PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valdimir Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sokolov
vs
Mir

220 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valdimir Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Mir!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sokolov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mir sprawls well initially but Sokolov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sokolov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sokolov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mir is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sokolov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sokolov slips a nice elbow through Mir's hands, connecting with Mir's forehead.
Sokolov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mir defending well though.
Mir wants to get back to his feet.
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!
Sokolov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mir does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sokolov lands strikes from half guard.
Sokolov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mir's head.
Mir keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sokolov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mir trying to hold on to Sokolov's head to control him but Sokolov postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mir is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sokolov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mir wants to control but Sokolov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sokolov trying to control the action but Mir is working from the bottom.
Sokolov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir trying to control here.

Frank Mir has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Sokolov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sokolov showed some decent athleticism there.
Mir is looking to control Sokolov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mir avoid being mounted?
Mir gets full guard.
Mir looking to control.
Sokolov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mir's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Mir had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sokolov defends it easily.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mir wants to sweep but no luck.
Mir is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokolov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mir trying to keep a closed guard but Sokolov is proving a slippery customer.
Sokolov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mir is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Frank Mir has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Sokolov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mir looks winded!
Sokolov missing with punches from the bottom.
Sokolov wants to improve his position but Mir is controlling well.
Sokolov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Mir is trying to work for a kimura but Sokolov is defending well.
Mir is thwarting Sokolov's attempts to control the position.

Mir is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sokolov has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is trying to control but can't.
Mir is keen to just control but Sokolov is a slippery customer.

Mir looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mir seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sokolov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mir is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Sokolov manages to get to full guard.
Mir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sokolov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdimir Sokolov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sokolov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sokolov lands in his opponent's guard.
Sokolov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sokolov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sokolov throws a big right hand that misses.
Mir is trying to control the position but Sokolov postures up.

Mir is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sokolov defends well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sokolov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sokolov won't allow Mir to get back to his feet.
Sokolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sokolov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mir is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sokolov throws an elbow that misses. Mir uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sokolov's guard. Nice move by Mir!

Mir is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mir is breathing heavily.
Sokolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mir is one step ahead there.
Sokolov working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir postures up in Sokolov's guard and throws a big left but Sokolov blocks it.

Mir drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mir jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mir trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.

Mir drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mir jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sokolov controlling the position.
Mir won't allow Sokolov to sweep him here.
Mir trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Mir is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sokolov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sokolov has escaped and now he's on top!
Sokolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mir is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mir keeping moving, preventing Sokolov from controlling successfully.
Sokolov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Mir has wrist control.
Sokolov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mir keeping moving, preventing Sokolov from controlling successfully.
Sokolov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mir's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sokolov is stalling in the full guard.
Sokolov throws a strike but Mir rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mir postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sokolov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mir, into his guard.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mir trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdimir Sokolov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mir misses with a head kick.

Sokolov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sokolov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sokolov postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Mir was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Sokolov scores with a takedown into Mir's guard.
Sokolov trying to control but Mir is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov postures up.
Sokolov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mir is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Mir takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Valdimir Sokolov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Sokolov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mir's half guard.
Mir is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sokolov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mir is looking to control Sokolov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mir avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sokolov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sokolov wants to control but Mir is keeping him busy.
Mir is trying to control but can't.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Frank Mir.

Mir tries to sprawl but Sokolov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mir trying to control here.
Sokolov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sokolov lands with a punch from half guard.
Sokolov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Valdimir Sokolov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokolov winds up and cracks Mir with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mir is trying to maintain the position but Sokolov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir is holding on to half guard well.
Mir gets full guard.
Mir controls Sokolov momentarily but Sokolov frees himself.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sokolov scoring with some ground and pound.
Mir trying to keep a closed guard but Sokolov is proving a slippery customer.
Mir wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Frank Mir wasn't active enough on the ground.

Sokolov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Frank Mir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Mir's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sokolov staying calm.
Sokolov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mir wants to control but Sokolov postures up.
Mir 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.
Mir struggling a bit here.
Sokolov throws a strike aimed at the side of Mir's head but Mir avoids it well.
Valdimir Sokolov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sokolov working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valdimir Sokolov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sokolov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valdimir Sokolov!