PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baako The African (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Sokolov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sokolov
vs
The African

190 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
22
199 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Sokolov!
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, Baako The African!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sokolov clinches up with The African and pushes him back against the cage.
The referee calls for Sokolov to work.

Sokolov breaks from the clinch.
The African 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.
Sokolov tries a head kick but it misses.
Sokolov throws a body kick that misses.
Sokolov shoots in looking for a takedown. The African tries to sprawl out of it but Sokolov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. The African manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sokolov breaks from the clinch.

Sokolov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The African is looking for a sweep. Sokolov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - The African has eaten all the pies!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The African moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The African looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sokolov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sokolov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sokolov stands and throws The African's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The African tries to bench press Sokolov off him but Sokolov keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The African is not content to let Sokolov control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sokolov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Sokolov has his foot on The African's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. The African works his way back into a safe position though.
Sokolov is breathing heavily.
The African looking to pass the guard.
The African passes into half guard.
The African works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov taking punishment in the form of punches.
The African lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sokolov down.

The African is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sokolov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sloppy strikes there by The African.
Sokolov is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Sokolov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The African in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The African tries to advance to mount but can't.

The African wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sokolov, who protects the arm well.
The African working the head with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The African looks up at the clock and then as Sokolov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, The African smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

The African working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The African looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sokolov is avoiding damage well.
The strikes coming from The African are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The African working the ground and pound.

The African tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The African wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sokolov, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baako The African dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The African shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sokolov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in The African's guard now.
The African looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sokolov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sokolov wants to control from the top but The African keeps moving.

The African looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The African is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sokolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The African wants to improve his position but instead Sokolov has moved into half guard.
The African moves into full guard.
Sokolov won't allow The African to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The African looking for a guillotine here but Sokolov defends easily.
Sokolov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Sokolov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The African manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sokolov manages to get himself to full guard.
Sokolov trying to keep a closed guard but The African is proving a slippery customer.

The African is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Baako The African has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov trying to control the position.
The African stands and throws Sokolov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Check out the look on The African's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The African working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The African in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

The African has hold of Sokolov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sokolov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sokolov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The African breaks from Sokolov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sokolov blocking the ground and pound.

The African is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Sokolov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Poor strikes thrown by The African there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sokolov is working to get back to half guard.
The African landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov avoids a series of strikes thrown by The African.
Sokolov tries to lock up and control but The African gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The African has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The African misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The African lands a big elbow.
The African looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

The African moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sokolov has worked his arm free - good work by Sokolov!

The African tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no The African has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sokolov regains half guard.
The African thows a huge punch but Sokolov dodges it nicely.
Sokolov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The African missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The African trying to mount his opponent but Sokolov defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baako The African showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sokolov misses with a takedown

and The African counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The African is looking to work some ground and pound but Sokolov has wrist control.
Sokolov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Sokolov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The African drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and The African jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The African postures up.
The African thows a big elbow that misses.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for The African. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Sokolov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for The African!
The African tries to improve his position but instead Sokolov has taken his back!
The African takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The African covers up after that shot from Sokolov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
The African tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sokolov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sokolov trying to control but The African is having none of it.
The African tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sokolov controlling his opponent.
The African is trying desperately to improve position.
The African slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The African is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sokolov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sokolov's back!
The African lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by The African.
The African is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

The African tightening his grip on Sokolov, looking for the choke.

The African seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Sokolov's chin but Sokolov turns very nicely into The African's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Sokolov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov controlling from the top position.

The African throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sokolov escapes and throws The African's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The African tries to buck Sokolov off but Sokolov is having none of it.
The African is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sokolov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by The African, who protects the arm well.
Sokolov gets to mount! The African was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The African is trying desperately to improve position.
Sokolov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sokolov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The African working to try and regain half guard.

Sokolov wants to finish this one by submission but The African is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sokolov.
Vladimir Sokolov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The African slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baako The African comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got The African winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baako The African!