund avoids it with no problem.
Decent striking displayed by Maellard there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Söderlund. Maellard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Söderlund lands a nice hook to Maellard's body. Maellard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Söderlund darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund misses with a kick to the body.
Maellard tries a head kick but it misses.
Söderlund looks to throw the jab but Maellard is out of range.
Maellard moves out of range of the body kick.
Maellard throws a counter combo.
Söderlund is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Söderlund moves out of range of the strikes.
Maellard throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Söderlund on the side of the head.
Maellard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Söderlund.
Söderlund misses with a straight right.
Maellard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Söderlund moves away.
Söderlund checks a low kick from Maellard.
Maellard fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Söderlund on the side of the head.
Söderlund takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Söderlund lands with a nice body punch.
A big right from Söderlund misses.
Maellard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maellard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maellard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Söderlund is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Maellard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Söderlund looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Söderlund swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Söderlund avoids the body shot from Maellard.
Söderlund scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Maellard throws a looping overhand right but Söderlund ducks down to avoid it.
Söderlund blocks a jab.
Söderlund is looking to counter punch.
Söderlund pushes Maellard away with a front kick.
Söderlund misses with a right hand
and Maellard counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Maellard lands the left hand.
Söderlund throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice jab there from Söderlund.
Maellard throws a body shot but no joy.
Maellard motions for Söderlund to come forward. Maellard throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Söderlund avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pops Maellard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mats Söderlund'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!

Maellard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maellard tries a quick counter leg kick but Söderlund is wise to it.
Maellard slips under a jab.
Maellard lands a really nice looking cross but Söderlund seems unphased.
Söderlund blocks a jab.
Söderlund throws a nice outside leg kick.
Söderlund blocks a head kick by Maellard.
Maellard tries to land a leg kick but Söderlund saw it coming and moves away.
Söderlund throws a body shot but no joy.
Söderlund throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maellard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Söderlund's calf.
Söderlund lands an overhand right.
Nice defenses there by Maellard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maellard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maellard throws a leg kick but Söderlund sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Söderlund waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maellard.
Maellard cracks Söderlund with a good jab.
A jab from Maellard finds it's way through Söderlund's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maellard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Söderlund.
Maellard wants to slow Söderlund down by chopping away at his legs.
Söderlund tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Maellard is able to avoid easily.
Söderlund avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Söderlund digs a good body shot into Maellard's ribs.
An inside leg kick lands from Söderlund.
Maellard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A quick step to the side and Söderlund tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Maellard.
Söderlund lands a lovely overhand right.
Maellard scores with a kick to the midsection.
Söderlund misses with a kick to the body.
Söderlund takes a swing at Maellard's ribcage but misses.
Maellard throws a body shot but no joy.
Söderlund scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A low kick from Maellard misses
and Söderlund counters with an outside leg kick.
Mats Söderlund has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund drops his hands momentarily and Maellard takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maellard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Söderlund misses the shot to the body.
Söderlund throws a body shot but no joy.
Maellard connects with a nice looking jab.
Söderlund misses with an uppercut.
Söderlund swings widly with a right hand
and Maellard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Söderlund lands a jab to the head.
Maellard fails to land with a series of punches.
Maellard throws a series of punches but Söderlund moves out of range.
Söderlund explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Maellard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Söderlund throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maellard looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Maellard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maellard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Söderlund connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Maellard scrambles back to his feet.
Maellard lands a nice looking body shot.
Söderlund throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Maellard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Söderlund blocks a head kick by Maellard.
Söderlund misses with an uppercut. Maellard saw that one coming.
Söderlund misses with a hook. Maellard ducked under it nicely.
Maellard moves out of range of the body kick from Söderlund.
Söderlund throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maellard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Söderlund takes a swing at Maellard's ribcage but misses.
Maellard keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Donk. Söderlund catches Maellard right on the button with a cross.
Maellard cracks the inside of Söderlund's front leg.
Söderlund on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Söderlund throws a looping overhand right but Maellard ducks down to avoid it.
Söderlund sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Maellard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maellard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Söderlund jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Söderlund misses with an uppercut
and Maellard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Söderlund tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Söderlund throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A right-left combo lands from Maellard.
Maellard avoids the head kick by Söderlund.
Maellard throws a head kick that Söderlund semi-blocks.
A head kick misses from Maellard.
It looked like Söderlund wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Maellard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Söderlund.
Söderlund takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Söderlund keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Söderlund on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maellard moves out of range of the strikes.
Maellard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Söderlund throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pops Maellard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A low kick from Söderlund misses

and Maellard counters by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pops Maellard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maellard 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pops Maellard!
An out of breath Pops Maellard thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.