PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takeru Kobayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Sorokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takeru Kobayashi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Yuri Sorokov's chin.

Kobayashi
vs
Sorokov

173 cm
22
146 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

178 cm
22
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takeru Kobayashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Sorokov!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorokov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kobayashi counters with a left to the body.

Sorokov forces Kobayashi back against the cage and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sorokov.
Kobayashi working aggressively here.
Sorokov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sorokov misses with a punch to the body.
Kobayashi misses with a body punch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sorokov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kobayashi misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalling in the clinch from Sorokov.
Sorokov stalling in the clinch.
Sorokov receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
A left hand lands to the body for Sorokov.
Kobayashi misses with a punch on the inside.
Sorokov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sorokov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi tries a body shot but Sorokov blocks it.
Kobayashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sorokov controlling the action here for a moment.
Kobayashi misses with a punch to the body.
Kobayashi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sorokov presses Kobayashi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sorokov.
Kobayashi misses with a punch to the body.
Sorokov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kobayashi working aggressively here.
Kobayashi is looking to break free of the clinch but Sorokov has double underhooks.

Sorokov has Kobayashi pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sorokov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kobayashi tumbling to the mat - Sorokov dives into Kobayashi's guard.
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.
Kobayashi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sorokov postures up in Kobayashi's guard and throws a big left but Kobayashi blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov stopping the sweep attempt from Kobayashi.
Sorokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Sorokov from controlling successfully.
Sorokov works over Kobayashi with some ground and pound from guard.
Sorokov won't allow Kobayashi to sweep him here.
Sorokov distracts Kobayashi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sorokov throwing strikes but missing.
Sorokov trying to control but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kobayashi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sorokov landing with the ground and pound.
Sorokov working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sorokov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kobayashi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kobayashi controls Sorokov momentarily but Sorokov frees himself.
Sorokov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kobayashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.

Kobayashi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sorokov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kobayashi's guard.
Kobayashi is refusing to be controlled, as Sorokov sits in half guard.
Kobayashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sorokov.
Ground and pound from Sorokov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sorokov throwing shots but Kobayashi is blocking nicely.
Kobayashi tries to get to full guard but Sorokov has control of the leg.

Sorokov is trying to work for a kimura but Kobayashi is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Sorokov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kobayashi connects with a leg kick. Sorokov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sorokov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sorokov lands a head shot.
Kobayashi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sorokov misses with a hook
and Kobayashi counters with a low kick, right behind Sorokov 's knee.
Kobayashi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kobayashi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kobayashi wants to slow Sorokov down by chopping away at his legs.
Sorokov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kobayashi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sorokov darts in and clinches Kobayashi up against the cage.
Kobayashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sorokov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kobayashi after a bit of a struggle.
Kobayashi misses with a body punch.

Sorokov has picked Kobayashi up - he's going for a ride! Sorokov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kobayashi wants to control but Sorokov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kobayashi has hold of Sorokov's hands but Sorokov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sorokov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sorokov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kobayashi defending well though.
Kobayashi trying to control here.
Kobayashi taking some punishment here, with Sorokov in his half guard.
Sorokov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sorokov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kobayashi is looking to control Sorokov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kobayashi avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sorokov lands a nice short elbow.
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 throwing shots but Kobayashi is blocking nicely.
Kobayashi taking some punishment here, with Sorokov in his half guard.
Sorokov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sorokov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sorokov is trying to control the action in half guard but Kobayashi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kobayashi wants to get back to his feet.
Sorokov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sorokov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov trying to pass the guard but Kobayashi defending well.
Sorokov lands strikes from half guard.
Kobayashi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sorokov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sorokov controlling the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sorokov cracks Kobayashi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kobayashi throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kobayashi moves away.
Sorokov misses with a hook
and Kobayashi counters with a nice body kick.
Kobayashi misses with a leg kick.
Sorokov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sorokov moves out of range of the body kick.
Sorokov misses with a straight left.
Sorokov misses with a hook
and Kobayashi counters with a left to the body.
Kobayashi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Takeru Kobayashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sorokov avoids a kick to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kobayashi slips under a jab.
Nice shot lands for Sorokov.
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!
Kobayashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sorokov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Sorokov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sorokov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sorokov keeps control of Kobayashi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Sorokov lands a takedown into guard.
Sorokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sorokov wants to control from the top but Kobayashi keeps moving.
Sorokov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov trying to control from Kobayashi's half guard. Kobayashi has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sorokov preventing the sweep.
Sorokov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorokov landing a few strikes.
Sorokov working the head and body with strikes.
Sorokov is looking to take a break and control but Kobayashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sorokov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ground and pound from Sorokov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sorokov misses with the ground and pound.
Sorokov working the ground and pound but Kobayashi is defending the strikes.
Check out the look on Sorokov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi is not content to let Sorokov control the position.
Kobayashi struggling a bit here.
Sorokov grinds an elbow into Kobayashi's temple.
Sorokov landing a few strikes.
Sorokov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sorokov working the ground and pound but Kobayashi is defending the strikes.

Sorokov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kobayashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Takeru Kobayashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kobayashi keeps working.
Kobayashi tries to improve position but can't.
Yuri Sorokov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kobayashi is letting Sorokov control him for a moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sorokov is continuing to stall.

That's four 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kobayashi throws a leg kick that misses.
Sorokov avoids the head kick by Kobayashi.
Sorokov scores with a body shot.
Sorokov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice uppercut lands for Sorokov. That snapped Kobayashi's head back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kobayashi throws a leg kick
and Sorokov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kobayashi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sorokov.
Sorokov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Sorokov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sorokov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

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