PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karl Socha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Socha
vs
Hales

185 cm
38
175 lbs
34 - 20 - 1

204 cm
27
188 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 34 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karl Socha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Hales!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hales misses with a takedown
enabling Socha to counter with a crisp jab.
No luck for Hales with that takedown attempt.
Nice jab there from Socha.
Hales shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Socha sprawls well. Socha wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hales gets slowly back to his feet.
Karl Socha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hales.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hales changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Socha tries to avoid it but Hales manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Socha to the ground. Socha escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Socha misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hales avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hales blocks a head kick by Socha.
Hales slips a straight right by Socha.

Hales shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hales was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Socha manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hales trying to hold on to Socha's head to control him but Socha postures up.
Hales wants to get back to full guard but Socha has passed into side control.
Hales tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hales sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Socha is looking to stall here but Hales recovers full guard.
Hales looking to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Socha is in close to Hales's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Hales looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Socha passes into half guard.
Socha thows a huge punch but Hales dodges it nicely.
Socha controlling the pace.
Socha wants to stand up but Hales has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socha is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hales wants to control but Socha is keeping busy.
Socha wants to get back to his feet.
Hales has hold of Socha's hands but Socha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hales tries to get to full guard but Socha has control of the leg.
Socha is looking to take a break and control but Hales is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

Hales actively working from the bottom here.

Hales looking for submissions off his back.
Hales is looking to improve his position.
Socha is trying to control. Hales wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Socha is thwarting Hales's attempts to control the position.
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.
Hales will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Socha dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Socha connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hales on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Socha uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hales has time to react.

It looks like Mark Hales has been cut.
Hales shoots and misses
and Socha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hales is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Socha bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hales's head.
The fighters circling - Socha throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hales drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Socha defends it well.
Hales drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Hales is rocked!
Socha throws a pinpoint strike between Hales's hands that connects right on the jaw and sends Hales crashing to the floor! He's out before he even hits the mat and Socha scores a great knockout victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Karl Socha!
A very excited looking Karl Socha made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.