PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yusein Muhamed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Sorokin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sorokin has chosen "Black BMW" by Seryoga as his entrance music. Yusein Muhamed looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Muhamed
vs
Sorokin

184 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
21
191 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yusein Muhamed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Sorokin!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muhamed throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sorokin's waist but Sorokin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Muhamed off to one side.
Muhamed looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sorokin is fending him off so far but Muhamed persists. Nope, Sorokin circles away and we're back to standing.
Muhamed slips under a jab from Sorokin.
Muhamed tries to clinch but Sorokin is having none of it.
Muhamed fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusein Muhamed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sorokin misses with a two punch combination.
Muhamed fails in his attempt to clinch.
Muhamed looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sorokin is fending him off so far but Muhamed persists. Nope, Sorokin circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorokin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Muhamed manages to avoid it.

Sorokin clinches with his opponent.
Muhamed tries to score a body lock takedown but Sorokin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sorokin misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhamed tries for a takedown. No joy.
Muhamed is breathing heavily.
Sorokin gets underhooks to prevent Muhamed's takedown attempt.
Sorokin is pressed up against the cage. Muhamed has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sorokin down to the mat. Sorokin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Muhamed takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A punch combination from Sorokin misses.
Sorokin tests Muhamed's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Muhamed has a takedown stuffed.
Muhamed shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yusein Muhamed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sorokin moves into the clinch.
Sorokin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Muhamed jumps guard but Sorokin stands there with Muhamed around his waist. Muhamed gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorokin lands a nice shot to the body.
Sorokin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Muhamed changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sorokin fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Sorokin darts in and clinches Muhamed up against the cage.
Muhamed tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sorokin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A knee to the head by Muhamed.
Sorokin wants to get back to striking at distance but Muhamed won't allow it.
Sorokin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sorokin letting Muhamed take a breather here.
Sorokin has Muhamed pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhamed wants a takedown but no success here.
Sorokin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Muhamed has him pressed against the cage.
Muhamed tries to score a body lock takedown but Sorokin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Muhamed escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Muhamed darts in trying to clinch

and Sorokin counters by moving into the clinch.
Muhamed avoiding damage.
Sorokin prevents the takedown attempt.
Muhamed is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Muhamed's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sorokin jumps into guard, dragging Muhamed to the mat.
Sorokin thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sorokin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Sorokin working for a triangle but Muhamed defends it easily.
Muhamed stopping the sweep attempt from Sorokin.

Sorokin is looking for a triangle but Muhamed pushes his legs off easily.
Sorokin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Muhamed throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sorokin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muhamed postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Sorokin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sorokin swats away the attempt to clinch by Muhamed.
Muhamed closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sorokin circles away.

Muhamed clinches.
Muhamed tries for a takedown. No joy.
Muhamed is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sorokin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusein Muhamed. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Muhamed gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Sorokin should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Sorokin wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sorokin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sorokin.
Sorokin pulls Muhamed in close to prevent any damage.
Sorokin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Muhamed manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sorokin wants to control from the top but Muhamed keeps moving.
Muhamed looking for a sweep. Not yet Muhamed, not yet.
Sorokin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Muhamed has momentary wrist control but Sorokin slips an elbow through the middle.
Sorokin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Muhamed keeping moving, preventing Sorokin from controlling successfully.
Sorokin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Muhamed throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sorokin trying to control but Muhamed is working from the bottom.
Muhamed will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Muhamed wants to clinch but Sorokin slips to the side
letting Sorokin counter with a right hand.
Sorokin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sorokin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Muhamed shoots and misses
and Sorokin counters with a body kick.

Sorokin rushes Muhamed and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Muhamed with a knee to the head.
Sorokin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Muhamed drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sorokin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Muhamed throws a sloppy head kick
and Sorokin counters with an inside leg kick.
Muhamed fails to land the takedown.
Muhamed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Muhamed fails with the takedown
and Sorokin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sorokin misses with a hook.
Muhamed fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Sorokin as Muhamed shoots in.
Muhamed misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Muhamed shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sorokin but Sorokin pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Sorokin as he connects with a hook.
Muhamed closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sorokin circles away.
Muhamed misses with a takedown attempt

so Sorokin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Muhamed working for a triangle but Sorokin defends it easily.
Sorokin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Muhamed is keeping the position for now.
Muhamed trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Muhamed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Muhamed tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Muhamed throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sorokin is stalling in the full guard.
Muhamed has momentary wrist control but Sorokin slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sorokin takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Muhamed doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sorokin counters with a nice uppercut.
Muhamed doesn't manage to clinch there - Sorokin circles away.
Sorokin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Muhamed counters with a shoot takedown. Sorokin fights it but they end up in guard.

Sorokin kicks Muhamed off and gets to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Muhamed fails to land the takedown.
Muhamed fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Muhamed has his takedown stuffed
and Sorokin counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Sorokin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Muhamed's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Muhamed fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Muhamed with a poor takedown
and Sorokin counters with a low kick, right behind Muhamed 's knee.
Muhamed with a poor takedown
and Sorokin counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusein Muhamed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sorokin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Muhamed manages to avoid it.

Muhamed fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sorokin sprawls well initially but Muhamed persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Sorokin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Muhamed drops an elbow to the side of Sorokin's head.
Muhamed throwing shots but Sorokin is blocking nicely.
Sorokin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Muhamed is working away from the top position though.
Muhamed tries to pass to full mount but Sorokin defends it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sorokin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Muhamed working Sorokin over with strikes.
Sorokin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sorokin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorokin wants to sweep but no luck.
Muhamed is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Sorokin looking for a guillotine here but Muhamed defends easily.
Sorokin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Muhamed scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sorokin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Muhamed is one step ahead there.
Muhamed connects with a couple of short punches.

Muhamed gets to his feet. Sorokin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Muhamed circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sorokin throws the left hand but Muhamed avoids the punch easily.
Sorokin takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Muhamed drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muhamed avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Muhamed landing some decent shots from guard.
Muhamed has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sorokin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Muhamed's guard.
Muhamed wants to stand up but Sorokin is controlling him.
Sorokin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sorokin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Muhamed throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Muhamed looking for a sweep. Not yet Muhamed, not yet.
Muhamed striking off his back but it's not causing Sorokin any problems.
Sorokin wants to control from the top but Muhamed keeps moving.
Sorokin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muhamed wants to sweep here but Sorokin controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sorokin throws a hook to the side of Muhamed's head but Muhamed sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Muhamed doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sorokin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Muhamed thinking.
Muhamed takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Muhamed fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sorokin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice cross by Sorokin.
Muhamed fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Sorokin rushes Muhamed and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Muhamed breaks from the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhamed lands a decent elbow from side control.
Muhamed is looking to take a break and control but Sorokin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Muhamed advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Muhamed.
Sorokin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sorokin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Muhamed with a couple of short strikes.
Yusein Muhamed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sorokin wants to hold on but Muhamed pushes him away.
Sorokin can't escape the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sorokin holds of for dear life.
Sorokin regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sorokin manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusein Muhamed showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sorokin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vlad Sorokin!