PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marat Tandelov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Sorokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Tandelov
vs
Sorokov

160 cm
21
138 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marat Tandelov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Sorokov!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorokov walks into a stiff left hand from Tandelov.
Tandelov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tandelov misses the shot to the body.
Sorokov cracks Tandelov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Marat Tandelov has been cut.
Sorokov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tandelov looks to land a right hand but Sorokov moved out of range.
Sorokov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tandelov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sorokov.
Sorokov tries to clinch there but Tandelov circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Tandelov misses its target.
Tandelov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sorokov was well out of range. Poor timing from Tandelov.
Sorokov ducks under a wild hook from Tandelov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sorokov darts in trying to clinch
and Tandelov counters with a right hand to the body.

Sorokov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tandelov is staying active underneath Sorokov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Sorokov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tandelov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sorokov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tandelov defending well though.
Tandelov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Iron fight team, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Tandelov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sorokov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sorokov looks to land a strike but Tandelov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sorokov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sorokov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tandelov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sorokov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tandelov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tandelov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tandelov wants to sweep but no luck.
Tandelov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sorokov is looking to work some ground and pound but Tandelov has wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sorokov wants to pass the guard but Tandelov is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sorokov with a nice cross.
Tandelov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sorokov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov looks to clinch

and Tandelov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sorokov trying to keep a closed guard but Tandelov is proving a slippery customer.
Tandelov trying to control but Sorokov is working from the bottom.
Tandelov postures up.
Tandelov lands a couple of digs.

Sorokov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tandelov wants to pass the guard but Sorokov is keeping the position.
Sorokov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tandelov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tandelov wants to stand up but Sorokov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Sorokov is looking to improve his position.
Tandelov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sorokov to regain full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sorokov looking for a sweep. Not yet Sorokov, not yet.
Sorokov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yuri Sorokov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marat Tandelov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sorokov throws a hook but Tandelov blocks it.
Tandelov stuns Sorokov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sorokov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tandelov counters with a nice body shot.
Jab by Tandelov.

Sorokov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tandelov's half guard.
Sorokov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tandelov's head.
Sorokov thows a huge punch but Tandelov dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sorokov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tandelov defending well though.
Tandelov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorokov throwing shots but Tandelov is blocking nicely.
Sorokov trying to mount his opponent but Tandelov defends it.
Sorokov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sorokov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sorokov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tandelov!
Sorokov looking to control but Tandelov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sorokov looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sorokov.
Sorokov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sorokov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sorokov throwing strikes here but Tandelov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sorokov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tandelov is working to get back to half guard.
Tandelov taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sorokov.
Sorokov misses with a head shot.
Tandelov working to try and regain half guard.
Sorokov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sorokov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sorokov throws some wild stikes that Tandelov manages to avoid easily.
Sorokov scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sorokov looking to finish with strikes here!
Sorokov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sorokov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sorokov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Sorokov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tandelov because Sorokov loaded up on that one.
Sorokov is landing with some decent strikes but Tandelov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sorokov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tandelov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sorokov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tandelov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sorokov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Sorokov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marat Tandelov's cut.
That's time! Tandelov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A lazy left from Tandelov finds it's target.
Sorokov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tandelov as he avoids it easily.
Yuri Sorokov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sorokov shoots for a double leg takedown but Tandelov sprawls well. He's pushed Sorokov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sorokov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tandelov counters with a nice uppercut.
Marat Tandelov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Sorokov.
Sorokov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tandelov circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Tandelov counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tandelov.
Sorokov throws a lazy uppercut

and Tandelov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tandelov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sorokov keeps working.
Sorokov wants to control but Tandelov is keeping busy.
Tandelov wants to take a breather but Sorokov is having none of it.
Tandelov controlling the action here.
Sorokov is looking for a sweep. Tandelov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
Tandelov trying to control the action but Sorokov is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good shot there by Sorokov.
Tandelov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sorokov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tandelov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sorokov throws a sloppy body shot
and Tandelov counters with a stiff right hand.
Sorokov clobbers Tandelov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sorokov looks to land a right hand but Tandelov moved out of range.
Marat Tandelov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tandelov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sorokov.
Sorokov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tandelov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Sorokov has time to react.

Sorokov has managed to clinch.
Yuri Sorokov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sorokov slows down the pace here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov throws a punch but it's blocked by Tandelov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tandelov stalling in the clinch but Sorokov improves position.
Tandelov throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marat Tandelov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sorokov 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Sorokov!