PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Vereschagin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergei Sokolov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Vereschagin
vs
Sokolov

177 cm
25
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Vereschagin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov tries to clinch but Vereschagin moves away

and Vereschagin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sokolov's guard.
Sokolov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vereschagin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sokolov wants to control the action here but instead Vereschagin manages to pass to full mount!
Sokolov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sokolov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Vereschagin avoids the attempt from Sokolov to control.
Vereschagin content just to control the position here.
Vereschagin looking to finish with strikes here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sokolov is looking for a sweep. Vereschagin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sokolov scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Vereschagin manages to mount him!
Sokolov is desperately trying to improve his position but Vereschagin has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vereschagin throws some wild stikes that Sokolov manages to avoid easily.
Vereschagin is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sokolov wants to hold on but Vereschagin pushes him away.
Sokolov is working to get back to half guard.
Sokolov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Vereschagin is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sokolov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sokolov shrugs it off.
Sokolov is desperately trying to improve his position but Vereschagin has a good base and remains in mount.

Vereschagin goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sokolov is on top in guard.
Sokolov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov thows a big elbow that misses.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vereschagin wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Sokolov is now in half guard.
Sokolov throwing shots but Vereschagin is blocking nicely.
Sokolov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Sokolov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vereschagin defends it well.
Sokolov slips a nice elbow through Vereschagin's hands, connecting with Vereschagin's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergey Vereschagin will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sokolov darts in trying to clinch

and Vereschagin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vereschagin.

Sokolov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vereschagin is aware though and is defending well.
Sergey Vereschagin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokolov looking to control.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Vereschagin from controlling successfully.
Sokolov looking for a sweep. Not yet Sokolov, not yet.
Sokolov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vereschagin manages to get himself to full guard.
Vereschagin could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Sokolov drops back looking for a leg! Vereschagin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vereschagin manages to kick Sokolov off! Sokolov jumps back into Vereschagin's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov throws a big right hand that misses.
Sokolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Sokolov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Vereschagin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Vereschagin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Vereschagin!
Check out the look on Vereschagin's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sokolov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sokolov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sokolov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sokolov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sokolov is trying to control the position but Vereschagin postures up.
Sokolov wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vereschagin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sokolov dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vereschagin looking for a sweep. Not yet Vereschagin, not yet.
Sokolov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sokolov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Vereschagin has wrist control.
Sokolov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sokolov throws and elbow that misses. Vereschagin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sokolov's guard. Nice move by Vereschagin!
Sokolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vereschagin is one step ahead there.
Sokolov looking to control.
Sokolov has control of Vereschagin's left arm, preventing Vereschagin from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sergey Vereschagin will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sokolov tries to clinch but Vereschagin moves away

and Vereschagin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sokolov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sokolov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vereschagin manages to get himself to full guard.

Sokolov drops back looking for a leg! Vereschagin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vereschagin manages to kick Sokolov off! Sokolov jumps back into Vereschagin's guard.
Sokolov stopping the sweep attempt from Vereschagin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.

Sokolov has gone for a leg lock! Vereschagin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sokolov's guard.
Sokolov wants to stand but Vereschagin is controlling the position.
Sokolov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vereschagin's guard.

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.
Vereschagin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sokolov.
Sokolov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Vereschagin has wrist control.

Sokolov has gone for a leg lock! Vereschagin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sokolov's guard.
Vereschagin stopping the sweep attempt from Sokolov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vereschaginis looking to pass into half guard but Sokolov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sokolov is in guard.
Vereschagin looking for a sweep. Not yet Vereschagin, not yet.
Sokolov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vereschagin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vereschagin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sokolov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vereschagin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vereschagin wants to stand up but Sokolov is controlling him.
Sokolov with a nice head shot there.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sokolov chips away with some ground and pound.
Vereschagin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sokolov.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sergei Sokolov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sergey Vereschagin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sokolov chips away with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Sokolov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vereschagin 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

The fight is ruled a majority draw!