PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nil Sorsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marat Karimov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Nil Sorsky has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sorsky
vs
Karimov

177 cm
21
130 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

158 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Great elbows
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nil Sorsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marat Karimov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karimov.
Karimov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karimov.
Nil Sorsky has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marat Karimov.
Sorsky tries to clinch but Karimov moves out of range.
Karimov shoots and misses

and Sorsky counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sorsky.
Karimov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sorsky can't get the takedown.
Karimov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sorsky fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorsky wants to clinch but Karimov slips to the side

and Karimov counters with a shoot takedown. Sorsky fights it but they end up in guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Karimov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Karimov throwing strikes but missing.
Karimov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marat Karimov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Karimov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Karimov shoots in but Sorsky avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sorsky tries to close the distance and clinch but Karimov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nil Sorsky is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Karimov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sorsky looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karimov working the head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karimov tries for a kimura but Sorsky is defending well.
Karimov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sorsky is avoiding damage well.
Sorsky can't do much from the bottom here.
Sorsky takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karimov in side control, throwing shots but Sorsky defends.
Karimov in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Karimov has an Americana. Sorsky didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Karimov is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Karimov hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Marat Karimov!