PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esko Jazz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlad Sorokin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Jazz might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to AC/DC - Back in Black. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sorokin's choice of entrance music: "Black BMW" by Seryoga. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jazz
vs
Sorokin

178 cm
19
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
191 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Drago's Choice

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Esko Jazz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Sorokin!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorokin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jazz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jazz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jazz shoots in for a takedown but Sorokin shows good takedown defense.

Jazz clinches with his opponent.
Jazz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sorokin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jazz throws a head punch that misses.
Jazz stalling.
Sorokin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Jazz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jazz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sorokin tries to avoid it but Jazz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sorokin to the ground. Sorokin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esko Jazz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jazz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jazz throws a series of punches but Sorokin moves out of range.
Jazz throws a leg kick but Sorokin sees it coming and moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sorokin.
Jazz throws a leg kick but Sorokin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jazz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jazz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jazz shoots in for a takedown but Sorokin shows good takedown defense.

Sorokin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sorokin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sorokin stopping the sweep attempt from Jazz.
Sorokin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jazz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jazz has momentary wrist control but Sorokin slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorokin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Jazz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jazz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jazz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A low kick from Jazz is predictable there
enabling Sorokin to counter with a crisp jab.
Sorokin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jazz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Jazz falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sorokin counters with a stiff right hand.
Jazz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sorokin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sorokin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jazz is keeping the position for now.
Sorokin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sorokin throws a big right hand that misses.
Sorokin wants to control from the top but Jazz keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sorokin preventing the sweep.
Sorokin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Jazz is looking to clinch but Sorokin is avoiding it.
Jazz tries to clinch but Sorokin is having none of it.
Jazz fails with the takedown

and Sorokin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Jazz's guard.
Jazz is breathing heavily.
Sorokin throws a big right hand that misses.
Jazz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sorokin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sorokin trying to control the position from guard on top but Jazz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sorokin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sorokin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sorokin landing a few strikes.
Sorokin working away.
Sorokin taking a breather here.
Sorokin fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Jazz parries the strikes from Sorokin easily there. Sorokin is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Jazz to escape.
Sorokin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Jazz is avoiding damage well.
Jazz struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Sorokin dominated that round.
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.

A solid leg kick lands there for Sorokin.
Jazz doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sorokin counters with a good low kick that Jazz was not able to check.
Jazz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sorokin.
Sorokin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Jazz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sorokin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sorokin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Jazz's best efforts.

Sorokin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sorokin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sorokin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jazz!
Jazz wants to control but Sorokin is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorokin lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Jazz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sorokin lands a nice shot to the head.
Sorokin working the ground and pound effectively.
Sorokin trying to control but Jazz is having none of it.
Sorokin prevents Jazz from getting the reversal.
Jazz is working hard here to advance position.
Jazz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Sorokin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jazz manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sorokin is trying to control the action in half guard but Jazz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sorokin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sorokin wants to control but Jazz is keeping him busy.
Jazz is trying to control but can't.
Jazz is pressing down on Sorokin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Jazz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jazz wants to sweep but no luck.
Jazz trying to control the position here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jazz is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jazz stands up over Sorokin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jazz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sorokin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jazz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jazz wants to pass the guard but Sorokin is keeping the position.
Jazz chips away with some ground and pound.
Sorokin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jazz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jazz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sorokin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sorokin trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jazz drops back looking for a leg! Sorokin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sorokin manages to kick Jazz off! Jazz jumps back into Sorokin's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jazz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vlad Sorokin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jazz passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jazz connects with a nice short shot to Sorokin's temple.
Sorokin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jazz.
Sorokin has hold of Jazz's hands but Jazz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Sorokin kicks Jazz off and gets back to his feet.
Sorokin steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Jazz. That one must have hurt.
Sorokin tries to close the distance and clinch but Jazz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jazz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Jazz dominated that second round.
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!

Jazz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jazz thows a huge punch but Sorokin dodges it nicely.
Sorokin is looking to control Jazz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sorokin avoid being mounted?

Sorokin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sorokin wants to improve his position but Jazz is controlling well.
Jazz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sorokin keeps working.
Sorokin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sorokin is looking to stand up but Jazz isn't so interested in that idea.
Jazz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sorokin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jazz on the side of the head.
Jazz has his takedown stuffed

and Sorokin moves into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Sorokin.
Sorokin is looking to control Jazz's arms but Jazz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sorokin has his back to the cage.
The referee calls for Jazz to work.
Sorokin scores with a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Sorokin as the two fighters clinch.
Jazz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sorokin smiles and moves away.
Jazz tries to close the distance and clinch but Sorokin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jazz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sorokin.
A low kick from Jazz misses
and Sorokin counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorokin tries to clinch up but Jazz circles away and keeps his distance.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sorokin.
Esko Jazz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jazz tries to clinch up.
Jazz lands a head kick!
Sorokin looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Sorokin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jazz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sorokin creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Jazz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sorokin is putting a hurting on Jazz here, landing some big shots from side control.
Jazz is not content to let Sorokin control the position.
Jazz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Jazz taking some punishment here, with Sorokin in his half guard.
Sorokin working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorokin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sorokin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sorokin trying to control but Jazz is having none of it.
Sorokin landing strikes from the mount and Jazz is in trouble!
Sorokin with good strikes from the mount here!
Jazz tries to reverse the position but Sorokin maintains control.
Jazz wants to control but Sorokin is having none of it.
Sorokin landing shots from mount.

Sorokin looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Jazz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorokin landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sorokin looking to control but Jazz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Jazz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Sorokin has hold of Jazz's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Jazz manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Jazz sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Sorokin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sorokin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

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