PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karl Socha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Illias Illiadis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Karl Socha has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Karl Socha seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Socha
vs
Illiadis

185 cm
28
186 lbs
22 - 7 - 0

178 cm
27
191 lbs
13 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Socha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Illias Illiadis!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Socha gets a clinch.
Socha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Illiadis's elbow.
Illiadis tries to work over Socha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Illiadis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Socha swings wildly with an uppercut but Illiadis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Socha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Illiadiss head.
Socha slows down the pace here.
Illiadis scores with a hook to the body.
Socha is pushing Illiadis up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Illiadis tightens his grip and picks Socha up, before dumping him to the ground. Socha manages to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Illiadis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Illiadis trying to control but Socha is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illiadis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Illiadis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Socha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Illiadis connects with a couple of short punches.
Socha seems keen to control Illiadis's posture.
Socha keeping moving, preventing Illiadis from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Illiadis pushes down on Socha's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Socha tries to roll over but Illiadis keeps him under control.
Illiadis wants to control but Socha is keeping him busy.
Socha definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Socha attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Socha missing with a left hand there. Illiadis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Socha throws a jab when Illiadis was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socha lands a right hook to the body.
Illiadis misses with a double jab.
Illiadis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Socha.
Socha looks to throw the jab but Illiadis is out of range.
Socha cracks Illiadis with a good jab.
Socha catches Illiadis with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Socha doesn't manage to clinch there - Illiadis circles away.
Illiadis slips a jab from Socha.
Socha pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Socha feints and then cracks Illiadis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Illiadis down.
Illiadis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Socha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Illiadis lands with a nice body punch.
Socha fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Illiadis throws a push kick but Socha slaps the foot to one side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Illiadis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Horrible takedown attempt by Illiadis or perhaps it was just good defense by Socha, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis misses with a wild body shot.
Illiadis takes one on the button.
Illiadis moves out of range as Socha throws a body kick.
Socha throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Illiadis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Illiadis uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Socha has time to react.
Illiadis misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Socha lands a really nice looking cross but Illiadis seems unphased.
Socha falls off balance throwing a combination

and Illiadis counters with a single leg into guard. Socha didn't expect that.
Illiadis trying to control the position from guard on top but Socha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Illiadis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Socha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Illias Illiadis will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Illiadis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Illiadis needs to keep his hands up - Socha had a free shot at his head there.
Socha throws out a powerful jab.
Illiadis moves away from the strike by Socha.
Illiadis gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Socha.
Illiadis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Illiadis throws a combination that misses
and Socha counters with a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Illiadis misses the target.
Illiadis throws a solid leg kick but Socha takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Illiadis.
Illiadis misses with an uppercut. Socha saw that one coming.
Karl Socha is winning the standup battle so far.
Socha lands with a nice combination. Illiadis backs away looking to recover.
Illiadis misses with a hook. Socha ducked under it nicely.
Illiadis throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Illiadis blocks a leg kick.
Socha throws a sloppy head kick and Illiadis moves out of range easily.
Illiadis lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Socha lunges at Illiadis with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Illiadis's hand.
Illiadis misses with an attempted mid kick.
A big right from Socha misses.
Socha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Illiadis moves away.
Illiadis looks to throw the jab but Socha is out of range.
Socha thuds his right hand into Illiadis's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Illiadis loads up on a big right hand but Socha slips the punch.
Socha throws a lazy right hand but Illiadis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Illiadis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Socha misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Illiadis.
Socha throws a right and a left that both miss.
Illiadis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Socha was well out of range. Poor timing from Illiadis.
Socha swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Illiadis ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Socha takes one on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis lands a nice looking kick to the body. Socha takes a step back to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Socha throws a leg kick but Illiadis moved away.
Illiadis swings away with a body shot that misses
and Socha counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Socha with a jab.
Socha lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Illiadis at a distance.
Socha tried to score with a low kick but Illiadis checks it.
Socha swings widly with a right hand

and Illiadis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Socha's guard.
Illiadis trying to control the position from guard on top but Socha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Socha is trying to keep Illiadis in close.
Socha is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Illiadis tries to free his leg and advance position but Socha is retaining full guard.
Socha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Illiadis chips away with some ground and pound.
Illiadis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Illiadis has gone for a leg lock! Socha slips out almost immediately though and dives into Illiadis's guard.

Our spies down at at Gutz Gym inform us that Illiadis has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Illias Illiadis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Illiadis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Socha is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socha trying to control the position from guard on top but Illiadis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Socha dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Illiadis blocks a low kick nicely.
Illiadis misses with a low kick.
Socha misses with a right hand

and Illiadis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Illiadis.
Illiadis wants to control from the top but Socha keeps moving.
Illiadis postures up.
Illiadis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Socha keeping full guard, as Illiadis tries to pass.
Socha seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illiadis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Illiadis wants to pass the guard but Socha is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Socha looks for the body kick but Illiadis saw that one coming.
Socha tries to close the distance and clinch but Illiadis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karl Socha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Socha defending well as Illiadis loads up on a big left hand.
Socha misses with a body kick.
Illiadis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Illiadis blocks a low kick nicely.
Socha slaps away a takedown attempt from Illiadis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Illiadis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Socha manages to avoid it.
Socha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Illiadis.
Illiadis throws a low kick but Socha avoids it.
Illiadis on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Socha scores with a leg kick.
Illiadis thumps Socha with a low kick.
Socha lands a nice leg kick that just misses Illiadis's sensitive parts.
Socha fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Illiadis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Socha was well out of range. Poor timing from Illiadis.
Socha throws a body kick that misses.
Illiadis misses with a straight left.
Illiadis is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Socha rather than just go for the knockout.
Illiadis throws a body punch but Socha moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Illiadis manages to avoid it.
Socha throws out a loose jab but Illiadis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Socha wants to land a leg kick but Illiadis is out of range.
Illiadis misses with a two punch combination.
Illiadis misses with a kick to the body.
Illiadis checks a low kick from Socha.
Socha punishes Illiadis's body with a nice straight punch.
Illiadis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Socha misses with a body shot.
Karl Socha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Socha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Illiadis was well out of range. Poor timing from Socha.
Socha connects with the punch.
Illiadis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Socha counters with a leg kick.
Socha tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from Illiadis. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socha looks to land a left hand but Illiadis moved out of range nicely.
Socha connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Illiadis thows a leg kick but Socha checks it

and Socha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Socha trying to land knees to the body.
Illiadis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Socha is defending well.
Illiadis blocks a body shot from Socha.
Illiadis misses with the head strike.
Illiadis stalls.
Illiadis trying to control the position but instead, Socha has worked for underhooks and has pushed Illiadis into the cage.
Illiadis prevents a body shot from Socha.
Illiadis misses with a short punch on the inside.

Illiadis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Illiadis's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Socha throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Illiadis counters with a nice double leg into side control. Socha won't be happy with that.
Illiadis controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Illias Illiadis just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Illiadis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Socha takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Illiadis lands a right hook to the body.
Socha looks to land a right hand but Illiadis moved out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Socha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Illiadis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Socha on his heels. He'll look to pass Socha's guard now, I'm sure.
Illiadis trying to control but Socha is working from the bottom.
Socha wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Socha controls Illiadis momentarily but Illiadis frees himself.
Socha keeping full guard, as Illiadis tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illiadis advances to half guard.
Illiadis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Illiadis is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Socha to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Socha is trying to control the position but Illiadis postures up.
Illiadis trying to control the position from guard on top but Socha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Illiadis drops back, looking for a kneebar! Socha looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Socha looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Socha!

Illiadis is trying to get back to half guard.
Socha lands a nice forearm strike.
Illiadis managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Socha.
You can see the frustration on Illiadis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis is looking for a sweep.
Illiadis is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Socha's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Illiadis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Illiadis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Socha gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Socha with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Illiadis wants to control the position but Socha says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Socha misses with a head shot. Illiadis uses the momentum to regain guard.
Illiadis working a defensive guard but Socha manages to pass into side control anyway.
Illiadis tries to bench press Socha off him but Socha keeps the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Check out the look on Socha's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Illias Illiadis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Socha connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Illiadis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Illiadis has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Socha.
Socha tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Illiadis is able to avoid easily.
A good leg kick by Illiadis.
Socha stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Illiadis scores with a takedown into Socha's guard.
Socha is trying to control the position but Illiadis postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Illiadis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Socha's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illiadis is looking to control Socha's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Illiadis avoid being mounted?
Illiadis tries to roll over but Socha keeps him under control.
Illiadis trying to control here.
Socha trying to control from half guard but Illiadis is working away.

Illiadis looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Socha pushes past his half guard into mount!
Karl Socha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Illiadis can't escape the position.
Illiadis takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Illiadis working to try and regain half guard.
Illiadis is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socha in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Socha trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Socha is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Illiadis is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Illiadis bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Illiadis trying to control the position from guard on top but Socha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socha wants to hit a switch here but Illiadis passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Socha there!
Socha can't escape the position.
Illias Illiadis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Illiadis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Socha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Karl Socha.
I think Illiadis 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 47:48
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 48:48
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Illias Illiadis!
Illias Illiadis decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.