PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Berkowitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yermolai Sokoloff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Berkowitz comes to the cage accompanied by Macabre - Son Of Sam. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Yermolai Sokoloff enters the cage!

Berkowitz
vs
Sokoloff

180 cm
25
203 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

189 cm
25
202 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Perkele!
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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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Berkowitz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yermolai Sokoloff!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokoloff with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Berkowitz to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Yermolai Sokoloff has been cut.
Berkowitz is looking to clinch.
Sokoloff wants to clinch up but Berkowitz keeps it at a distance.
Berkowitz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Berkowitz tries to clinch but Sokoloff moves out of range.
Sokoloff scores with a jab to the body.
Berkowitz misses with a hook. Sokoloff ducked under it nicely.
Sokoloff looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Sokoloff dives in and scores a takedown into Berkowitz's guard.
Sokoloff advances to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokoloff scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Berkowitz gets back to full guard.
Sokoloff is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Berkowitz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Berkowitz has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkowitz keeping full guard, as Sokoloff tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokoloff lands a couple of digs.
Sokoloff landing some decent shots from guard.
Sokoloff preventing the sweep.
Sokoloff connects with a couple of short punches.
My spies in Gentlemens' club inform me that Sokoloff has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Sokoloff throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokoloff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sokoloff wants to control from the top but Berkowitz keeps moving.
Sokoloff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sokoloff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff throwing strikes from guard but Berkowitz blocks nicely.
Sokoloff connects with a couple of short punches.
Sokoloff lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sokoloff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sokoloff trying to control but Berkowitz is working from the bottom.
Sokoloff postures up in Berkowitz's guard and throws a big left but Berkowitz blocks it.
Sokoloff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Berkowitz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokoloff scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sokoloff trying to control but Berkowitz is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sokoloff postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkowitz wants to stand and escape but Sokoloff is having none of it.
Sokoloff wants to control from the top but Berkowitz keeps moving.
Sokoloff is looking to work some ground and pound but Berkowitz has wrist control.
Berkowitz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sokoloff's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sokoloff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sokoloff scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sokoloff throwing strikes from guard but Berkowitz blocks nicely.
Berkowitz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sokoloff is one step ahead there.
Sokoloff throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berkowitz is keeping the position for now.

Berkowitz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sokoloff defends it easily.
Sokoloff lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Berkowitz is looking for a triangle but Sokoloff pushes his legs off easily.
Sokoloff throws a big right hand that misses.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Berkowitz working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yermolai Sokoloff dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yermolai Sokoloff's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A nice leg kick lands there from Sokoloff.
Yermolai Sokoloff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berkowitz looks to score with a jab to the body but Sokoloff is just out of range.
Sokoloff connects with a body shot that sends Berkowitz's belly button to the back.

A big head kick from Sokoloff and Berkowitz is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Berkowitz is rocked!

It looks like David Berkowitz has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Berkowitz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Oh Berkowitz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sokoloff scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sokoloff's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sokoloff is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Berkowitz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sokoloff wants to control from the top but Berkowitz keeps moving.
Berkowitz seems to have got his legs back now.
Sokoloff sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Berkowitz's guard.
Berkowitz is looking to control Sokoloff's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Berkowitz avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkowitz is looking for a sweep. Sokoloff is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sokoloff not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sokoloff throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sokoloff not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Berkowitz wants to get back to full guard.
Sokoloff missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sokoloff is looking to advance position but Berkowitz won't allow it.
Sokoloff throwing shots but Berkowitz is blocking nicely.
Sokoloff wants to free his trapped foot but Berkowitz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sokoloff has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sokoloff seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sokoloff prevents Berkowitz from standing back up.
Sokoloff wants to take a breather but Berkowitz is having none of it.
Sokoloff seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokoloff working over Berkowitz with some ground and pound. Berkowitz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sokoloff not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Berkowitz is trying to control but can't.
Sokoloff scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sokoloff thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ground and pound from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sokoloff sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Berkowitz defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff thows a huge punch but Berkowitz dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Sokoloff there.
Berkowitz wants to get back to full guard.
Berkowitz taking some punishment here, with Sokoloff in his half guard.
Berkowitz is looking to control Sokoloff's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Berkowitz avoid being mounted?
Sokoloff thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Berkowitz's head.
Sokoloff scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sokoloff is trying to control the action in half guard but Berkowitz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yermolai Sokoloff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Berkowitz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sokoloff lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff stands up over Berkowitz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sokoloff with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sokoloff with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sokoloff pushes down on Berkowitz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Berkowitz is not content to let Sokoloff control the position.
Sokoloff seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sokoloff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berkowitz keeps working.
Sokoloff sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Berkowitz defending well though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sokoloff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berkowitz keeps working.
Berkowitz regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sokoloff.
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.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Berkowitz slips under a jab.
Sokoloff swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sokoloff misses with a head kick.
Berkowitz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sokoloff with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sokoloff darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Sokoloff 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Yermolai Sokoloff seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sokoloff thows a body shot but no joy.
Sokoloff looks for the body kick but Berkowitz saw that one coming.
A head kick by Sokoloff misses
and Berkowitz counters with a stiff right hand.
Sokoloff is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Berkowitz rather than just go for the knockout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berkowitz lands a right hook to the body.
Sokoloff lands a nice hook to Berkowitz's body. Berkowitz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff slips under a jab.
Sokoloff looks for the body kick but Berkowitz saw that one coming.
Berkowitz misses with a right hand
and Sokoloff counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sokoloff uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Berkowitz.
Berkowitz throws a head kick but Sokoloff moves out of range.
Sokoloff will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Berkowitz tries to clinch up.
Berkowitz chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sokoloff can pounce on him.
Sokoloff takes a swing at Berkowitz's ribcage but misses.
Berkowitz misses with a hook
and Sokoloff counters with a nice low kick that buckles Berkowitz's knee momentarily.
Berkowitz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
David Berkowitz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkowitz connects with a crisp jab.
Sokoloff throws a head kick but Berkowitz moves out of range.
A head kick by Berkowitz misses
and Sokoloff counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sokoloff's jab looks to have found its range, popping Berkowitz under the eye.
Sokoloff looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berkowitz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Berkowitz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sokoloff counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sokoloff feints and then cracks Berkowitz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Berkowitz down.
Sokoloff has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sokoloff scores with a kick to the body.
Sokoloff dips to his left and cracks Berkowitz with an uppercut!
Berkowitz misses the jab.
Sokoloff checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sokoloff gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Berkowitz tries a knee to the head but Sokoloff blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sokoloff.
Berkowitz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sokoloff's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Sokoloff.
Berkowitz throws a head punch that misses.
Still in the clinch, Sokoloff scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sokoloff doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sokoloff lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Berkowitz.
Berkowitz misses with some punches.
Berkowitz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sokoloff lands an uppercut.
Berkowitz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sokoloff has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Berkowitz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sokoloff works on Berkowitz's body with a couple of short punches.
Sokoloff digs a right hand underneath Berkowitz's ribcage. Berkowitz let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sokoloff lands a takedown into 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!
Sokoloff postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Berkowitz keeping moving, preventing Sokoloff from controlling successfully.
Sokoloff stops Berkowitz from standing up.

Berkowitz has his foot on Sokoloff's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sokoloff works his way back into a safe position though.
Sokoloff trying to control the position from guard on top but Berkowitz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokoloff working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Berkowitz's head.
Sokoloff lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Berkowitz has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Sokoloff should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Berkowitz has tightened it up now! Sokoloff should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). David Berkowitz!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, David Berkowitz made sure he mentioned Tab out, along with how happy he was to win his fight.