PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Sobolev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Neeson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sobolev comes into the arena with Ya kuplu tebe dom blaring out of the sound system. Liam Neeson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Sobolev
vs
Neeson

201 cm
37
265 lbs
23 - 29 - 0

200 cm
30
272 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 23 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vasiliy Sobolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam Neeson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neeson with a nice cross.

It looks like Vasiliy Sobolev has been cut.
Sobolev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Neeson moves away.
Sobolev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've been hearing reports that Sobolev has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sobolev lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Neeson backs up against the cage.
Sobolev misses with a double jab
and Neeson counters with a slapping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Neeson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sobolev.
Sobolev slips a jab from Neeson.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sobolev.
Sobolev checks a low kick from Neeson.

Neeson drives through and clinches with Sobolev against the cage.
Neeson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Neeson.
Neeson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Sobolev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev letting Neeson take a breather here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sobolev.
Neeson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sobolev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Neeson prevents it.
Neeson tries a body shot but Sobolev blocks it.
Sobolev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sobolev wants a takedown but no success here.
Neeson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sobolev goes for a takedown attempt but Neeson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Neeson doesn't manage to clinch there - Sobolev circles away.
Sobolev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Neeson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neeson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sobolev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sobolev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sobolev working the strikes but Neeson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Neeson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sobolev trying to control from Neeson's half guard. Neeson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sobolev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Neeson has momentary wrist control but Sobolev slips an elbow through the middle.
Sobolev is looking to advance position but Neeson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Sobolev is in all sorts of trouble here.
Neeson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sobolev is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neeson is looking to stand but Neeson has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Sobolev is in all sorts of trouble here.

Neeson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
A punch lands to the side of Neeson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sobolev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sobolev scores with a nice head shot.
Sobolev throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Neeson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sobolev dives in and grabs Neeson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Neeson pushes down on Sobolev's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev shoots in looking for a takedown. Neeson tries to sprawl out of it but Sobolev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Neeson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sobolev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Neeson as he jumps to the side.
Neeson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sobolev throws out the jab.
Sobolev shoots in but Neeson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Neeson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Neeson connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Neeson connects with a single shot there.
Sobolev jabs at Neeson's body.
Sobolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liam Neeson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vasiliy Sobolev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Neeson lands a nice hook to Sobolev's body. Sobolev takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Neeson is looking to clinch.
Neeson misses with a wild body shot.
Sobolev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sobolev misses with a right hand
and Sobolev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sobolev fails with the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sobolev shoots in for a double leg but Neeson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Neeson blocks a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Neeson misses the target.
Neeson lands with an overhand left.
Sobolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Neeson counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sobolev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Neeson is pulling down on Sobolev's head. It's preventing any offense from Sobolev, at least for the moment.
Neeson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sobolev is one step ahead there.
Neeson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Neeson keeps trying to improve his position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sobolev postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Liam Neeson.
Neeson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sobolev on the side of the head.

Vasiliy Sobolev's cut is getting worse.
Neeson moves away from the strike by Sobolev.
Vasiliy Sobolev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neeson scores with a hook to the body. Sobolev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Neeson slips a jab from Sobolev.
Sobolev connects with the punch.
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!
Sobolev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Neeson.
Liam Neeson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Neeson digs a good body shot into Sobolev's ribs.
Neeson slaps away a takedown attempt from Sobolev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Sobolev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Neeson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Liam Neeson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Neeson connects with a jab.
Sobolev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Neeson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Neeson lands a leg kick that knocks Sobolev off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neeson clinches up with Sobolev and pushes him back against the cage.
Neeson has Sobolev pushed against the cage.
Neeson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sobolev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Neeson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sobolev is working for takedown but Neeson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Neeson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sobolev in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Neeson lands a hook that snaps the head of Sobolev backwards.
Neeson lands a nice shot to the body.
Neeson misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Neeson.
Neeson just leaning against Sobolev, taking a breather.
Neeson lands with a light punch inside.

Sobolev is rocked!
Neeson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Oh Sobolev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A hook to the body from Neeson.
Neeson unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Sobolev! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Neeson is unloading with more strikes now! Sobolev drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Liam Neeson!
Liam Neeson thanked the fans post fight for their support.