PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zach Makovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Sorokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Makovsky
vs
Sorokov

163 cm
21
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 Los Angeles, Zach Makovsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Sorokov!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorokov lands a glancing blow to the side of Makovsky's head.
The fighters circling - Sorokov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sorokov catches Makovsky with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Makovsky throws a body kick that misses
and Sorokov counters with a nice uppercut.
Makovsky throws a nice looking combination but Sorokov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Makovsky dives in and scores a takedown into Sorokov's guard.
Makovsky stands up over Sorokov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sorokov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sorokov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Makovsky is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Power Plant that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Makovsky is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sorokov trying to control the position.
Makovsky engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makovsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Sorokov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makovsky connects with a couple of short punches.
Makovsky 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 referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.

Makovsky shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sorokov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Makovsky working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sorokov's head.
Makovsky might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sorokov wants to control but Makovsky passes easily into half guard.
Sorokov is refusing to be controlled, as Makovsky sits in half guard.
Well, if Makovsky is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makovsky trying to pass the guard but Sorokov defending well.
Makovsky throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Makovsky not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Makovsky thows a huge punch but Sorokov dodges it nicely.
Makovsky slows the pace down in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four 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 is looking to control Makovsky's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sorokov avoid being mounted?

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sorokov.
Sorokov misses the jab.
Sorokov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Makovsky at a distance.
Makovsky shoots in but no luck this time.
Sorokov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Makovsky drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sorokov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Makovsky dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Makovsky is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sorokov.

Sorokov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Makovsky on his heels. He'll look to pass Makovsky's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sorokov working some strikes from top position.
Sorokov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Makovsky is keeping the position for now.
Sorokov with a nice head shot there.
Makovsky looking to control.
Makovsky keeping moving, preventing Sorokov from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Makovsky haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makovsky is pulling down on Sorokov's head to control his posture.
Makovsky controls Sorokov momentarily but Sorokov frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Makovsky fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sorokov sprawls well initially but Makovsky persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sorokov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Makovsky tries to free his leg and advance position but Sorokov is retaining full guard.
Makovsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Sorokov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sorokov wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sorokov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sorokov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Makovsky is aware though and is defending well.
Makovsky trying to control but Sorokov is working from the bottom.
Makovsky preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makovsky wants to control from the top but Sorokov keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sorokov swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Makovsky counter with a right hand.
Sorokov lands a right hook to the body.

Makovsky looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Makovsky throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sorokov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Makovsky trying to control but Sorokov is working from the bottom.
Makovsky with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makovsky won't allow Sorokov to sweep him here.
Our spies down at at St Petersburg MMA Gym inform us that Sorokov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Sorokov is trying to control the position but Makovsky postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Makovsky has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Makovsky slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sorokov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Makovsky.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makovsky drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Makovsky misses with a leg kick.
Makovsky drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yuri Sorokov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sorokov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sorokov takes a swing at Makovsky's ribcage but misses.
Sorokov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
That kick from Makovsky tenderised Sorokov's leg. Sorokov is trying to keep his angry face on.

Sorokov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sorokov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Makovsky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zach Makovsky overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sorokov trying to control but Makovsky is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makovsky controls Sorokov momentarily but Sorokov frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sorokov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorokov is looking to work some ground and pound but Makovsky has wrist control.
Sorokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sorokov looking to sit in guard and control but Makovsky gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sorokov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Makovsky wants to control from the top but Sorokov keeps moving.
Sorokov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Makovsky throws a strike but Sorokov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makovsky looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sorokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sorokov throws a big right hand that misses.
Makovsky looking for a sweep. Not yet Makovsky, not yet.
Sorokov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sorokov wants to control from the top but Makovsky keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sorokov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sorokov fails with a takedown attempt.
Makovsky tries to counter with a takedown but Sorokov is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Sorokov.
Yuri Sorokov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makovsky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sorokov.
Makovsky thinks about countering with a body kick.
Sorokov wants to clinch up but Makovsky keeps it at a distance.

Makovsky shoots in and gets a takedown into Sorokov's guard.
Makovsky's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Makovsky scoring with some ground and pound.
Makovsky working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sorokov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Makovsky manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov trying to control but Makovsky is working from the bottom.
Sorokov is looking to work some ground and pound but Makovsky has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Makovsky is on top in guard.

Makovsky trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makovsky not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Makovsky has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Sorokov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

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