PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Sorokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Craftt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin Craftt has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Yuri Sorokov's chin.

Sorokov
vs
Craftt

178 cm
25
146 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

165 cm
30
145 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Sorokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Martin Craftt!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craftt wants to clinch up but Sorokov keeps it at a distance.
Craftt tries to close the distance and clinch but Sorokov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Craftt takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sorokov throws a combination. Craftt tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Craftt forces Sorokov back against the cage and clinches.
Good body shot from Sorokov.
Sorokov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Sorokov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Craftt tries to clinch up but Sorokov circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Sorokov catches Craftt right on the button with a cross.
Sorokov dives in for a single leg takedown but Craftt sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Craftt closes the distance and clinches.
Sorokov scores with a nice hook to the head.
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!

Craftt breaks from the clinch.
Martin Craftt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craftt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sorokov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sorokov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sorokov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Craftt sprawls well. Craftt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sorokov gets slowly back to his feet.
Craftt closes the distance looking to clinch

so Sorokov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sorokov throws a big elbow that misses.
Sorokov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Craftt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sorokov throws a big right hand that misses.
Sorokov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sorokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sorokov postures up in Craftt's guard and throws a big left but Craftt blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sorokov throwing strikes from guard but Craftt blocks nicely.
Sorokov wants to control from the top but Craftt keeps moving.
Craftt keeping full guard, as Sorokov tries to pass.
Sorokov postures up in Craftt's guard and throws a big left but Craftt blocks it.
Craftt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sorokov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craftt wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov takes a swing at Craftt's ribcage but misses.

Craftt instigates a clinch.

Craftt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Craftt wants to clinch.

Craftt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sorokov jumps guard but Craftt turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Sorokov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craftt missing with knees to the body.
Sorokov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sorokov effectively controlling the action here.
Sorokov has a couple of punches blocked by Craftt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Craftt pulls his leg out and moves away.
Craftt wants to clinch up but Sorokov keeps it at a distance.
Sorokov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Craftt avoids it really well and circles away.
And Craftt tries to counter it with a takedown but Sorokov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sorokov.
Sorokov thows a left - swing and a miss!

Sorokov tries to keep at a distance but Craftt has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sorokov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Craftt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sorokov, pushing him back against the cage.
Craftt stops a takedown attempt from Sorokov.
Sorokov effectively controlling the action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sorokov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Sorokov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sorokov sizes up Craftt with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Craftt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sorokov, pushing him back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sorokov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Craftt is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Craftt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sorokov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Craftt is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sorokov misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sorokov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Craftt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sorokov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Craftt clinches up with Sorokov and pushes him back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Craftt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorokov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sorokov tries to break the clinch but Craftt is controlling the position.
Craftt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sorokov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sorokov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The referee calls for Sorokov to work.
Craftt is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sorokov is defending well for now.
Sorokov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Craftt to keep the fight standing.
Sorokov takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Yuri Sorokov has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craftt is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Sorokov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sorokov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yuri Sorokov is winning the standup battle so far.
Craftt stuffs the takedown attempt from Sorokov. Sorokov gets slowly back to his feet.
Craftt wants to clinch up but Sorokov keeps it at a distance.
Sorokov feinted with a counter takedown.
Sorokov closes the distance and clinches up with Craftt, looking for a takedown. Sorokov pushes Craftt against the cage but Craftt circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Martin Craftt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sorokov misses with a straight right.

Sorokov gets tackled into the cage by Craftt. Craftt maintains the clinch.
Craftt prevents the takedown attempt.
Sorokov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Craftt backwards.
Sorokov blocks an elbow strike from Craftt.
Sorokov has a couple of punches blocked by Craftt.
Sorokov tries to work over Craftt's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sorokov has clasped his hands together around Craftt's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sorokov tries to score with some ground and pound. Craftt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sorokov 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.
Sorokov is working Craftt over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Sorokov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Craftt is looking for a sweep.
Craftt is trying to control Sorokov's posture but Sorokov avoids it.
Craftt is not content to let Sorokov control the position.

Sorokov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Craftt has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sorokov 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.
Sorokov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Craftt dodges the ground and pound from Sorokov.
Craftt defending against the ground and pound.
Craftt is trying to improve his position.
Sorokov is working Craftt over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sorokov misses with the ground and pound.
Craftt wants to control but Sorokov postures up.

Sorokov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Craftt rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sorokov's guard! Nice work there by Craftt!
Craftt passes Sorokov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sorokov is staying active underneath Craftt, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Craftt is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Sorokov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yuri Sorokov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Craftt takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Craftt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martin Craftt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Craftt doesn't manage to clinch there - Sorokov circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Sorokov misses the target.
Sorokov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Craftt tries to clinch there but Sorokov circles away.
Craftt tries to clinch there but Sorokov circles away.
Craftt tries to clinch but Sorokov is having none of it.
Craftt wants to clinch.
Craftt wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craftt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sorokov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sorokov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Craftt darts in and clinches Sorokov up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sorokov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sorokov manages to end up in side control.
Craftt parries the strikes from Sorokov easily there. Sorokov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Craftt to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sorokov tries to advance to mount but Craftt instead regains half guard.
Sorokov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Craftt can do to turn this around?
Sorokov throws a strike but Craftt avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sorokov throws a strike but Craftt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Craftt postures up.
Sorokov looking for a sweep. Not yet Sorokov, not yet.
Sorokov keeping moving, preventing Craftt from controlling successfully.
Sorokov wants to sweep but no luck.
Craftt trying to control the position from guard on top but Sorokov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craftt 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.
Sorokov keeping full guard, as Craftt tries to pass.
Craftt stands and throws Sorokov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sorokov gets back to half guard.

Craftt seems to be working for a kimura but Sorokov defends the submission attempt.
Sorokov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov gets full guard.
Craftt tries to free his leg and advance position but Sorokov is retaining full guard.
Craftt trying to control but Sorokov is working from the bottom.
Yuri Sorokov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yuri Sorokov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Craftt 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.
Craftt is fighting to break Sorokov's control of his arms but Sorokov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Craftt drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sorokov dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Craftt trying to control the position.
Martin Craftt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craftt has control of Sorokov's left arm, preventing Sorokov from doing any damage.
Sorokov is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Sorokov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sorokov, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

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