PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Sokolov
vs
Rourke

175 cm
20
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sergei Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mickey Rourke!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rourke drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sokolov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sokolov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sokolov is trying to keep Rourke in close.
Rourke trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
Sokolov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rourke wants to pass the guard but Sokolov is keeping the position.
Sokolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rourke is one step ahead there.
Rourke is looking to work some ground and pound but Sokolov has wrist control.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Rourke from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rourke misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rourke feints and as Sokolov raises his hands in defense, Rourke changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rourke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sokolov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rourke chips away with some ground and pound.
Sokolov 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.
Sokolov is breathing heavily.
Rourke postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sokolov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rourke postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rourke cracks Sokolov with a solid left hand.
Rourke is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rourke trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rourke scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Rourke from controlling successfully.
Rourke is pushing down on Sokolov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sokolov is fighting to maintain full guard but Rourke has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sokolov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rourke.
Rourke takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rourke looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rourke takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sokolov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rourke controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sokolov can't keep his opponent in guard - Rourke advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sokolov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sokolov.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rourke is pushing down on Sokolov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sokolov is fighting to maintain full guard but Rourke has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rourke trying to control from half guard but Sokolov is working away.
Rourke looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rourke uses his free foot to push down on Sokolov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sokolov.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sokolov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rourke landing shots from mount.
Rourke lands with some strikes.
Rourke working the ground and pound effectively.
Rourke is landing with some decent strikes but Sokolov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rourke lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rourke lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A nice elbow there by Rourke.
Rourke has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sokolov's face.
Rourke takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sokolov is in a horrible position here. Rourke smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rourke landing shots from mount.
Rourke is in the full mount, landing strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rourke tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rourke lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Rourke dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rourke looking to score a takedown here. Sokolov is defending well but Rourke drives through and ends up in Sokolov's guard.
Rourke wants to control from the top but Sokolov keeps moving.
Sokolov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sokolov tries to get out of the position.
Rourke landing some decent shots from guard.
Rourke lands a couple of elbows.
Rourke sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rourke throwing strikes from guard but Sokolov blocks nicely.

Sokolov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rourke with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov has momentary wrist control but Rourke slips an elbow through the middle.
Sokolov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rourke has passed into side control.
Rourke connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sokolov some visible discomfort.
Rourke working the head and body with strikes.
Rourke grinds an elbow into Sokolov's temple.
Sokolov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rourke taking a breather here.
Rourke lands a nice forearm strike.
Sokolov tries to buck Rourke off but Rourke is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sokolov keeps working.
Rourke is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rourke working the ground and pound.
Rourke landing strikes.
Sokolov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Rourke cracks Sokolov with a big elbow.
Sokolov is trying to escape the position but Rourke is controlling the position.
Sokolov tries to buck Rourke off but Rourke is having none of it.
Sokolov taking punishment in the form of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokolov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rourke connects with a decent elbow.
Rourke landing a few strikes.
Mickey Rourke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sokolov taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke scoring with punches and elbows.
Rourke lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
A lull in the action here as Rourke stalls from top position.

Rourke is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sokolov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sokolov throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Rourke slows the pace down.
Rourke working the head and body with strikes.
Rourke trying to control the action but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Rourke stalls from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is not content to let Rourke control the position.
Rourke working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rourke is putting a hurting on Sokolov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rourke lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rourke landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rourke wants to control for a moment but Sokolov uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Sokolov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Rourke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rourke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rourke lands with a nice body punch.

Rourke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sokolov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rourke controlling the pace.
Sokolov tries to get to full guard but Rourke has control of the leg.
Rourke trying to control the action but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
Rourke lands strikes from half guard.
Rourke looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rourke works his way into full mount!
Rourke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rourke lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sokolov is looking to improve his position but Rourke isn't that keen on the idea.
Rourke controlling from mount.
Rourke working Sokolov over with strikes here.
Rourke with good strikes from the mount here!
Rourke is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sokolov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rourke lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rourke is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rourke postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sokolov looks a forlorn figure.
Rourke working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sokolov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rourke dominating with strikes here.
Rourke landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rourke cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sokolov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rourke lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rourke working Sokolov over with strikes here.
Sokolov is in a horrible position here. Rourke smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rourke landing strikes, looking to finish!
BOOM! Rourke connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rourke postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sokolov looks a forlorn figure.
Rourke looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke trying to control but Sokolov is having none of it.
Rourke scoring with strikes but Sokolov is staying in there.
Rourke with a couple of short strikes.
Rourke lands a nice shot to the head.
Rourke pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rourke has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sokolov's face.
Rourke landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rourke landing punches.
Rourke lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sokolov is looking to improve his position but Rourke isn't that keen on the idea.
Rourke lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke landing strikes from the mount.
Rourke takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rourke lands a big elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rourke lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sokolov is in a horrible position here. Rourke smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rourke lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sokolov hang on?
Rourke controlling from the full mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rourke cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rourke landing punches.
Sergei Sokolov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mickey Rourke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rourke lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rourke postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sokolov looks a forlorn figure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Rourke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rourke 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 Suge Night scores the fight 24:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 24:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey Rourke!