PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Naoise Durnin (ranked 1228 p4p, 148 weight class) and Konstantin Sokolov (ranked 1032 p4p, 130 weight class). Durnin's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, I'm Shipping Up To Boston by The Dropkick Murphy's. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Durnin
vs
Sokolov

197 cm
28
270 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

198 cm
31
223 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Naoise Durnin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Konstantin Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Kavanagh and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Sokolov misses its intended target.

Durnin pushes Sokolov up against the cage in a clinch.
Sokolov misses with a knee to the head.
Sokolov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sokolov presses Durnin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sokolov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Durnin's face.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Durnin.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Sokolov controls the action.
Good body shot from Durnin.
Sokolov looks winded!
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Durnin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sokolov.
Durnin struggles to land a body shot inside as Sokolov controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Sokolov avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Durnin pushes Sokolov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Durnin tries to work over Sokolov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Durnin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Durnin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sokolov.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sokolov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Durnin seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Sokolov can turn it around.
Durnin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sokolov's elbow.
Durnin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Sokolov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Durnin wants to get back to his feet but Sokolov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Durnin keeping full guard, as Sokolov tries to pass.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Durnin has wrist control.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Durnin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sokolov postures up and lands a big shot to Durnin's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durnin wriggles free and stands up.
Durnin moves in looking to clinch but Sokolov pushes him off.
Durnin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sokolov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Durnin tries to clinch up.

Durnin closes the distance and clinches.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Sokolov avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Durnin avoiding damage as Sokolov throws knees to the body.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
Sokolov throws a head punch that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sokolov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Durnin backwards.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Durnin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sokolov blocks a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Sokolov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Durnin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Durnin tries to clinch there but Sokolov circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sokolov! But no joy.
Sokolov throws a looping overhand right but Durnin ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durnin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sokolov counters with a nice uppercut.
Durnin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sokolov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sokolov! But no joy.
Durnin tries to clinch up.
Sokolov clobbers Durnin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sokolov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sokolov.
Durnin tries to clinch but Sokolov moves out of range.
A big left from Sokolov misses.
Sokolov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Durnin.

Durnin closes the distance and pushes Sokolov back into the cage.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Sokolov avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Sokolov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Our sources have told us that Durnin has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Sokolov avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Sokolov prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Sokolov avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Sokolov misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sokolov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Sokolov controls the action.
Sokolov blocks a body shot from Durnin.
Sokolov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Durnin's elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sokolov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Still in the clinch, Sokolov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Durnin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Durnin tries to work over Sokolov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sokolov prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Sokolov prevents a body shot from Durnin.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sokolov.
Durnin tries to work over Sokolov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.

Sokolov has picked Durnin up - he's going for a ride! Sokolov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sokolov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Durnin's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Konstantin Sokolov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Durnin darts in and clinches Sokolov up against the cage.
Durnin tries a body shot but Sokolov blocks it.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Sokolov avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin struggles to land a body shot inside as Sokolov controls his hands.
Durnin tries to work over Sokolov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Sokolov can't find room to land a body shot as Durnin controls the action.
Durnin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sokolov prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Sokolov lands a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Sokolov.
Durnin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Sokolov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sokolov is keen to just control but Durnin is a slippery customer.
Sokolov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov trying to control the action but Durnin is working from the bottom.
Durnin has hold of Sokolov's hands but Sokolov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Durnin tries to kick Sokolov off but Sokolov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sokolov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sokolov throwing shots but Durnin is blocking nicely.
Sokolov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Konstantin Sokolov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sokolov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sokolov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Durnin's head.
Sokolov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Durnin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sokolov on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sokolov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Durnin defending well though.
Sokolov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sokolov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sokolov wants to take a breather but Durnin is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Durnin wants to clinch up but Sokolov keeps it at a distance.
Sokolov keeps the fight on the outside.
Durnin wants to clinch up but Sokolov keeps it at a distance.
Durnin moves to clinch but Sokolov breaks away
letting Sokolov counter with a right hand.
Sokolov keeps the fight on the outside.
Durnin tries to clinch there but Sokolov circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durnin wants to clinch but Sokolov slips to the side
and Sokolov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice body punch from Sokolov.
Durnin wants to clinch.
Durnin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Donk. Sokolov catches Durnin right on the button with a cross.
Sokolov punishes Durnin's body with a nice straight punch.
Naoise Durnin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Durnin slips under a jab.
Durnin throws a big counter combination but Sokolov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sokolov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Durnin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sokolov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sokolov's corner calls for a 1-2. Sokolov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Naoise Durnin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durnin slips under a jab from Sokolov.
Durnin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sokolov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sokolov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Durnin.
Durnin avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd cheers as Sokolov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Durnin doesn't seem phased though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sokolov swinging wildly here.
Durnin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Sokolov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Durnin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sokolov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Durnin tries to close the distance and clinch but Sokolov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sokolov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sokolov loads up on a big right hand but Durnin slips the punch.
Durnin ducks under a wild hook from Sokolov.
Durnin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Durnin tries to clinch but Sokolov is having none of it.
Durnin tries to clinch but Sokolov moves out of range.
Durnin wants to clinch up but Sokolov keeps it at a distance.
Sokolov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sokolov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sokolov circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab lands there for Sokolov.
Konstantin Sokolov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Durnin moves into the clinch successfully.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Sokolov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sokolov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durnin tries to clinch but Sokolov moves away
and Sokolov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sokolov circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Sokolov counter with a right hand.

Durnin is rocked!
Durnin glances at the clock... BAM! Sokolov nails him with a big right hand! A momentary lapse in concentration sends Durnin crashing to the mat! The referee steps in and this one is over! Damn, Durnin is out of it, he thinks the ref is his opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Konstantin Sokolov!
A victorious Konstantin Sokolov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.