PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yermolai Sokoloff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcello Cobretti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sokoloff's entrance music is USS / Yin Yang. A fine choice. Cobretti has chosen White Zombie - Black Sunshine as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sokoloff
vs
Cobretti

189 cm
29
202 lbs
13 - 8 - 2

190 cm
27
200 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 13 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Yermolai Sokoloff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marcello Cobretti!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokoloff throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sokoloff throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cobretti moves out of range of the body kick.
Sokoloff wants to clinch up but Cobretti keeps it at a distance.
Cobretti lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sokoloff's sensitive parts.
A jab from Cobretti finds it's way through Sokoloff's defenses.
Sokoloff takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sokoloff has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Lebowski MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Sokoloff ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cobretti moves away.
Cobretti walks into a jab.
Cobretti lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cobretti misses with a body kick.
Sokoloff throws a lazy body kick
and Cobretti counters with a stiff right hand.
A punch combination from Cobretti misses.
Sokoloff wants to clinch up but Cobretti keeps it at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cobretti takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sokoloff blocks a head kick by Cobretti.
Cobretti loads up on a big right hand but Sokoloff slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobretti throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sokoloff stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cobretti stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice jab there from Sokoloff.
Yermolai Sokoloff is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cobretti moves into the clinch.
Sokoloff blocks the elbow strike.

Sokoloff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sokoloff throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Cobretti moves into the clinch.
Sokoloff taking a breather.
Sokoloff swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sokoloff works on Cobretti's body with a couple of short punches.
Sokoloff stalling.
Cobretti misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sokoloff is defending well for now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cobretti tries to work over Sokoloff's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cobretti prevents a body shot from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cobretti effectively controlling the action here.
Cobretti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cobretti.
Cobretti misses with some punches.
Sokoloff blocking some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Cobretti.
Cobretti holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sokoloff.
Sokoloff has had enough of the clinch but Cobretti keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Cobretti's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cobretti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cobretti misses with some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cobretti.
Cobretti lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cobretti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sokoloff lands a hook that snaps the head of Cobretti backwards.
Sokoloff takes a shot to the head.
Cobretti throws a head punch that misses.
Cobretti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cobretti can't find room to land a body shot as Sokoloff controls the action.
Cobretti misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sokoloff misses with a body shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cobretti.
Sokoloff tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sokoloff just misses with a punch to the body.
Cobretti looks to land a right hand but Sokoloff moved out of range.
Cobretti throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cobretti checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sokoloff.
Cobretti throws a right and a left that Sokoloff avoids nicely.
Cobretti moves out of range of the strikes.
Sokoloff tries to clinch but Cobretti moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cobretti has managed to clinch.
Cobretti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cobretti misses with a punch on the inside.
Cobretti changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sokoloff fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sokoloff tries to clinch up
and Cobretti counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sokoloff takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sokoloff throws a head kick but Cobretti moves out of range.
Cobretti connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A good leg kick by Cobretti.
Yermolai Sokoloff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokoloff misses with a low kick as Cobretti jumps back.
Sokoloff throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sokoloff is looking to wear down Cobretti with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sokoloff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cobretti smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like Yermolai Sokoloff has been cut.
Sokoloff looks to score with a jab to the body but Cobretti is just out of range.
Sokoloff misses with an uppercut.
Cobretti blocks a head kick by Sokoloff.
Sokoloff throws a shot from downtown. Cobretti moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff misses the shot to the body.
Sokoloff misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sokoloff misses with a few strikes there.

Cobretti shoots in and bounces Sokoloff off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cobretti lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sokoloff has his foot on Cobretti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cobretti works his way back into a safe position though.
Cobretti postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cobretti trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokoloff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cobretti throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.

Sokoloff uses his free foot to push down on Cobretti's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cobretti.
Cobretti is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cobretti manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sokoloff working the head and body with strikes.
Sokoloff thows a huge punch but Cobretti dodges it nicely.
Sokoloff passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cobretti!
Sokoloff lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti is looking to improve his position but Sokoloff isn't that keen on the idea.
Sokoloff trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cobretti tries to hold on but Sokoloff postures up.
Cobretti tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cobretti keeps trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yermolai Sokoloff will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yermolai Sokoloff's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cobretti tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sokoloff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sokoloff bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Marcello Cobretti has been cut.

Sokoloff gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sokoloff's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sokoloff slowing the pace effectively.
Cobretti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sokoloff's elbow.
Sokoloff blocks the elbow strike.
Cobretti throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sokoloffs head.
Cobretti swings wildly with an uppercut but Sokoloff uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobretti swings wildly with an uppercut but Sokoloff uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sokoloff avoiding damage as Cobretti throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Cobretti on the inside.
Cobretti tries to pull guard but Sokoloff forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sokoloff tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stalling in the clinch from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff misses with a punch to the body.
Sokoloff blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sokoloff lands a nice elbow.
Marcello Cobretti seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sokoloff blocks an elbow strike.
Sokoloff works on Cobretti's body with a couple of short punches.
Sokoloff trying to stall but Cobretti improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti lands a nice uppercut.
Cobretti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sokoloff goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sokoloff blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sokoloff wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sokoloff misses with a punch to the body.
Sokoloff's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Cobretti lands a nice shot to the body.
Sokoloff blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff lands a shot to the body.
Sokoloff's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cobretti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sokoloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cobretti is trying to push Sokoloff away but Sokoloff has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cobretti lands a hook that snaps the head of Sokoloff backwards.
Sokoloff controlling the action here for a moment.
Cobretti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cobretti scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobretti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sokoloff.
Cobretti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sokoloff on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sokoloff manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cobretti working aggressively here.

Sokoloff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokoloff just misses with a punch to the body.
Cobretti lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cobretti throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokoloff slips a jab from Cobretti.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcello Cobretti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cobretti has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcello Cobretti!
Marcello Cobretti gave a mention to Fury Nutrition Inc. in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).