PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Scott Sopoaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Mikhail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Mikhail has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sopoaga
vs
Mikhail

180 cm
18
178 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
186 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scott Sopoaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Mikhail!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikhail shoots in looking for a takedown. Sopoaga tries to sprawl out of it but Mikhail keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sopoaga manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sopoaga looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Mikhail feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mikhail looking to pass the guard.
Mikhail trying to control but Sopoaga is working from the bottom.
Mikhail sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sopoaga's guard.
Mikhail is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sopoaga!

Mikhail goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sopoaga is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mikhail is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mikhail is looking for a triangle but Sopoaga pushes his legs off easily.
Mikhail is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mikhail is trying to work for a kimura but Sopoaga is defending well.
Mikhail passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sopoaga!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mikhail has hold of Sopoaga's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sopoaga manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Mikhail with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sopoaga defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Mikhail.

Mikhail is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sopoaga has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mikhail working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Sopoaga turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Mikhail off and cradles Sopoaga's limp body as Mikhail celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Vladimir Mikhail!