PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mac Alvarado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mac Alvarado has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Alvarado
vs
Sokolov

221 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

200 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mac Alvarado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sokolov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokolov controlling from the top position.
Alvarado wants to stand up but Sokolov is controlling him.
Sokolov pushing down on Alvarado's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Alvarado wants to stand back up but Sokolov manages to pass into side control.
Alvarado manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokolov trying to control the pace.
Alvarado looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sokolov stands up from half guard.
Sokolov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alvarado paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Sokolov tries to get set, Alvarado tries to push him back and clinch up but Sokolov manages to avoid the attempt.
Sokolov throws a head kick that misses.

Sokolov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Alvarado's guard.
Sokolov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokolov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov throws a strike but Alvarado rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sokolov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Alvarado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sokolov has Alvarado pulled in close to control his posture.
Sokolov working a defensive guard here.
Sokolov 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.
Alvarado will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sokolov is pulling down on Alvarado's head to control his posture.
Alvarado preventing the sweep.
Alvarado trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sokolov's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sokolov fails in his attempt to clinch.
As Sokolov tries to get set, Alvarado tries to push him back and clinch up but Sokolov manages to avoid the attempt.

Sokolov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Alvarado looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sokolov wants to control but Alvarado is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado wants to control but Sokolov postures up.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sokolov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarado keeps working.
Sokolov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Alvarado is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarado taking a bit of punishment here - Sokolov scoring with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Sokolov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sokolov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarado misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sokolov throws a head kick but Alvarado moves out of range.
Sokolov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarado swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alvarado half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Sokolov feints and as Alvarado raises his hands in defense, Sokolov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sokolov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarado is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sokolov is controlling him.
Sokolov throwing strikes from guard but Alvarado blocks nicely.
Alvarado utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarado wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling the position.
Alvarado can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sokolov controls the pace.
Sokolov postures up.
Sokolov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Alvarado tries to keep at a distance but Sokolov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sokolov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sokolov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sokolov stopping the sweep attempt from Alvarado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov wants to control from the top but Alvarado keeps moving.
Sokolov preventing the sweep.
Alvarado keeping moving, preventing Sokolov from controlling successfully.
Sokolov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sokolov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alvarado's guard.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Alvarado keeping moving, preventing Sokolov from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Sokolov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Alvarado's guard.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sokolov is one step ahead there.

Sokolov gets to his feet. Alvarado looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sokolov looks to land a combination but Alvarado avoids it well.
Mac Alvarado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sokolov feints and as Alvarado raises his hands in defense, Sokolov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Alvarado trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alvarado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alvarado is trying to control the position but Sokolov postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Sokolov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sokolov throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarado moves out of range easily.

Sokolov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sokolov wants to pass the guard but Alvarado is keeping the position.
Alvarado controls Sokolov momentarily but Sokolov frees himself.

Sokolov stands up from Alvarado's guard - Sokolov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sokolov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarado swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sokolov closes the distance and clinches.
Alvarado is looking to take this one to the mat.
Alvarado is trying to break the clinch but Sokolov has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Alvarado's efforts to push away.

Sokolov pulls guard.
Sokolov wants to sweep but no luck.

Sokolov has his foot on Alvarado's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alvarado works his way back into a safe position though.
Alvarado won't allow Sokolov to sweep him here.
Sokolov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Alvarado lands a couple of digs.
Sokolov looking to control.
Sergey Sokolov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sokolov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Alvarado shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sokolov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarado wants to stand up but Sokolov is controlling the position.
Sokolov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alvarado prevents Sokolov from improving his position.
Sokolov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sokolov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sokolov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarado defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sokolov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarado doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarado manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alvarado would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sokolov tries to clinch up.
Sergey Sokolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokolov tries to clinch but Alvarado moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sokolov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Alvarado.
Mac Alvarado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sergey Sokolov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sokolov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alvarado swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Sokolov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sokolov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Sokolov!