PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Sorokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin has chosen 8 Mile as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Sorokov
vs
Martin

178 cm
29
146 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

168 cm
40
138 lbs
16 - 18 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition

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 13 - 13 - 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 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Martin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sorokov!

It looks like Steve Martin has been cut.
Sorokov misses with a body shot.
A little jabbing left from Martin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sorokov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Martin steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Sorokov goes for a double leg but Martin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Martin continues to drive forward.
Despite the aggression on Martin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sorokov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Martin counters with a body kick.
Sorokov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sorokov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Martin thinks about the counter body kick.
Sorokov looks to land a right hand but Martin moved out of range.
A little jabbing left from Martin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sorokov connects with a body shot that sends Martin's belly button to the back.
Sorokov throws a body shot but no joy.
Martin throws a fast counter high kick but Sorokov manages to duck under it in time.
Martin moves away from the strike by Sorokov.
Sorokov misses with a right hand
and Martin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martin misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin moves away from the strike by Sorokov.
Sorokov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martin moves away.
Martin misses with a kick to the body
enabling Sorokov to counter with a crisp jab.
A big left from Sorokov misses.
No joy there for Sorokov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Martin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sorokov shoots in for a takedown but Martin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sorokov misses the shot to the body.
Sorokov lands a jab to the nose.
Sorokov throws a lazy right hand but Martin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Martin unleashes a big counter combination but Sorokov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Martin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sorokov.
Sorokov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Martin on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov misses with a body shot.
Sorokov misses with a body shot.
Sorokov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Martin slips under a jab.
As Sorokov backs off Martin throws a huge counter combo but Sorokov manages to avoid it all.
Sorokov shoots and misses
and Martin counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Sorokov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martin ducks under a wild hook from Sorokov.
Sorokov closes the distance and clinches up with Martin, looking for a takedown. Sorokov pushes Martin against the cage but Martin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It seemed like Martin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Martin blocks a jab.
Sorokov swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Martin to counter with a crisp jab.
Sorokov misses with a looping right.
Martin is trying to counter with his kicks.
Sorokov misses with a right hand
and Martin counters with a nice uppercut.
Yuri Sorokov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Martin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sorokov blocks a head kick by Martin.
Sorokov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sorokov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Martin momentarily.

Martin is rocked!
Sorokov throws the left hand but Martin avoids the punch easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Martin! But no joy.
Martin avoids the body shot from Sorokov.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Martin! But no joy.
Martin slips a jab from Sorokov.
Sorokov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Martin throws a lazy right hand but Sorokov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sorokov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Martin circles away.
Martin lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Sorokov misses.
Martin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Martin wants it to stay on the feet.
Martin throws a big counter head kick but Sorokov avoids it with no problem.
Sorokov tries to clinch up
and Martin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sorokov misses with a lunging right hand
letting Martin counter with a right hand.
Sorokov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sorokov lands a nice shot that snaps Martin's head back.

Sorokov has Martin up against the cage in a clinch.

Sorokov breaks from the clinch.
Martin throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Sorokov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Martin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Martin slips under a jab from Sorokov.
Martin thinks about the counter body kick.
Martin takes one to the chin there.
Nice defenses there by Martin.
Martin throws out a counter right but Sorokov avoids it with no problem.
Sorokov tries to clinch up.
Martin is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sorokov misses the shot to the body.
Sorokov throws a hook but Martin avoids it easily.
Sorokov misses with an uppercut. Martin saw that one coming.
Sorokov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martin.
Martin is trying to counter with his kicks.
Sorokov lands a nice looking body shot.
Sorokov throws a hook but Martin avoids it easily.
Sorokov lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sorokov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sorokov throws a good cross that connects.
Sorokov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And Martin responds with a good body kick, but Sorokov manages to step out the way in time.
The fighters circling - Sorokov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Martin lands a head kick!
Steve Martin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Martin keeps the fight on the outside.
Martin walks into a left hand.
Yuri Sorokov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov misses with a straight right.
Sorokov throws a jab when Martin was well out of range.
Martin steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Sorokov misses with a body shot
and Martin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sorokov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sorokov misses with a right hand
and Martin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No luck for Sorokov with that takedown attempt.
Martin replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Sorokov blocks it well.
Donk. Sorokov catches Martin right on the button with a cross.
Sorokov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A little jabbing left from Martin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Martin slips a straight right by Sorokov.
Martin is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov throws an off balance right hand
enabling Martin to counter with a crisp jab.
Martin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sorokov.
As Sorokov backs off Martin throws a huge counter combo but Sorokov manages to avoid it all.
Sorokov misses with a combination
and Martin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sorokov sizes up Martin with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sorokov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Martin.
Steve Martin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sorokov throws a lazy uppercut
and Martin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sorokov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sorokov misses with a takedown attempt - Martin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Sorokov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sorokov misses with a looping right.
Martin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov shoots in looking for a takedown but Martin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sorokov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sorokov misses the shot to the body.
Sorokov moves to clinch but Martin breaks away
letting Martin counter with a right hand.
Martin stuffs the takedown.
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!
Martin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sorokov.
Martin pushes Sorokov away with a front kick.
Sorokov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Martin sprawls well. Martin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sorokov gets slowly back to his feet.
Martin throws a counter combo.
No luck for Sorokov with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yuri Sorokov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steve Martin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sorokov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sorokov throws a hook but Martin avoids it easily.
Martin throws a big counter head kick but Sorokov avoids it with no problem.
Sorokov missing with a left hand there. Martin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Martin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sorokov misses the jab.
Martin cracks Sorokov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sorokov throws a hook but Martin avoids it easily.
Martin replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Sorokov blocks it well.
Sorokov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Martin is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokov throws a series of punches but Martin moves out of range.

Sorokov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Martin lands an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Martin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Martin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Martin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Martin throws a head kick that misses.
Martin slips a straight right by Sorokov.
Martin is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sorokov swings widly with a right hand
enabling Martin to counter with a crisp jab.
Martin throws a head kick that half lands.
A big right from Sorokov misses.
And Martin responds with a good body kick, but Sorokov manages to step out the way in time.
Sorokov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Martin defends well and Sorokov ends up having to push Martin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A slow jab from Sorokov misses its intended target.
Martin unleashes a big counter combination but Sorokov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sorokov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Martin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Martin is looking for the big counter here.
Sorokov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Martin misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Sorokov misses the target.
Martin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sorokov misses with a straight left.
Sorokov tries to clinch up but Martin circles away and keeps his distance.
Martin replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Sorokov blocks it well.
Martin slips a straight right by Sorokov.
Martin follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Sorokov misses with a hook
and Martin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sorokov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A combination from Sorokov does no damage.
Martin unleashes a big counter combination but Sorokov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Martin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sorokov.
Martin is looking for the big counter here.
Sorokov throws out a loose jab but Martin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sorokov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov throws a hook but Martin blocks it.
Despite the aggression on Martin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sorokov throws a poor cross that misses
and Martin counters with a series of strikes. Sorokov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sorokov shoots for a takedown but Martin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sorokov throws a poor cross that misses
and Martin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Martin throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yuri Sorokov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sorokov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Martin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sorokov.
Sorokov blocks a head kick by Martin.
Martin walks into a jab.
Steve Martin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sorokov fails with 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokov misses with a straight right.
Sorokov scores with a nice head shot.
A big right from Sorokov misses.
Sorokov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martin misses with a right hand
and Sorokov counters with a two punch combo.
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!
Sorokov throws a shot from downtown. Martin moves away and avoids it.
Martin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Martin staying out of range there.
Martin is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Martin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Martin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sorokov throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steve Martin.
I think Sorokov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Sorokov!
Steve Martin was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm surprised the fuck'.