PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Reva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valeri Sobotkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reva's entrance music is Ain't No Grave. A fine choice. Sobotkin has chosen Metallica - Enter Sandman as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Reva
vs
Sobotkin

198 cm
22
260 lbs
9 - 2 - 1

189 cm
22
250 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 9 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Reva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valeri Sobotkin!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobotkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Reva circles away.
Alexander Reva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reva blocks a jab.
Sobotkin misses the jab.
Sobotkin walks into a stiff left hand from Reva.
Sobotkin throws a lazy right hand but Reva sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Reva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sobotkin swivels and escapes.
Reva slips a jab and a cross from Sobotkin.
Sobotkin throws the left hand but Reva avoids the punch easily.
Sobotkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reva.
Reva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sobotkin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Reva doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Sobotkin to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Reva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobotkin shoots in and drives through. Reva sprawls well.
Reva connects with a right hand. Sobotkin shakes it off.
Reva shoots in but Sobotkin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reva misses with a takedown
and Sobotkin counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobotkin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sobotkin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Reva shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Reva has control of Sobotkin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sobotkin regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Reva moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sobotkin has worked his arm free - good work by Sobotkin!
Sobotkin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sobotkin wants to pass to mount but Reva is defending the position.
Reva wants to improve his position but Sobotkin is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobotkin trying to pass the guard but Reva defending well.
Sobotkin trying to control from half guard but Reva is working away.
Sobotkin wants to pass the guard but Reva is defending well.
Sobotkin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Reva is trying to get back to full guard.
Reva manages to get to full guard.
Sobotkin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobotkin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Reva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Reva wants to sweep here but Sobotkin controlling him for the moment.

Reva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sobotkin thows a big elbow that misses.

Sobotkin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sobotkin has managed to get both his arms back between Reva's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sobotkin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Reva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sobotkin manages to get himself to full guard.
Reva trying to control but Sobotkin is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reva is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sobotkin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reva is fighting to break Sobotkin's control of his arms but Sobotkin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sobotkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Reva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sobotkin dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Reva dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Reva shoots in but no luck this time.
Reva takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sobotkin swings for the body but Reva moves out of range.
Reva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sobotkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sobotkin scores with a nice right hand.
Sobotkin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sobotkin throws out a loose jab but Reva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sobotkin misses with an uppercut. Reva saw that one coming.
Sobotkin tries to clinch but Reva moves out of range.
Reva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sobotkin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sobotkin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Reva scores with a nice right hand.
Reva misses with a left hand
and Sobotkin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sobotkin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sobotkin throws a nice looking combination but Reva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sobotkin counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Reva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobotkin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reva circles away quickly and effectively.
Sobotkin leaves Reva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sobotkin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Donk. Reva catches Sobotkin right on the button with a cross.

Reva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sobotkin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Reva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Reva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobotkin is looking to regain half guard here but Reva keeps moving and retains side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reva advances to mount.
Reva trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sobotkin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Reva is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sobotkin to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sobotkin shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reva is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sobotkin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sobotkin tries to hold on but Reva postures up.
Reva tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sobotkin tries to hold on but Reva pushes him away.

Reva moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sobotkin has worked his arm free - good work by Sobotkin!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobotkin is not content to let Reva control the position.

Reva working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Reva is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Sobotkin is trying to escape and Reva transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Sobotkin is forced to tap! Nice work there by Reva! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Reva!