PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Sobolev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zbermat Serlal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sobolev's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Ya kuplu tebe dom. Serlal is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mortal Kombat . 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?

Sobolev
vs
Serlal

201 cm
42
265 lbs
32 - 41 - 0

205 cm
37
265 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KnockOut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 41 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vasiliy Sobolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zbermat Serlal!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobolev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sobolev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Vasiliy Sobolev has been cut.
Horrible takedown attempt by Serlal or perhaps it was just good defense by Sobolev, which made it look bad.
A big left from Sobolev misses.
Sobolev cracks Serlal with an open hand slap.
Sobolev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Serlal lands a slapping body shot.
Sobolev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Serlal counters with a shoot takedown. Sobolev fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sobolev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Serlal is looking to work some ground and pound but Sobolev has wrist control.
Serlal tries to free his leg and advance position but Sobolev is retaining full guard.
Serlal being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serlal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sobolev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Serlal postures up in Sobolev's guard and throws a big left but Sobolev blocks it.
Sobolev keeping full guard, as Serlal tries to pass.
Sobolev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Serlal wants to pass the guard but Sobolev is keeping the position.
Serlal is looking to advance position but Sobolev has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serlal is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobolev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Serlal?
Sobolev lands a couple of good shots and Serlal has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Sobolev scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Serlal is looking for a way out.
Serlal is trying to break free.
Sobolev is trying to stick to Serlal's back but Serlal is turning into Sobolev. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Sobolev's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Serlal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sobolev trying to keep a closed guard but Serlal is proving a slippery customer.
Sobolev is adopting a defensive guard.
Serlal stopping the sweep attempt from Sobolev.
Serlal is looking to pass into half guard but Sobolev pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sobolev is in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sobolev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sobolev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sobolev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Serlal pulls Sobolev in close to his closed guard and prevents Sobolev from doing any damage or advancing position.
Serlal 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.
We've been hearing that Sobolev has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Serlal has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sobolev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Serlal tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Serlal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sobolev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Serlal 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.
Sobolev connects with a couple of short punches.
Serlal lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sobolev can't keep his opponent in guard - Serlal advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sobolev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Serlal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sobolev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sobolev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sobolev controlling Serlal's posture.
Sobolev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Serlal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Serlal is looking to pass into half guard but Sobolev pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sobolev is in guard.

Sobolev postures up.
Sobolev works over Serlal with some ground and pound from guard.
Serlal is controlling Sobolev's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vasiliy Sobolev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vasiliy Sobolev's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Serlal moves out of range of the strikes.
Sobolev lands a really nice looking cross but Serlal seems unphased.
Sobolev shoots for a takedown but Serlal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A nice side step and Serlal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sobolev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Serlal defends well and Sobolev ends up having to push Serlal into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sobolev displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sobolev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sobolev wants it to stay on the feet.
Sobolev goes for a double leg but Serlal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Serlal continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasiliy Sobolev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Serlal throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sobolev on the side of the head.
Sobolev fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Serlal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Serlal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev swings widly with a right hand
enabling Serlal to counter with a crisp jab.
Sobolev shoots in looking for a takedown. Serlal tries to sprawl out of it but Sobolev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Serlal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sobolev drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sobolev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Serlal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sobolev somewhat.
Serlal looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sobolev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Serlal defends it nicely.
Serlal lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sobolev tries to move into range but Serlal moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev shoots in but Serlal avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Serlal lands with a straight right. Sobolev didn't see that one coming.

Serlal feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Sobolev sprawling to the canvas! Sobolev rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Serlal finish him?!

Sobolev is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Serlal ducks down into range and throws a picture perfect right hook that connects with Sobolev's jaw. Sobolev's eyes stare off into space as he falls to the mat, out cold! Serlal does the decent thing and steps back, rather than landing any shots to his unconscious opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zbermat Serlal!
Zbermat Serlal decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.