PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guy Laliberte (ranked 1174 p4p, 152 weight class) and Konstantin Sokolov (ranked 852 p4p, 117 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Laliberte
vs
Sokolov

190 cm
28
251 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

198 cm
28
230 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Guy Laliberte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Konstantin Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sokolov scores with a jab. Laliberte acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sokolov lands a body shot.
Laliberte swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sokolov.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sokolov has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Sokolov throws a sloppy body shot
and Laliberte counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sokolov thinking.
Sokolov throws a body punch but Laliberte moves out of range.
Sokolov throws a lazy uppercut
and Sokolov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've been told by Laliberte's head coaches at Gym Beam that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sokolov steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Laliberte. That one must have hurt.
Nice uppercut lands for Sokolov. That snapped Laliberte's head back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laliberte lands with a nice body punch.
Sokolov throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Laliberte steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sokolov.
Laliberte with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Konstantin Sokolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laliberte gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sokolov.
Laliberte displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sokolov throws out the jab.
Laliberte cracks the inside of Sokolov's front leg.
Sokolov throws a poor cross that misses
and Laliberte counters with a nice body kick.
Sokolov looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov cracks Laliberte with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sokolov doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Laliberte counter with a right hand.

It looks like Konstantin Sokolov has been cut.
Laliberte fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sokolov is out of range.
A head kick by Laliberte misses
and Sokolov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sokolov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Laliberte counters with a slapping leg kick.
A jab from Sokolov misses.

Laliberte feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Sokolov sprawling to the canvas! Sokolov rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Laliberte finish him?!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laliberte misses with a body shot.
Laliberte throws an overhand right that lands on Sokolov's shoulder, as Sokolov tries to avoid the shot.
Sokolov throws a shot from downtown. Laliberte moves away and avoids it.
Sokolov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sokolov throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Laliberte counters with a nice right hand that sends Sokolov toppling to the canvas! Sokolov scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Laliberte finish him?!

Sokolov is rocked!
Laliberte ducks down into range and throws a picture perfect right hook that connects with Sokolov's jaw. Sokolov's eyes stare off into space as he falls to the mat, out cold! Laliberte does the decent thing and steps back, rather than landing any shots to his unconscious opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Guy Laliberte!