PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bin JinJu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

JinJu
vs
Sokolov

168 cm
22
183 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bin JinJu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
JinJu thows a body shot but no joy.
Sergei Sokolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
JinJu tries a head kick but it misses.

Sokolov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
JinJu managing to block the knees to the body from Sokolov.
JinJu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
JinJu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sokolov just stands there and leans against the cage.
JinJu avoids the elbow strike from Sokolov, against the cage.
JinJu tries to land knees in the clinch but Sokolov avoids the damage to the body.
JinJu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
JinJu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sokolov smiles and moves away.
Sokolov throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
JinJu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
JinJu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sokolov finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bin JinJu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sokolov has closed the distance and engaged JinJu in a clinch.
Sokolov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sokolov stops a takedown attempt from JinJu.
JinJu managing to block the knees to the body from Sokolov.
JinJu wants a takedown but no success here.
Sokolov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sokolov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
JinJu can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
JinJu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sokolov prevents the takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sokolov just misses with a elbow thrown towards JinJu's brow.
The referee is keeping an eye on JinJu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sokolov trying to land knees to the body.
Sokolov tries to land a knee to the head but JinJu blocks with his arms.
Sokolov misses with an elbow strike.
JinJu takes a knee to the side of the body.
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!
JinJu managing to block the knees to the body from Sokolov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JinJu managing to block the knees to the body from Sokolov.
JinJu wants a takedown.
Sokolov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sokolov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from JinJu.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
JinJu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sokolov just stands there and leans against the cage.
JinJu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sokolov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sokolov throws an elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sokolov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but JinJu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
JinJu jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sokolov walks away with a smile on his face. JinJu gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sokolov clinches up against the cage.
JinJu stalling against the cage.
Sokolov trying to land knees to the body.
Sokolov landing knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sokolov misses with an elbow over the top.
Sokolov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Sokolov 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.

Sokolov has JinJu up against the cage in a clinch.
Sokolov throws a knee to the head but misses.
JinJu avoiding damage as Sokolov throws knees to the body.

JinJu gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sokolov wants to sweep here but JinJu controlling him for the moment.
JinJu throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokolov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sokolov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
JinJu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
JinJu keeping hold of Sokolov's head, controlling as best he can.
JinJu regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sokolov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
JinJu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
JinJu is trying to keep Sokolov in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

JinJu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sokolov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but JinJu has wrist control.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but JinJu has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sokolov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sokolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as JinJu 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.
JinJu pulls Sokolov in close to his closed guard and prevents Sokolov from doing any damage or advancing position.

JinJu is looking for a triangle but Sokolov pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as JinJu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
JinJu seems keen to control Sokolov's posture.
Sokolov throwing strikes from guard but JinJu blocks nicely.
JinJu pulls Sokolov in close to prevent any damage.
JinJu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sokolov is one step ahead there.
Sokolov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of JinJu's head.
JinJu working a defensive guard here.

JinJu looking for a guillotine here but Sokolov defends easily.
JinJu is trying to hold Sokolov in close to prevent damage but Sokolov has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
JinJu gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bin JinJu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sokolov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sokolov tries to land knees in the clinch but JinJu avoids the damage to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on JinJu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

JinJu pulls guard successfully.

JinJu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sokolov defends well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now JinJu is on top in guard.
Sokolov wants to sweep here but JinJu controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
JinJu trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokolov wants to sweep but no luck.
JinJu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sokolov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sokolov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
JinJu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
JinJu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
JinJu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
JinJu throws a big elbow that misses.

Sokolov kicks JinJu off and gets to his feet.

Sokolov takes the fight into the clinch.
JinJu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sokolov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sokolov trying to land knees to the body.
Sokolov misses with a knee strike.
Sokolov throws an elbow that misses.
JinJu avoids a wild elbow strike from Sokolov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JinJu looking for a takedown.
Sokolov missing with knees to the body.
Come on JinJu - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
JinJu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sokolov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
JinJu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sokolov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

JinJu wants the takedown. Sokolov is fighting it off but JinJu persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Sokolov's guard against the cage.
JinJu wants to control from the top but Sokolov keeps moving.
Sokolov keeping full guard, as JinJu tries to pass.
Sokolov wants to stand up but JinJu is controlling him.
JinJu throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
JinJu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
JinJu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bin JinJu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think JinJu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bin JinJu!
Bin JinJu bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.