PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Demid Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Ku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ku has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Sokolov
vs
Ku

183 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Demid Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Ku!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ku's head.
Ku looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Sokolov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ku is staying active underneath Sokolov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sokolov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ku is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sokolov in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Demid Sokolov.

Sokolov gets the takedown into side control.
Sokolov wants to control but Ku is keeping him busy.
Sokolov tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sokolov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Sokolov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ku to the mat! Ku manages to get full guard.
Ku is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sokolov trying to control but Ku is working from the bottom.
Sokolov pushing down on Ku's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokolov is looking to advance position but Ku won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokolov stops Ku from getting back to his feet.

Sokolov seems to be working for a kimura but Ku defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Ku pushes Sokolov off and gets back to his feet.
Ku has his takedown stuffed
and Sokolov counters with an inside leg kick.
Ku gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Sokolov counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sokolov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Sokolov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ku is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ku tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sokolov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Sokolov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sokolov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sokolov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Ku explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ku with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sokolov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Demid Sokolov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Ku.
Sokolov wants to control from the top but Ku keeps moving.

Ku pushes Sokolov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ku misses with a takedown attempt

and Sokolov counters with a single leg into guard. Ku didn't expect that.
Ku throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ku keeping moving, preventing Sokolov from controlling successfully.
Ku throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sokolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ku works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokolov trying to control but Ku is working from the bottom.
Ku wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demid Sokolov dominated that round.
That's time! Sokolov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sokolov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ku but Ku pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Sokolov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sokolov prevents Ku from standing back up.
Sokolov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sokolov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sokolov is trying to control the action in half guard but Ku is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sokolov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sokolov tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sokolov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ku sees it coming and defends easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ku shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sokolov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ku's guard.
Sokolov pushes down on Ku's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ku is trying to stand back up but Sokolov is controlling him
Sokolov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ku controls his leg.
Sokolov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ku does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ku pushes Sokolov off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ku fails with the takedown

and Sokolov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sokolov.
Sokolov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ku has Sokolov pushed against the cage.
Sokolov misses with a body punch.
Sokolov tries to pull guard but Ku won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demid Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ku's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alex Ku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sokolov feints and as Ku raises his hands in defense, Sokolov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ku looking for a guillotine here but Sokolov defends easily.
Ku is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Demid Sokolov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokolov wants to stand but Ku is controlling his posture from full guard.

Ku scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sokolov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ku but Ku pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ku misses with a takedown attempt

and Sokolov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ku's guard.

Sokolov gets to his feet. Ku looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Sokolov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sokolov looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov lands with some strikes.
Ku tries to hold on but Sokolov postures up.
You get the feeling that Ku really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Ku tries to hold on but Sokolov postures up.
Ku is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ku takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ku trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sokolov unloads with some shots from mount but Ku bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demid Sokolov dominated that second round.
That's time! Sokolov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ku tries to clinch but Sokolov moves out of range.
Sokolov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sokolov wants to clinch.

Sokolov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sokolov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ku controls Sokolov momentarily but Sokolov frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ku throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ku wants to get back to his feet but Sokolov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ku throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ku avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sokolov trying to control but Ku is working from the bottom.
Ku is trying to hold Sokolov in close to prevent damage but Sokolov has managed to pass into half guard.

Ku looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sokolov scores with a takedown into Ku's guard.
Sokolov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ku wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling the position.
Sokolov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sokolov trying to control but Ku is working from the bottom.
Ku is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sokolov is controlling him.
Sokolov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ku is keeping the position for now.
Sokolov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sokolov postures up.
Ku wants to stand up but Sokolov is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ku circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ku shoots and misses

and Sokolov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ku tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Sokolov manages to move to mount!
Ku is trying to reverse the position but instead Sokolov has taken his back - oops!
Ku wants to get back to his feet.

Sokolov patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Ku is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Sokolov off. It looks like it's working - Sokolov slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Ku displaying calm under pressure there.
Ku shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sokolov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ku kicks Sokolov off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ku with a poor takedown

and Sokolov counters with a takedown into side control.
Demid Sokolov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Ku.
Ku wants to get back to his feet but Sokolov drags him back down.
Ku is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sokolov is staying tight to Ku's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ku can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alex Ku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Demid Sokolov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ku is not content to let Sokolov control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demid Sokolov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sokolov 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demid Sokolov!