PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Walter Sobchek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Larinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Walter Sobchek has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sobchek
vs
Larinov

192 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Walter Sobchek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Larinov!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larinov checks a leg kick.
Sobchek throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Larinov counters with a nice uppercut.
Larinov misses with a combination
and Sobchek counters with a solid body kick.
Sobchek has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larinov shoots in looking for a takedown but Sobchek manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Larinov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sobchek throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sobchek turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sobchek with a jab.
Larinov looks gassed!
Sobchek lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Sobchek pushes Larinov up against the cage in a clinch.
Larinov takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Igor Larinov has been cut.
Sobchek slows down the pace here.
Sobchek is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobchek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sobchek using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Larinov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sobchek misses with an elbow over the top.
Sobchek stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sobchek lands a knee to the head.
Sobchek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sobchek with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sobchek just misses with a elbow thrown towards Larinov's brow.
Sobchek pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sobchek putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Larinov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sobchek looking to throw knees to the head but Larinov is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Sobchek.
Sobchek lands an elbow inside.
Sobchek throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sobchek misses with an elbow over the top.
Larinov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sobchek obliges.
Sobchek misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Larinov.
Sobchek landing knees to the body.
Sobchek connects with a knee to the head.
Sobchek displaying some good clinch control by pressing Larinov up against the cage.
Sobchek pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobchek tries to land knees in the clinch but Larinov avoids the damage to the body.
Sobchek with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Larinov is trying to force a seperation but Sobchek has the dominant position.
Sobchek stalling in the clinch.
Larinov blocks an elbow strike from Sobchek.
Sobchek lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sobchek misses with a knee strike.
Larinov blocks the elbow strike.
Larinov wants to break free but Sobchek has control.
Sobchek lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sobchek lands an elbow just above Larinov 's eye.
Larinov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Larinov tries to pull guard but Sobchek won't allow it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sobchek takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Larinov is trying to break the clinch but Sobchek has him pressed against the cage.
Larinov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Larinov has had enough of the clinch but Sobchek keeps him there for the moment.
Sobchek displaying some good clinch control by pressing Larinov up against the cage.
Sobchek tries to land a knee to the head but Larinov blocks with his arms.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice elbow from Sobchek.
Larinov avoids the elbow strike from Sobchek, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Sobchek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Igor Larinov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sobchek throws a good cross that connects.

Sobchek has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sobchek throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Larinov blocks it with crossed arms.
Sobchek is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Larinov jumps guard but Sobchek stands there with Larinov around his waist. Larinov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Sobchek.
Larinov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stalling in the clinch from Sobchek.
Sobchek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sobchek tries to land knees in the clinch but Larinov avoids the damage to the body.
Larinov tries to break free but Sobchek pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larinov tries to circle away but Sobchek has him pinned against the cage.
Sobchek lands a damaging elbow.
Sobchek tries to land a knee to the head but Larinov blocks with his arms.
Sobchek using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sobchek misses with an elbow over the top.
Larinov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sobchek throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sobchek throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sobchek just misses with a elbow thrown towards Larinov's brow.
Larinov avoids the elbow strike from Sobchek, against the cage.
Larinov can't break the clinch.
Sobchek utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Larinov managing to block the knees to the body from Sobchek.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobchek utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Larinov breaks the clinch.
Igor Larinov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Larinov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sobchek counters with a right hand to the body.
Larinov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Walter Sobchek is winning the standup battle so far.
Larinov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sobchek counters with an outside leg kick.
Larinov is breathing heavily.
Nice defenses there by Larinov.
Good leg kick by Sobchek there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Larinov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Larinov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sobchek thumps Larinov with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobchek cracks Larinov with a good jab.
Sobchek scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sobchek moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sobchek.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sobchek - that will leave a mark!
A head kick from Sobchek lands but Larinov takes it in his stride.
Sobchek is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Larinov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sobchek counters with a thumping low kick.
Larinov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sobchek counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sobchek fakes the leg kick and cracks Larinov in the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A slapping body kick lands there for Sobchek.
An inside leg kick lands from Sobchek.
Larinov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larinov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sobchek. Sobchek obviously looking to wear him down.
Sobchek with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sobchek chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sobchek tests Larinov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Larinov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sobchek.
Larinov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Larinov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sobchek counters with a low kick, right behind Larinov 's knee.
Walter Sobchek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sobchek moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Larinov misses with a lunging right hand
and Sobchek counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sobchek is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sobchek has managed to clinch.
Larinov has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sobchek.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sobchek takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Sobchek dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Igor Larinov'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. And we move into the final round!

A lazy body kick from Larinov

and Sobchek holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Larinov tries to pull guard but Sobchek won't allow it.
Sobchek misses with an elbow strike.
Sobchek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Larinov pulls guard effortlessly.
Sobchek has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Larinov is proving hard to escape from.
Larinov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sobchek is one step ahead there.
Sobchek wants to stand and escape but instead Larinov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larinov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sobchek is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Larinov can do to turn this around?
Larinov is keen to just control but Sobchek is a slippery customer.
Sobchek knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Larinov on the ground.
Larinov stops Sobchek from getting back to his feet.
Sobchek blocking the ground and pound attempt from Larinov.
Larinov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Larinov wants to control but Sobchek is keeping him busy.
Sobchek wants to get back to full guard.
Sobchek is looking to control Larinov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sobchek avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Larinov connects with a nice short shot to Sobchek's temple.
Sobchek has hold of Larinov's hands but Larinov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sobchek blocking the ground and pound attempt from Larinov.
Larinov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sobchek is looking to escape.
Sobchek on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sobchek tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sobchek keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larinov moves nicely into side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Sobchek is right now.
Larinov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sobchek is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Larinov landing a few strikes.
Larinov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sobchek some visible discomfort.
Larinov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sobchek is trying to buck Larinov off.
Larinov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sobchek keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larinov is putting a hurting on Sobchek here, landing some big shots from side control.
Larinov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Larinov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sobchek is trying to improve his position.
Larinov looks up at the clock and then as Sobchek takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Larinov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Larinov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sobchek is looking for a sweep.
Larinov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sobchek tries to bench press Larinov off him but Larinov keeps the position.
Larinov working the ground and pound.
Larinov landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobchek wants to get back to his feet.
Sobchek is looking to reverse the position.
Sobchek is trying to control Larinov's posture but Larinov avoids it.
Larinov lands a few punches from side control.
Larinov scoring with punches from side control.
Sobchek wants to control but Larinov postures up.
Larinov lands an elbow.
Sobchek is trying to get back to his feet.
Larinov working the head with strikes.
Sobchek looks to move to half guard but instead Larinov has passed into mount! Damn!
Sobchek tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Igor Larinov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Larinov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Larinov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sobchek 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Sobchek!