PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Do (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yermolai Sokoloff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Do comes to the cage accompanied by The Godfather Theme Song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Do
vs
Sokoloff

185 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

189 cm
21
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Do!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yermolai Sokoloff!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokoloff misses with an attempted mid kick.
Do thows a body shot but no joy.
Do misses with a few strikes there.
Sokoloff misses with a wild body shot.
Do shoots in but no luck this time.
Sokoloff misses the shot to the body.
Sokoloff scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Michael Do has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Do. Those never looked like landing.
Sokoloff lands with a shot to the body.
Sokoloff throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Do checks a leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sokoloff.
Sokoloff fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Do.
Do swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sokoloff throws a leg kick

and Do counters with a single leg into guard. Sokoloff didn't expect that.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Do throwing strikes but missing.
Do is looking to work some ground and pound but Sokoloff has wrist control.
Do working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Sokoloff had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Do defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokoloff utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Do is looking to work some ground and pound but Sokoloff has wrist control.
Sokoloff looking for a sweep. Not yet Sokoloff, not yet.
Do sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sokoloff has momentary wrist control but Do slips an elbow through the middle.

Sokoloff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Do gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Do lands a couple of elbows.
Do scoring with some ground and pound.
Do postures up in Sokoloff's guard and throws a big left but Sokoloff blocks it.
Do throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sokoloff keeping moving, preventing Do from controlling successfully.
Sokoloff working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Do.

Sokoloff throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sokoloff is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Do regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Do is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Do looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sokoloff content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sokoloff is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yermolai Sokoloff will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Do's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sokoloff throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sokoloff moves away from the strike by Do.
Sokoloff fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sokoloff tries a head kick but it misses.
Sokoloff takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Good work by Do as he checks the leg kick.
Sokoloff throws a wild body kick that Do sees coming a mile off.
Do takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Do throws a series of punches but Sokoloff avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Do takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sokoloff swings for the body but Do moves out of range.
Sokoloff throws a sloppy head kick and Do moves out of range easily.
Sokoloff swinging wildly here.
Michael Do is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Donk. Sokoloff catches Do right on the button with a cross.
Yermolai Sokoloff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokoloff digs a good hook to Do's body.
Do shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sokoloff is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Do rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Do closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sokoloff to the mat! Sokoloff manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Do pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sokoloff is keeping the position for now.

Sokoloff is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Do is aware though and is defending well.
Do trying to control but Sokoloff is working from the bottom.

Sokoloff is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Do throws a big elbow that misses.
Do trying to control but Sokoloff is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Do working some strikes from top position.
Do missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Michael Do overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Do throws a strike but Sokoloff rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Do 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.
Do is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff throws an elbow that misses. Do uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sokoloff's guard. Nice move by Do!

Sokoloff has his foot on Do's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Do works his way back into a safe position though.
Do with a flurry of punches that miss.
Do throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Do with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Do throwing strikes from guard but Sokoloff blocks nicely.
Do wants to pass the guard but Sokoloff is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yermolai Sokoloff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Do's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sokoloff misses with a low kick.
Do throws a right and a left that both miss.
Do fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sokoloff avoids it really well and circles away.
Yermolai Sokoloff seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sokoloff steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Do.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Do has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Do on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Do checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sokoloff throws a low kick but Do avoids it.
An inside leg kick lands from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff motions for Do to come forward. Sokoloff throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sokoloff throws out a loose jab but Do uses good head movement to avoid it.
Do stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sokoloff.

Do drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Do creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sokoloff sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Do working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sokoloff avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Do.
Do advances nicely into full mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Do fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Do lands a big elbow.
Sokoloff gets back to half guard.
Do throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Sokoloff is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Do pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Do is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Do throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sokoloff is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Do's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Do's back!
Sokoloff misses with punches from the back.
Sokoloff throwing strikes and Do squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
The referee warns Do that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Do wants to control but Sokoloff is having none of it.
Do is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff throws a wild left hand from mount and Do manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Do is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sokoloff throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sokoloff thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sokoloff missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sokoloff not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Michael Do has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yermolai Sokoloff is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sokoloff has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sokoloff wants to pass to mount but Do is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yermolai Sokoloff.
I've got Sokoloff winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yermolai Sokoloff!