PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Sokolov (ranked 3851 p4p, 3657 weight class) and Mark Arkinson (ranked 137 p4p, 129 weight class). Sokolov comes to the ring accompanied by The Jack Wood - Murder. Arkinson has chosen Breaking Benjamin - So cold as his entrance music. Mark Arkinson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sokolov
vs
Arkinson

213 cm
25
300
2 - 1 - 0

224 cm
22
444
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Arkinson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arkinson drops Sokolov with a left right combo! Arkinson follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Sergei Sokolov has been cut.
Sokolov wants to control but Arkinson postures up.
Sokolov parries the strikes from Arkinson easily there. Arkinson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sokolov to escape.
Sokolov is trying to control Arkinson's posture but Arkinson avoids it.
Sokolov is looking to regain half guard here but Arkinson keeps moving and retains side control.
Sokolov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Arkinson's best efforts.
Sokolov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arkinson is working away from the top position though.
Sokolov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sokolov.
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!
Arkinson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sokolov has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Sokolov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arkinson.
Sokolov trying to control the position.
Sokolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arkinson is one step ahead there.
Sokolov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arkinson is looking to work some ground and pound but Sokolov has wrist control.
Sokolov looking to control.
Arkinson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sokolov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokolov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sokolov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Arkinson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sokolov has Arkinson in his guard.

Sokolov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sokolov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sokolov tries to get out of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sokolov is on top in guard.

Sokolov wanted to stand there but Arkinson had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov connects with a couple of short punches.
Sokolov postures up and lands a big shot to Arkinson's brow.
Sokolov throws a strike but Arkinson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Arkinson throws a big right hand that misses.
Sokolov working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arkinson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov trying to keep a closed guard but Arkinson is proving a slippery customer.
Sokolov looking for a sweep. Not yet Sokolov, not yet.
Arkinson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Arkinson won't allow Sokolov to sweep him here.
Arkinson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Arkinson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sokolov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Arkinson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sokolov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Arkinson.
Arkinson postures up in Sokolov's guard and throws a big left but Sokolov blocks it.
Arkinson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Arkinson looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arkinson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sokolov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Arkinson is controlling him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Arkinson postures up in Sokolov's guard and throws a big left but Sokolov blocks it.
Sokolov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Arkinson manages to get himself to full guard.

Arkinson wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling the position.
Sokolov distracts Arkinson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokolov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Sokolov stands and steps away. Arkinson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Arkinson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergei Sokolov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Sokolov shoots for a takedown but Arkinson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Sokolov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Sokolov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Arkinson throws a right and a left that Sokolov avoids nicely.
Arkinson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Arkinson throws a right and a left that Sokolov avoids nicely.
Sokolov pushes Arkinson away with a front kick.
Sokolov misses with a wild combination.
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 shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Arkinson is wriggling around but Sokolov manages to pass to half guard.
Sergei Sokolov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Arkinson is breathing heavily.
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 Arkinson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov trying to control from half guard but Arkinson is working away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sokolov stalling.

Sokolov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Arkinson sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sokolov slips a nice elbow through Arkinson's hands, connecting with Arkinson's forehead.
Arkinson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sokolov.
Sokolov winds up and cracks Arkinson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sokolov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sokolov lands with a punch from half guard.
Sokolov is trying to control. Arkinson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sokolov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Sokolov seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov controlling the pace.
Sokolov slips a nice elbow through Arkinson's hands, connecting with Arkinson's forehead.
Sokolov tries to stand and escape but Arkinson is controlling the position.
Sokolov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sokolov.
Arkinson tries to bum rush Sokolov with a series of wild strikes but Sokolov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sokolov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arkinson tries to bum rush Sokolov with a series of wild strikes but Sokolov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice sprawl there from Arkinson as Sokolov shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arkinson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sokolov shoots in for a double leg but Arkinson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Sokolov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Arkinson tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
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 sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Arkinson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sergei Sokolov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergei Sokolov's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sokolov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Arkinson on his heels. He'll look to pass Arkinson's guard now, I'm sure.

Arkinson wriggles free and stands up.
Arkinson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sokolov shoots for a takedown but Arkinson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sokolov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sokolov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Arkinson is fending him off so far but Sokolov persists. Nope, Arkinson circles away and we're back to standing.
Sokolov tries to bum rush Arkinson with a series of wild strikes but Arkinson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sokolov closes the distance and clinches up with Arkinson, looking for a takedown. Sokolov pushes Arkinson against the ropes but Arkinson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sokolov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Arkinson quickly recovers to half guard.

Arkinson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arkinson misses with a double jab.
Sokolov doesn't manage to clinch there - Arkinson circles away.
Sokolov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Arkinson swivels and escapes.
Sokolov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Arkinson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arkinson throws a series of punches but Sokolov avoids them all with ease.

Sokolov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sokolov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arkinson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sokolov.
Sokolov is controlling the pace.
Sokolov is looking to take a break and control but Arkinson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arkinson manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Sokolov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the ropes.

Sokolov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Arkinson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Sokolov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Arkinson to get to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokolov looks to land a left hand but Arkinson moved out of range nicely.
Sokolov has a takedown stuffed.
Sergei Sokolov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Arkinson finds it's way through Sokolov's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arkinson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Arkinson wants it to stay on the feet.
Sokolov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Arkinson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Arkinson duly obliges.
Arkinson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sokolov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Sergei Sokolov's cut is getting worse.

Sokolov closes the distance and pushes Arkinson back into the ropes.
Sokolov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Arkinson is keeping busy.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sokolov seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Arkinson is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.

Sokolov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arkinson lands a really nice looking cross but Sokolov seems unphased.
Mark Arkinson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokolov doesn't manage to clinch there - Arkinson circles away.
Sokolov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Arkinson slips a jab and a cross from Sokolov.
Arkinson lands a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Left hook, right uppercut from Arkinson.

Sokolov is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Sokolov misses.
Oh Sokolov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Arkinson lands a hook that stumbles Sokolov back into the ropes. Arkinson follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Sokolov to the canvas! Arkinson pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Sokolov has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:07 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Mark Arkinson!
Post fight, an emotional Mark Arkinson said 'King Kong Donged 🦍 🦍 🦍 🦍 🦍KING OF THE FUCKIN JUNGLE BABY!!! Put some respect on the big men. I AM DAT MAN I AM THE BADDEST MOTHERFUCKER ALIVE!!! '.
Sergei Sokolov was interviewed post fight and said 'There is no time for regrets, just to try to recover as quickly as possible for the next fight.'.