PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Cathaway (ranked 948 p4p, 129 weight class) and Alexei Sokolov (ranked 522 p4p, 70 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sokolov's choice of entrance music: Bapki -Zoo in Space. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cathaway
vs
Sokolov

183 cm
24
195 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

176 cm
21
180 lbs
11 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Cathaway!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexei Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cathaway connects with a solid leg kick.
Cathaway throws a lazy right hand but Sokolov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cathaway pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cathaway looks to land a left hand but Sokolov moved out of range nicely.
Sokolov blocks a leg kick.

Sokolov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cathaway looking to stall.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cathaway.
Cathaway lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cathaway takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A body shot lands from Sokolov.
Cathaway is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cathaway wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cathaway trying to stall but Sokolov improves his position.
Cathaway throws a head punch that misses.
Cathaway swings wildly with an uppercut but Sokolov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cathaway is looking to control Sokolov's arms but Sokolov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cathaway has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Maybe Cathaway would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Sokolov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cathaway misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sokolov controlling the action here for a moment.

Cathaway manages to break the clinch.
Sokolov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cathaway was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A low kick from Cathaway misses
and Sokolov counters with a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cathaway.
Sokolov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A telegraphed right hand from Cathaway misses the target.
Alexei Sokolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokolov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cathaway counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cathaway misses the shot to the body.

Sokolov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sokolov showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cathaway controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cathaway gets full guard.
Sokolov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cathaway holds on and takes a little breather.

Cathaway throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cathaway looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cathaway is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at All Star Performance Institute that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Sokolov postures up.
Cathaway manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sokolov manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cathaway is fighting to break Sokolov's control of his arms but Sokolov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cathaway has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sokolov is proving hard to escape from.
Cathaway is looking to pass into half guard but Sokolov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sokolov is in guard.

Cathaway looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cathaway has Sokolov pulled in close to control his posture.
Cathaway bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sokolov's guard.

Sokolov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sokolov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cathaway trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cathaway won't allow Sokolov to sweep him here.
Cathaway in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokolov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokolov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Cathaway 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.

Sokolov staying out of range there.
Cathaway throws a hook but Sokolov blocks it.
Cathaway loads up on a big right hand but Sokolov slips the punch.
Sokolov misses the body punch
and Cathaway counters with a nice uppercut.
Cathaway throws a low kick but Sokolov avoids it.
Cathaway avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sokolov throws out a powerful jab.
Sokolov connects with a solid leg kick.
Cathaway on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sokolov is looking to slow Cathaway down with leg kicks.
Cathaway misses with a wild body shot.
Sokolov flicks out a counter leg kick but Cathaway steps away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokolov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cathaway connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sokolov takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokolov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cathaway manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cathaway chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jimmy Cathaway is winning the standup battle so far.
Sokolov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cathaway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cathaway.
Sokolov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cathaway defends well and Sokolov ends up having to push Cathaway into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Cathaway.
Cathaway is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sokolov can do to turn this around?
Cathaway thows a leg kick but Sokolov checks it
and Sokolov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cathaway scores with a nice strike.
Cathaway looks to throw the jab but Sokolov is out of range.
Cathaway throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sokolov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sokolov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sokolov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cathaway.
Sokolov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cathaway connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Sokolov is rocked!
Sokolov gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Cathaway gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Sokolov is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jimmy Cathaway!
Jimmy Cathaway retains his middleweight title!