PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Otar Muroev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Sonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Muroev
vs
Sonen

225 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

220 cm
21
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, Otar Muroev!
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, Dave Sonen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonen misses with a takedown attempt

and Muroev counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Muroev decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sonen, up you get!
Muroev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Muroev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Muroev wants it to stay on the feet.

Muroev rushes Sonen and presses him up against the cage.
Sonen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Muroev lands a body shot in the clinch.
Muroev can't get the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sonen misses with a punch to the body.
Sonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Muroev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Muroev is looking for a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sonen stops a takedown attempt from Muroev.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Otar Muroev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sonen is trying to push Muroev away but Muroev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonen tries to break the clinch but Muroev is controlling the position.
Sonen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Muroev has him pressed against the cage.
Muroev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sonen is defending well.
Sonen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Muroev has him pressed against the cage.
Sonen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Muroev avoids it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Muroev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Muroev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sonen smiles and moves away.
Jab by Sonen.
Muroev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sonen sprawls well. Sonen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Muroev gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Sonen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muroev feints and as Sonen raises his hands in defense, Muroev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muroev is breathing heavily.
Muroev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonen wants to stand and escape but Muroev is having none of it.
Muroev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Otar Muroev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Muroev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sonen wants to stand but Muroev is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muroev wants to control from the top but Sonen keeps moving.
Muroev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sonen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Otar Muroev.
Sonen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Muroev sprawls well. Muroev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice cross by Sonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sonen scores with a punch to the head.
Sonen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sonen connects with a single shot there.
Sonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sonen lands a body shot.

Muroev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sonen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Muroev is keeping busy.
Muroev tries to break the clinch but Sonen is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonen can't break the clinch.
Sonen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Muroev is keeping busy.
Sonen wants to break free but Muroev has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otar Muroev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Muroev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sonen lands a jab.
Muroev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Muroev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sonen throws a right hand that Muroev ducks under and follows up with a left that Muroev also avoids with ease.
Muroev takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Sonen gets tackled into the cage by Muroev. Muroev maintains the clinch.
Muroev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Muroev.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Muroev.
Sonen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sonen is trying to break free.

Muroev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sonen shoots in and drives through. Muroev sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Sonen has a takedown stuffed.
Otar Muroev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Sonen.
Sonen is breathing heavily.
Muroev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Muroev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sonen quickly recovers to half guard.
Sonen is refusing to be controlled, as Muroev sits in half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Muroev decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonen throws a combination that misses

and Muroev counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Muroev.
Sonen is trying to push Muroev away but Muroev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Muroev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sonen stalling in the clinch but Muroev improves position.
Muroev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sonen looking to stall.
Muroev managing to block the knees to the body from Sonen.
Muroev slowing the pace effectively.
Muroev prevents Sonen from breaking the clinch.
Sonen tries to circle away but Muroev has him pinned against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sonen tries to break the clinch but Muroev is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonen stops a takedown attempt from Muroev.
Sonen wants to break free but Muroev has control.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Muroev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sonen avoids it.
Dave Sonen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sonen scores with a shot to the side of Muroev's head.
Sonen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sonen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sonen tries to stall but Muroev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Muroev here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Sonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Muroev won't allow it.

Muroev gets control of Sonen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Muroev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sonen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sonen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Muroev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Muroev wants to stand up but Sonen is controlling him.
Muroev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Otar Muroev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonen wants to stand but Muroev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dave Sonen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Muroev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Muroev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sonen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Muroev. Muroev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Muroev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sonen's half guard.
Muroev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sonen keeps working.
Muroev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Otar Muroev.
Sonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muroev dodges the punch combination from Sonen.
Muroev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sonen as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Muroev drives through and clinches with Sonen against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sonen tries to break the clinch but Muroev is controlling the position.
Sonen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sonen tries to break the clinch but Muroev is controlling the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Muroev as Sonen tries to tie him up.
Sonen tries to break free but Muroev pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sonen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sonen tries to break free but Muroev pushes him back against the cage.
Muroev avoids the elbow strike from Sonen, against the cage.
Muroev managing to block the knees to the body from Sonen.
Sonen misses with the head strike.
Sonen working aggressively here.
Muroev tries to circle away but Sonen has him pinned against the cage.
Sonen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Muroev has Sonen pressed against the cage, preventing Sonen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sonen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Muroev has him pressed against the cage.
Muroev can't break the clinch.
Sonen is trying to force a seperation but Muroev has the dominant position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Muroev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sonen is trying to push Muroev away but Muroev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sonen tries to break free but Muroev pushes him back against the cage.
Sonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Muroev is trying to trip Sonen. He has hold of a leg but Sonen is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Muroev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Sonen being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Otar Muroev.
Sonen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Muroev misses with an uppercut. Sonen saw that one coming.
Muroev shoots in for a takedown but Sonen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muroev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sonen shoots for a takedown but Muroev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A head kick misses from Sonen.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sonen!
Sonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Muroev circles away.
Sonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Muroev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sonen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Muroev moves in looking to clinch but Sonen pushes him off.
Sonen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Muroev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sonen throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sonen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sonen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sonen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Sonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sonen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dave Sonen!