PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Socchio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khal Drogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Dan Socchio has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Socchio
vs
Drogo

170 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

184 cm
22
182 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Socchio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khal Drogo!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drogo throws a poor cross that misses

so Socchio counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Socchio content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Socchio trying to control the position from guard on top but Drogo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Socchio lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Socchio is pushing down on Drogo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Drogo is fighting to maintain full guard but Socchio has managed to sneak the leg through.
Socchio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Drogo taking some punishment here, with Socchio in his half guard.

Socchio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Drogo defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Socchio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Drogo is trying to stand back up but Socchio is controlling him
Drogo is looking to control Socchio's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Drogo avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Socchio drops an elbow to the side of Drogo's head.
Drogo is staying active underneath Socchio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Socchio trying to pass the guard but Drogo defending well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Drogo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Drogo pushes Socchio off looking to stand but Socchio dives back in and keeps control.
Socchio throws a strike but Drogo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Drogo is trying to control the position but Socchio postures up.
Drogo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Socchio haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Drogo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo fails with a takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Socchio misses its target.
Drogo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Socchio as he jumps to the side.
Socchio half committed to a counter leg kick.
Drogo darts in looking for a takedown but Socchio gets double underhooks and turns Drogo into the ropes.
Dan Socchio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khal Drogo.
Drogo throws a poor cross that misses
and Socchio counters with a straight right hand.

Socchio gets a double leg takedown into Drogo's guard.
Drogo is looking to stand back up but Socchio counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Drogo.

Drogo is trying to stand up here but Socchio is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socchio passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Drogo!
Drogo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Socchio punishing his opponent with strikes.
Socchio dominating with strikes here.
Drogo wants to control but Socchio is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Socchio landing strikes from the mount.
Drogo is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Drogo really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Socchio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Drogo tries to hold on but Socchio postures up.
Socchio can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drogo is looking to escape.

Socchio wants to finish this one by submission but Drogo is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Socchio.
Drogo wants to hold on but Socchio pushes him away.
Socchio dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Socchio dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Drogo misses with a looping left.
Drogo shoots for a takedown but Socchio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Socchio stuffs the takedown.
Socchio is looking for a counter combo.
Socchio shoots in but Drogo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Drogo.
Socchio appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Khal Drogo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drogo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dan Socchio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khal Drogo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Drogo clinches up with Socchio and pushes him back against the ropes.

Drogo breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogo fails with the takedown
and Socchio counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Drogo closes the distance and clinches.
Socchio gets underhooks to prevent Drogo's takedown attempt.
Drogo is pressed up against the ropes. Socchio has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Drogo down to the mat. Drogo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Socchio tries for a takedown but Drogo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Socchio gets a double leg takedown into Drogo's guard.
Drogo is looking to stand up but Socchio isn't so interested in that idea.
Socchio throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Socchio wants to control from the top but Drogo keeps moving.
Drogo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Socchio is one step ahead there.
Socchio has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Socchio postures up.
Drogo wants to get back to his feet but Socchio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Socchio landing with the ground and pound.
Socchio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dan Socchio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drogo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Socchio dives into side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Drogo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Socchio asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Drogo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Socchio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Drogo tries to improve position but can't.
Drogo is still trying to improve position.
Socchio trying to control the position but Drogo is working away.

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.
Drogo tries to escape but Socchio is in control.
You can see the frustration on Drogo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Drogo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Socchio defends well and Drogo ends up having to push Socchio into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Socchio changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Socchio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Drogo.
Socchio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Drogo.
Khal Drogo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drogo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Socchio counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Socchio is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Socchio lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Socchio dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Drogo has his takedown stuffed
and Socchio counters with a right hand to the body.
Drogo misses with a takedown
and Socchio counters with a stiff right hand.

Drogo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Socchio, pushing him back against the ropes.
Socchio tries for a takedown but Drogo manages to get underhooks.
Socchio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Drogo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Drogo has Socchio pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Drogo pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Socchio tumbling to the mat - Drogo dives into Socchio's guard.
Socchio manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Drogo manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Drogo wants to stand but Socchio is controlling the position.
Socchio postures up.
Socchio is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Socchio prevents Drogo from getting back to his feet.
Drogo is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Socchio is in close to Drogo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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.

Socchio gets to his feet. Drogo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Drogo looks to throw a body kick

and Socchio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Drogo wants to control but Socchio is keeping busy.
Socchio controlling the action here.
Socchio working Drogo over with strikes.
Socchio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drogo can do to turn this around?
Socchio controlling the action here.
Socchio prevents Drogo from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socchio scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Socchio connects with a nice short shot to Drogo's temple.
Socchio trying to control from half guard but Drogo is working away.
Khal Drogo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Socchio is taking a breather. Drogo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Drogo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Socchio scores with a couple of nice shots.

Socchio is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Drogo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socchio is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Drogo really wants to buck Socchio off and get back to his feet.
Socchio scoring with strikes but Drogo is staying in there.
Drogo is in all sorts of trouble here.
The referee warns Drogo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Socchio punishing his opponent with strikes.
Drogo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dan Socchio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Socchio controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Socchio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Socchio, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Socchio!
A victorious Dan Socchio thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.