PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Kaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yermolai Sokoloff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sokoloff comes into a darkened arena with his song building. USS / Yin Yang kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kaz
vs
Sokoloff

186 cm
29
175 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

189 cm
30
193 lbs
14 - 9 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Top Dogs
GREEN!160

GREEN!160

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Max Kaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yermolai Sokoloff!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokoloff looks to score with a jab to the body but Kaz is just out of range.
Sokoloff throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kaz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sokoloff has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Kaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And Kaz counters with a quick kick to the body but Sokoloff blocks it.

Kaz has managed to clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kaz fails to land.
Sokoloff stalling in the clinch but Kaz improves position.
Sokoloff working aggressively here.
Sokoloff pushes off an throws an elbow but Kaz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kaz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Sokoloff.
Kaz landing knees to the head.

It looks like Yermolai Sokoloff has been cut.
Sokoloff lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kaz.
Kaz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sokoloff pushes Kaz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kaz tries to work over Sokoloff's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A hook to the body from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff looking to throw knees to the head but Kaz is blocking nicely.

Sokoloff pulls guard successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokoloff wants to sweep here but Kaz controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff trying to control the position.
Kaz wants to control from the top but Sokoloff keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sokoloff is on top in guard.

Sokoloff makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sokoloff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sokoloff not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kaz keeping moving, preventing Sokoloff from controlling successfully.
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.
Kaz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sokoloff preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kaz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A shot in the inside from Sokoloff.
A short body shot lands from Sokoloff as the two fighters clinch.
Sokoloff scores with a shoulder strike.
Kaz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sokoloff lands with a left to the head.
Sokoloff is trying to drag Kaz to the mat but Kaz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sokoloff will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kaz up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sokoloff is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kaz is keeping busy.
Sokoloff stalling in the clinch but Kaz improves position.
Kaz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kaz misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Sokoloff gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kaz regains guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokoloff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sokoloff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sokoloff wants to control from the top but Kaz keeps moving.
Sokoloff is fighting to break Kaz's control of his arms but Kaz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kaz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kaz throws a body punch but Sokoloff moves out of range.
Kaz throws a leg kick which misses Sokoloff's front leg but catches the back leg as Sokoloff tries to avoid it.
Sokoloff connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sokoloff throws a body punch but Kaz moves out of range.
Sokoloff swings for the body but Kaz moves out of range.
Sokoloff slips under a jab from Kaz.
Sokoloff takes a swing at Kaz's ribcage but misses.
Sokoloff ducks under a wild hook from Kaz.
Sokoloff has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kaz.
Kaz checks a low kick from Sokoloff.
Kaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sokoloff.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokoloff throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sokoloff scores with a jab to the body.
Kaz walks into a left hand.
Kaz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Kaz moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff misses with a body punch.
Sokoloff stalling the fight.
Sokoloff has a couple of punches blocked by Kaz.
A body shot lands from Sokoloff.
Kaz stops a takedown attempt from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kaz walks away with a smile on his face. Sokoloff gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sokoloff has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sokoloff tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff digs a good hook to Kaz's body.
Yermolai Sokoloff seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A good leg kick by Kaz.
Sokoloff walks into a straight right hand from Kaz.
Sokoloff throws a nice looking combination but Kaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kaz missing with a left hand there. Sokoloff was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sokoloff changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've been told by Kaz's head coaches at Bruize Brothers that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kaz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sokoloff checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sokoloff.
Sokoloff is looking to clinch.
Yermolai Sokoloff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokoloff moves in looking to clinch but Kaz pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaz motions for Sokoloff to come forward. Kaz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kaz throws the left hand but Sokoloff avoids the punch easily.
Kaz avoids the head kick by Sokoloff.
Kaz throwing a counter right hand but Sokoloff manages to avoid it.

Kaz moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaz cracks Sokoloff with a nice body shot.
Kaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Sokoloff controls his hands.
Kaz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sokoloff takes a shot to the head.
Sokoloff is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sokoloff trying to land knees to the body.
Sokoloff blocks an uppercut.
Kaz lands an elbow that stopped Sokoloff in his tracks for a moment.
Sokoloff gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kaz missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sokoloff creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Sokoloff controls his hands.
Kaz lands with a light punch inside.
Kaz misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kaz swings wildly with an uppercut but Sokoloff uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sokoloff lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kaz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sokoloff tries to throw a body punch but Kaz avoids it by throwing Sokoloff back against the cage.
Sokoloff lands a nice uppercut.
Sokoloff leaning against his opponent.
Sokoloff prevents a body shot from Kaz.
Kaz lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sokoloff misses with a punch to the body.
Kaz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sokoloff tries to score a body lock takedown but Kaz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Max Kaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yermolai Sokoloff.
Kaz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kaz trying to land knees to the body.
Kaz working aggressively here.
Sokoloff blocks an elbow strike from Kaz.
Sokoloff has Kaz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kaz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sokoloff wants the takedown. Kaz is fighting it off but Sokoloff persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kaz's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sokoloff wants to pass the guard but Kaz is keeping the position.
Kaz keeping moving, preventing Sokoloff from controlling successfully.
Sokoloff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaz is keeping the position for now.
Kaz keeping moving, preventing Sokoloff from controlling successfully.
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 Max Kaz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yermolai Sokoloff's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sokoloff ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kaz moves away.
Good leg kick by Kaz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sokoloff misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaz.
Sokoloff ducks under a wild hook from Kaz.
Sokoloff throws a body punch but Kaz moves out of range.
Sokoloff fails to land with a series of punches.
Kaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sokoloff throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kaz misses with an uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sokoloff. Kaz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kaz slips a straight right by Sokoloff.
Kaz looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sokoloff.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokoloff scores with a jab to the body.
Sokoloff tries a head kick but it misses.
Kaz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sokoloff throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sokoloff checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kaz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sokoloff is out of range and Kaz settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff throws a body kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sokoloff. Kaz does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kaz closes the distance and clinches.
Sokoloff tries to work over Kaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sokoloff misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Sokoloff controls his hands.
Kaz cracks Sokoloff with a nice body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sokoloff.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kaz.
Sokoloff lands a hook that snaps the head of Kaz backwards.
Sokoloff avoiding damage as Kaz throws knees to the body.
Kaz scores with a shot to the side of Sokoloff's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sokoloff.
Sokoloff struggles to land a body shot inside as Kaz controls his hands.
Kaz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kaz scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kaz scores with a shoulder strike.
Sokoloff tries to pull guard but Kaz won't allow it.
Sokoloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaz is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sokoloff blocks an uppercut.
Kaz stalling in the clinch.
Sokoloff on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sokoloff dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sokoloff taking a breather.
Sokoloff blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kaz lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kaz misses with some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Kaz.
Kaz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sokoloff tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kaz's elbow.
Sokoloff stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sokoloff lands an uppercut.
Kaz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sokoloff throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sokoloff blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaz lands an elbow that stopped Sokoloff in his tracks for a moment.
Sokoloff scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sokoloff is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kaz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kaz lands a left hand.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kaz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A body shot lands from Kaz.
Sokoloff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sokoloff misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kaz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kaz lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kaz cracks Sokoloff with a nice body shot.
Kaz lands a hook that snaps the head of Sokoloff backwards.
Kaz presses Sokoloff against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaz scores a nice knee to the body.
Kaz pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kaz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sokoloff backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaz misses with a punch to the body.
Kaz tries to work over Sokoloff's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sokoloff blocks the elbow strike.
Sokoloff misses with some punches.
Kaz misses with an elbow over the top.
Kaz lands a damaging elbow.
Sokoloff throws a punch but it's blocked by Kaz.
Kaz comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kaz tries to work over Sokoloff's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sokoloff is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kaz pushes Sokoloff back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sokoloff pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sokoloff goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sokoloff lands a shot to the body.
Max Kaz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kaz tries to work over Sokoloff's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sokoloff blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Kaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kaz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Kaz!
Max Kaz took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Top Dogs for their support in the buildup to the fight.