PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valeri Sobotkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sobotkin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica - Enter Sandman. Smirnov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sworn Enemy-We Hate. Aleksander Smirnov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sobotkin
vs
Smirnov

189 cm
22
250 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

196 cm
26
246 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valeri Sobotkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Smirnov. Those never looked like landing.

Sobotkin clinches up with Smirnov and pushes him back against the cage.
Smirnov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sobotkin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Smirnov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Smirnov gets control of Sobotkin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Smirnov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Smirnov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sobotkin is aware though and is defending well.
Sobotkin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sobotkin is looking to work some ground and pound but Smirnov has wrist control.

Smirnov has his foot on Sobotkin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sobotkin works his way back into a safe position though.
Sobotkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Smirnov is retaining full guard.
Sobotkin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobotkin postures up and lands a big shot to Smirnov's brow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sobotkin scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobotkin trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Smirnov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sobotkin is controlling him.
Sobotkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Smirnov is retaining full guard.
Smirnov can't keep his opponent in guard - Sobotkin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smirnov trying to control from the bottom.
Sobotkin passes to side control.

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

Sobotkin tries for a kimura but Smirnov is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobotkin cracks Smirnov with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sobotkin is working Smirnov over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobotkin scores with punches from side control.
Smirnov wants to control but Sobotkin postures up.
Sobotkin in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sobotkin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Sobotkin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smirnov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sobotkin scores with a couple of short elbows.
Smirnov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Smirnov tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobotkin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sobotkin lands an elbow.
Sobotkin working the ground and pound from side control.
Sobotkin landing a few strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sobotkin swings around for an armbar but Smirnov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sobotkin's guard.
Smirnov is fighting to break Sobotkin's control of his arms but Sobotkin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sobotkin keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
Sobotkin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobotkin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sobotkin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Smirnov!
Sobotkin with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smirnov tries to lock up and control but Sobotkin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sobotkin lands a big elbow.
Sobotkin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sobotkin postures up and throws a massive shot that knocks Smirnov out cold! Two more strikes to his unconscious opponent for good luck and this one is all over! Sobotkin goes absolutely crazy with his corner! Wow, you can see how much that win means to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Valeri Sobotkin!