PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Sokolov (ranked 4203 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phill Brooks (ranked 5419 p4p, 0 weight class). Sokolov comes to the cage accompanied by I Don't Get Tired - Kevin Gates. Brooks is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Cult Of Personailty. Phill Brooks is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sokolov
vs
Brooks

176 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
27
170 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Real Men Supplements

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexei Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phill Brooks!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Brooks fails to land with a series of punches.

Sokolov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Brooks on his heels. He'll look to pass Brooks's guard now, I'm sure.
Sokolov throwing strikes from guard but Brooks blocks nicely.
Sokolov throws a big right hand that misses.
Sokolov lands a couple of elbows.
Sokolov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sokolov throws a strike but Brooks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Brooks wanted to stand there but Sokolov had control of the position.
Brooks trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.

Sokolov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Brooks escapes and throws Sokolov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sokolov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Sokolov throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Brooks avoids the strikes from the bottom by Sokolov.
Brooks postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sokolov tries to buck Brooks off but Brooks is having none of it.
Sokolov throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Sokolov is looking to reverse the position.
Sokolov striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Sokolov misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brooks decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Sokolov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Brooks tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sokolov is in Brooks's guard.

Brooks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sokolov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sokolov postures up and lands a big shot to Brooks's brow.
Sokolov landing with the ground and pound.
Sokolov lands a couple of elbows.
Sokolov throws a big right hand that misses.
Sokolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sokolov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sokolov lands a couple of elbows.
Sokolov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sokolov lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is in close to Brooks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Brooks wants to sweep but no luck.
Sokolov chips away with some ground and pound.
Sokolov chips away with some ground and pound.
Brooks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.
Sokolov 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.
Sokolov postures up.
Brooks has momentary wrist control but Sokolov slips an elbow through the middle.

Sokolov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Brooks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Brooks has escaped and now he's on top!

Sokolov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks postures up in Sokolov's guard and throws a big left but Sokolov blocks it.
Sokolov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Sokolov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Brooks uses it to pass to side control.
Sokolov throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Sokolov misses with a strike from the bottom.
Sokolov is throwing a few token shots, despite Brooks being in side control.
Sokolov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Brooks.
Sokolov throws up a few punches.
Sokolov is trying to get back to half guard.
Brooks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sokolov keeps working.
Sokolov is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alexei Sokolov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sokolov with a poor takedown
and Brooks counters with a left and a right that stings Sokolov.
Sokolov tries for a takedown but Brooks circles away easily
and Brooks counters with a series of strikes. Sokolov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Brooks stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexei Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sokolov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brooks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Sokolov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Brooks to the ground. Sokolov is now in Brooks's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sokolov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brooks's head.
Sokolov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Brooks will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sokolov throws a strike but Brooks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sokolov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Brooks stacks Sokolov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Brooks!
Sokolov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Brooks's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Sokolov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov wants to sweep but Brooks has passed to side control!
Sokolov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at White Lotus, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Sokolov throws up a few punches.
Sokolov tries to bench press Brooks off him but Brooks keeps the position.
Sokolov misses with a strike from the bottom.
Sokolov regains half guard.

Brooks is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sokolov sees it coming and defends easily.
Alexei Sokolov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokolov is looking to improve his position.
Sokolov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sokolov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sokolov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Brooks blocks the strikes from Sokolov.

Sokolov looking for submissions off his back.

Sokolov actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brooks thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sokolov's head.
Sokolov is not content to let Brooks control the position.
Brooks blocks the strikes from Sokolov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks blocks the strikes from Sokolov.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Brooks shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sokolov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sokolov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Sokolov actively working from the bottom here.

Brooks is trying to work for a kimura but Sokolov is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokolov missing with punches from the bottom.

Sokolov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Brooks pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sokolov is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Sokolov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sokolov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sokolov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sokolov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Brooks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sokolov looking for a sweep. Not yet Sokolov, not yet.
Brooks wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sokolov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phill Brooks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sokolov misses with a takedown
enabling Brooks to counter with a crisp jab.
Sokolov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Brooks.
Brooks scores with a nice strike.

Sokolov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Brooks is looking to escape.
Sokolov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokolov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Brooks trying to control from the bottom.
Sokolov thows a huge punch but Brooks dodges it nicely.
Brooks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sokolov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sokolov winds up and cracks Brooks with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sokolov drops an elbow to the side of Brooks's 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. Sokolov connects with a nice short shot to Brooks's temple.
Sokolov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Sokolov is working for a kimura but Brooks is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Sokolov there.
Brooks is trying to stand.
Brooks is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sokolov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Brooks moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sokolov throwing strikes from guard but Brooks blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Brooks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brooks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sokolov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Brooks's head.
Sokolov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sokolov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Brooks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sokolov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sokolov throwing strikes from guard but Brooks blocks nicely.
Sokolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brooks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokolov chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sokolov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Brooks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Brooks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Brooks!

Brooks throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sokolov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sokolov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sokolov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Sokolov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Brooks passes into half guard.
Brooks blocks the strikes from Sokolov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks blocks the strikes from Sokolov.
Sokolov is pressing down on Brooks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Sokolov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brooks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Brooks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Brooks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sokolov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brooks won't allow Sokolov to sweep him here.
Brooks scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sokolov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sokolov working over Brooks with some ground and pound. Brooks looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Brooks pushes Sokolov off looking to stand but Sokolov dives back in and keeps control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sokolov lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Sokolov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sokolov 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Sokolov!
Alexei Sokolov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated Phill Brooks had this to say: 'I Don't Know I Could Go Back To WWE Or Train Harder Than Ever Before And Win My Next Fight'.