PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randon Rett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rett has chosen I want you to die. as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Sergei Sokolov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sokolov
vs
Rett

183 cm
25
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

191 cm
29
183 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Randon Rett!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rett counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sokolov keeps working.
Sokolov is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sokolov is looking for a sweep. Rett is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rett sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sokolov defending well though.
Rett content to control rather than advance.

Rett wants to work for an arm triangle but Sokolov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov wants to get back to full guard.
Rett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sokolov wants to improve his position but Rett is controlling well.
Rett missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sokolov's head.
Rett trying to pass the guard but Sokolov defending well.
Rett trying to advance position but Sokolov counters by regaining guard.
Rett postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rett engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rett postures up in Sokolov's guard and throws a big left but Sokolov blocks it.
Rett preventing the sweep.
Rett trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
Rett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sokolov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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.
Rett trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sokolov looks to clinch

so Rett counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rett is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sokolov keeping full guard, as Rett tries to pass.
Rett controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rett 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.
Rett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sokolov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Rett from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sokolov is controlling Rett's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sokolov wants to clinch but Rett slips to the side
and Rett counters with a left to the body.
Sokolov closes the distance but Rett moves to the side
and Rett counters with a left to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randon Rett dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rett darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sokolov's head.
Rett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sokolov's head.
Rett working the head and body with strikes.
Rett has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sokolov is squirming around, avoiding Rett's attempts to control the action.
Sokolov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rett with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rett putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rett prevents Sokolov from getting the reversal.
Rett misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Randon Rett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rett misses with a head shot.
Rett landing strikes from the mount and Sokolov is in trouble!
Rett wants to control the pace but Sokolov is squirming around nicely.

Rett jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sokolov manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Rett is trying to get an arm triangle but Sokolov is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rett trying to control the position but Sokolov is working away.
Sokolov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rett in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokolov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rett.
Rett controls the position.

Rett working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rett trying to control the position but Sokolov is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rett sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sokolov is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rett scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sokolov to see if he's OK.

Rett working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sokolov is looking for a sweep.
Rett fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rett staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rett creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sokolov sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rett lands a few punches from side control.
Rett taking a breather here.
Sokolov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rett cracks Sokolov with a big right hand but Sokolov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rett looking to control but instead Sokolov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Rett is nestled in close to Sokolov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randon Rett 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sokolov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sokolov tries to clinch up
and Rett counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rett circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rett counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rett lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rett takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rett looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rett trying to control the pace.
Rett lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rett thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rett wants to take a breather but Sokolov is having none of it.
Rett is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rett working over Sokolov with some ground and pound. Sokolov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sokolov trying to control from the bottom.
Rett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rett 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.
Rett has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rett scoring with strikes but Sokolov is staying in there.
Rett throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rett with shots to the head and body - Sokolov looks very uncomfortable down there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sokolov working to try and regain half guard.
Rett lands a big elbow.
Rett lands a big shot there that rocks Sokolov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rett working Sokolov over with strikes here.
Rett throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rett working the ground and pound effectively.
Rett working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rett wants to control the pace but Sokolov is squirming around nicely.
Sokolov taking shots to the head.
Sergei Sokolov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rett controlling the position easily from mount.
Rett's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rett is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Randon Rett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rett looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sokolov is in a horrible position here. Rett smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rett controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randon Rett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rett 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 25:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randon Rett!
A relieved looking Randon Rett thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.