PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Sobolev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Valuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sobolev comes into the arena with Ya kuplu tebe dom blaring out of the sound system. Nikolai Valuev acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sobolev
vs
Valuev

201 cm
23
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

194 cm
18
285 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vasiliy Sobolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nikolai Valuev!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobolev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A punch combination from Valuev misses.
Sobolev shoots for a double leg takedown but Valuev sprawls well. He's pushed Sobolev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sobolev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Valuev as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Sobolev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valuev misses with a takedown

and Sobolev counters with a shoot takedown. Valuev fights it but they end up in guard.
Sobolev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sobolev looking to pass the guard.
Sobolev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valuev is looking to sweep but instead, Sobolev has passed into half guard.
Sobolev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sobolev lands a nice short elbow.
Sobolev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valuev defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Valuev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sobolev advances to half guard.
Valuev is trying to get back to full guard.
Valuev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Valuev wants to get back to his feet.
Valuev looks gassed!
Sobolev throwing shots but Valuev is blocking nicely.
Sobolev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sobolev wants to control but Valuev is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sobolev breaks from Valuev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Valuev is squirming around, avoiding Sobolev's attempts to control the action.
Valuev taking shots to the head.
Sobolev landing strikes from the mount and Valuev is in trouble!
Sobolev lands with some strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sobolev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Valuev's face.
Sobolev working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sobolev is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Valuev can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sobolev lands a big elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Sobolev.
Sobolev scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Valuev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Valuev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sobolev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Valuev is trying to stand up.
Sobolev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A nice elbow there by Sobolev.
The referee warns Valuev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sobolev tries to control but Valuev wriggling away.
Sobolev landing punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sobolev scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sobolev working Valuev over with strikes here.
Sobolev dominating with strikes here.
Sobolev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Valuev's face.
Valuev takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sobolev lands a heavy elbow.
Sobolev is landing with some decent strikes but Valuev is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasiliy Sobolev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Valuev slaps away a takedown attempt from Sobolev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sobolev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Valuev avoids it really well and circles away.
Nikolai Valuev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sobolev misses with a takedown attempt
and Valuev counters with a series of strikes. Sobolev will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Sobolev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valuev digs a good body shot into Sobolev's ribs.
Sobolev shoots in for a double leg but Valuev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nikolai Valuev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Valuev pushes Sobolev up against the cage in a clinch.

Valuev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Valuev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Danga de danga de dang - Valuev scores with a four punch combination!
Valuev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sobolev.
Sobolev dives in and grabs Valuev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Valuev pushes down on Sobolev's head and hops out.
Sobolev shoots in but Valuev avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Valuev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Valuev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobolev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Valuev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sobolev wants to control but Valuev is having none of it.
Sobolev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sobolev is squirming around, avoiding Valuev's attempts to control the action.
Sobolev working to try and regain half guard.
Sobolev is working hard here to advance position.
Sobolev tries to hold on but Valuev pushes him away.
Sobolev regains half guard.
Sobolev is staying active underneath Valuev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vasiliy Sobolev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev wants to get back to full guard.
Valuev is taking a breather. Sobolev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sobolev is in trouble now - Valuev has advanced to mount!
Valuev trying to control but Sobolev is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sobolev tries to lock up and control but Valuev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Valuev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sobolev is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobolev manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sobolev wants to improve his position but Valuev is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Valuev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Valuev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sobolev.
Valuev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sobolev.
Valuev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sobolev circles away quickly and effectively.
Sobolev has his takedown stuffed
and Valuev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Valuev tries to clinch up but Sobolev circles away and keeps his distance.
Sobolev shoots in for a takedown but Valuev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Valuev shoots and misses

and Sobolev counters with a takedown into side control.
Valuev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Valuev is looking to regain half guard here but Sobolev keeps moving and retains side control.
Sobolev working the ground and pound.
Sobolev working the ground and pound from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sobolev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Valuev down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev cracks Valuev with a big right hand but Valuev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Valuev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sobolev lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sobolev lands a few punches from side control.
Valuev taking a bit of punishment here - Sobolev scoring with strikes.
Valuev is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sobolev trying to control the action but Valuev is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev cracks Valuev with a big right hand but Valuev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sobolev looks up at the clock and then as Valuev takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sobolev smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sobolev working the ground and pound from side control.
Sobolev working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sobolev working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sobolev is looking to take a break and control but Valuev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sobolev working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sobolev creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Sobolev working the ground and pound from side control.
Sobolev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Valuev can do to turn this around?
Sobolev lands a few punches from side control.
Valuev pushes Sobolev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sobolev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Sobolev is chipping away with strikes.
Valuev is looking for a sweep.
Sobolev working the head and body with strikes.
Sobolev lands a nice forearm strike.
Sobolev lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Valuev struggling a bit here.
Sobolev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valuev keeps working.
Sobolev landing strikes.

Sobolev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Valuev, who protects the arm well.
Sobolev is working Valuev over with some ground and pound from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sobolev is staying tight to Valuev's torso, preventing him from escaping.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasiliy Sobolev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sobolev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasiliy Sobolev!