PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between li Chao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nil Sorsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Chao
vs
Sorsky

160 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good takedowns
Great elbows
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, li Chao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nil Sorsky!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chao throws a sloppy head kick

and Sorsky moves into the clinch.

Sorsky gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Chao is trying to stand up here but Sorsky is controlling him well.
Chao might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sorsky trying to control from half guard but Chao is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nil Sorsky was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Chao lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sorsky's sensitive parts.
Chao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Chao.
Chao tries a head kick but it misses.
Chao goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sorsky avoids the body shot from Chao.
Chao lands a nice looking body shot.
Chao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Chao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chao throws a series of punches but Sorsky moves out of range.
Sorsky's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Chao connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sorsky scrambles back to his feet.
Chao scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chao misses with a series of wild punches.

Sorsky has managed to clinch.
Chao has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sorsky gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Chao regains guard.
Sorsky trying to control but Chao is working from the bottom.
Chao is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Chao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nil Sorsky hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sorsky has Chao up against the cage in a clinch.
Sorsky is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Chao tries to circle away but Sorsky has him pinned against the cage.

That's four 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.
Chao wants to get back to striking at distance but Sorsky won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Chao's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Chao is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sorsky gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Chao regains guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sorsky trying to control but Chao is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nil Sorsky dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Chao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sorsky moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Chao.
Chao tries a head kick but it misses.
Chao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sorsky dodges the punch combination from Chao.
Sorsky moves out of range of the body kick from Chao.
li Chao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chao catches Sorsky with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Chao scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chao fails to land with a series of punches.

Sorsky gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sorsky gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sorsky tries to pass the half guard into mount. Chao knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Chao looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sorsky seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Chao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Chao punishes Sorsky's body with a nice straight punch.
Danga de danga de dang - Chao scores with a four punch combination!
Chao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sorsky circles away quickly and effectively.
Chao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chao throws a right and a left that Sorsky avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorsky takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A head kick misses from Chao.
Chao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chao looks to land a combination but Sorsky avoids it well.
No joy there for Chao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sorsky keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Chao tries to land a body kick

and Sorsky holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sorsky has picked Chao up - he's going for a ride! Sorsky dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorsky seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Chao does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sorsky stops Chao from getting back to his feet.
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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Chao throws a head kick that misses

and Sorsky counters by clinching up.

Sorsky has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Chao is trying to keep an underhook but Sorsky manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sorsky stalling away here and it's allowed Chao to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sorsky wants to control from the top but Chao keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nil Sorsky will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Chao throws a sloppy head kick and Sorsky moves out of range easily.
Chao throws a right hand that Sorsky ducks under and follows up with a left that Sorsky also avoids with ease.

Sorsky clinches with his opponent.

Sorsky has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Chao is trying to keep an underhook but Sorsky manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Chao is refusing to be controlled, as Sorsky sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chao is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sorsky wants to take a breather but Chao is having none of it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nil Sorsky hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Chao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sorsky moves away.
Chao lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Sorsky closes the distance and clinches.

Sorsky gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Sorsky stops Chao from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chao is trying to escape back to his feet but Sorsky uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Sorsky takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sorsky wants to control but Chao is keeping him busy.
Chao is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sorsky has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorsky wants to take a breather but Chao manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Sorsky.
Chao wants to get back to his feet but Sorsky is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

We're going to have a standup here because li Chao wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Chao lunges at Sorsky with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sorsky's hand.
Chao pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sorsky darts in and clinches Chao up against the cage.
Chao wants to break free but Sorsky has control.
Chao has had enough of the clinch but Sorsky keeps him there for the moment.

Sorsky gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nil Sorsky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sorsky 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nil Sorsky!