PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daryl Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sharp
vs
Sokolov

188 cm
25
195 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

188 cm
25
210 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daryl Sharp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov looks to throw the jab but Sharp is out of range.
Sokolov slips under a jab from Sharp.
Sokolov throws a nice looking combination but Sharp bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sokolov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sokolov wants it to stay on the feet.
Sokolov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sharp shoots in but Sokolov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sokolov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Daryl Sharp has been cut.
Sharp lands a really nice looking cross but Sokolov seems unphased.
Sokolov misses with a looping right.
Sokolov looks to throw the jab but Sharp is out of range.
Sokolov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A big left from Sokolov misses.
Sharp digs a good hook to Sokolov's 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!
Donk. Sokolov catches Sharp right on the button with a cross.
Sharp scores with a leg kick.
Sharp dives in and grabs Sokolov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sokolov pushes down on Sharp's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daryl Sharp. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sharp closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sokolov did well to prevent Sharp getting side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Sharp is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sokolov still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sokolov has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Sharp sneaks back into half guard.

Sokolov escapes and gets back to his feet.
Sharp scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sokolov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov missing with a left hand there. Sharp was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sharp just misses with a punch to the body.
Sharp thows a body shot but no joy.
Sokolov throws a low kick but Sharp avoids it.
Sokolov throws an overhand right that lands on Sharp's shoulder, as Sharp tries to avoid the shot.
Sokolov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sokolov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sokolov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sharp counters with a nice body shot.
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!
A solid leg kick lands there for Sokolov.
Sokolov staying out of range there.
Sharp blocks a jab.
Sharp looks to score with a jab to the body but Sokolov is just out of range.
Sokolov misses with a low kick.
Sergei Sokolov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sharp misses the shot to the body.
Sokolov misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp works the jab nicely.
Sokolov digs a good hook to Sharp's body.
Sokolov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sharp misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sokolov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sokolov misses with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sharp lunges at Sokolov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sokolov's hand.
Sharp throws out a loose jab but Sokolov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sokolov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Sharp looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sokolov is trying to stand back up but Sharp is controlling him
Sharp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sokolov keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov wants to get back to his feet.
Sharp is trying to control. Sokolov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Daryl Sharp.
Sokolov swings for the body but Sharp moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sokolov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jab, jab by Sharp - just one landing.
Sokolov takes one on the button.
Sharp uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sokolov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sergei Sokolov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Daryl Sharp's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sharp tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sokolov swivels and escapes.
Sharp throws a jab when Sokolov was well out of range.
Sharp cracks Sokolov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sharp takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sharp scores with a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sharp. Sokolov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sergei Sokolov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sharp lands a jab to Sokolov's midsection.
Sokolov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sharp tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sokolov was well out of range. Poor timing from Sharp.
Sokolov throws a series of punches but Sharp avoids them all with ease.
Sharp fails to land the takedown.
Sokolov scores with a jab to the head.
Sharp tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sokolov was well out of range. Poor timing from Sharp.
Sharp uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sokolov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp misses with a body shot.
Sokolov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sharp scores with a hook.
Sharp shoots in but Sokolov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daryl Sharp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sharp.
Sokolov loads up on a big right hand but Sharp slips the punch.
Sokolov misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sharp. Sokolov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A slow jab from Sokolov misses its intended target.
Sokolov lands a head shot.
Sokolov leaves Sharp with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sharp scores with a hook.
Sharp lands a nice shot that snaps Sokolov's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sharp looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sokolov!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sharp controlling from the full mount.
Sharp tries to control but Sokolov wriggling away.
Sokolov tries to hold on but Sharp pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sharp throws a wild left hand from mount and Sokolov manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Sokolov is trying to stand.
Sharp throwing shots but Sokolov is blocking nicely.

Sharp is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp wants to take a breather but Sokolov is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sharp wants to pass to mount but Sokolov is defending the position.
Sokolov tries to roll over but Sharp keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daryl Sharp dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Daryl Sharp's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sharp misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sokolov.
Sharp displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sokolov throws out the jab.
A slow jab from Sokolov misses its intended target.
Sokolov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sharp can pounce on him.
Nice defenses there by Sharp.
Sharp lands a nice hook to Sokolov's body. Sokolov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sharp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sharp connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sokolov's hands.
Sharp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sokolov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sharp is looking to wear down Sokolov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sokolov jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sokolov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sharp throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sokolov.
Sokolov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sharp on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sokolov throws a lazy uppercut
and Sharp counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sokolov throws a series of punches but Sharp moves out of range.
Sokolov takes one on the button.
Sharp uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sokolov.
Sharp walks into a jab.
Sokolov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice defenses there by Sharp.
Sharp connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sokolov's hands.
Sokolov throws a shot from downtown. Sharp moves away and avoids it.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Sharp here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Sokolov moves out of range as Sharp strikes.
Sokolov throws a lazy uppercut
and Sharp counters with a left and a right that stings Sokolov.
Sokolov jabs Sharp to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sharp takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp misses with a head kick.
Sharp looks to score with a jab to the body but Sokolov is just out of range.
Sokolov lands with an overhand left.
Good standup being displayed there by Sharp as he connects with a hook.
Nice defenses there by Sharp.
Sokolov dodges the punch combination from Sharp.
Sokolov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sharp.
Sharp slips a jab from Sokolov.
Sharp slips under a jab from Sokolov.
Sokolov misses with the combination.

Sharp drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sharp wants to control from the top but Sokolov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov keeping full guard, as Sharp tries to pass.
Sharp sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Daryl Sharp has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sharp misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sharp shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sharp thows a huge punch but Sokolov dodges it nicely.
Sharp drops an elbow to the side of Sokolov's head.

Sharp is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sokolov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sharp.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sharp is looking to stall here but Sokolov recovers full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daryl Sharp.
I think Sharp 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daryl Sharp!
A very excited looking Daryl Sharp made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.