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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Koji Sobando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shapovolov Sokoloff (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.
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| 169 cm
28
169 lbs
9 - 9 - 0 |
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183 cm
27
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin |
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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
9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koji Sobando!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Shapovolov Sokoloff!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobando has managed to clinch.
Sokoloff manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Sokoloff has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sobando uses from the top position.
Sobando trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokoloff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokoloff looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sobando is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokoloff is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sobando is controlling him.
Sokoloff is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sobando defends well.
Sobando controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobando throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sobando stays in close to Sokoloff's body and controls the position.
Sobando slips nicely into half guard.
Sokoloff is trying to control but can't.
Sobando tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sokoloff knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sobando is looking for a kimura but Sokoloff is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sobando to get the leverage.
Sobando trying to control from Sokoloff's half guard. Sokoloff has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sobando trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokoloff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokoloff trying to keep a closed guard but Sobando is proving a slippery customer.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sokoloff closes the distance and clinches.
Sokoloff is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sobando is defending well.
Sobando wants to get back to striking at distance but Sokoloff won't allow it.
Sokoloff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sobando wants to clinch.
Sobando misses with a few strikes there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobando throws a leg kick but Sokoloff sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sokoloff closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sobando quickly recovers to half guard.
Sokoloff is looking for a kimura but Sobando is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sokoloff to get the leverage.
Sokoloff is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sokoloff seems to be working for a kimura but Sobando defends the submission attempt.
Sobando is staying active underneath Sokoloff, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sokoloff is working for a kimura but Sobando is defending it quite comfortably.
Sokoloff is looking for a kimura but Sobando is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sokoloff to get the leverage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff wants to stand up but Sobando is controlling the position.
Sobando trying to control from the bottom.
Sokoloff trying to control from half guard but Sobando is working away.
Sokoloff wants to work for an arm triangle but Sobando is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sobando wants to improve his position but Sokoloff is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sobando trying to control but Sokoloff postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Shapovolov Sokoloff 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.
Sobando fails with a takedown attempt.
Sobando instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sobando gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sokoloff working a defensive guard but Sobando passes into half guard.
Sokoloff is refusing to be controlled, as Sobando sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokoloff trying to control but Sobando postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff has his hands clasped together around Sobando's back. He's all about the action.
Sobando controlling the pace.
Sokoloff actively working from the bottom here.
Sobando thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sokoloff's head.
Sobando seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sokoloff does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's two 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.
Sobando scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sobando stops Sokoloff from getting back to his feet.
Sobando thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sokoloff's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobando is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Koji Sobando overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokoloff wants to get back to full guard.
Sobando is trying to control the action in half guard but Sokoloff is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sobando not doing much here.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sobando is looking to clinch.
Sobando misses with the combination.
Sokoloff is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sobando.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sobando tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sokoloff counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sobando closes the distance but Sokoloff moves to the side
and Sokoloff counters with a two punch combo.
Sobando pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sokoloff back to the cage. Sobando follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sobando swinging wildly here.
Sobando throws a shot to the body.
Sokoloff clinches with his opponent.
Sokoloff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sobando closes the distance and clinches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sobando is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sobando has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sokoloff avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sokoloff successfully pulls guard.
Sobando wants to control from the top but Sokoloff keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokoloff controlling the position.
Sokoloff wants to stand up but Sobando is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Koji Sobando dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Sokoloff avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sokoloff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sokoloff closes the distance and clinches.
Sobando breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sobando misses with a two punch combination.
Sobando circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sobando misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sokoloff circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokoloff closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sobando quickly recovers to half guard.
Sobando wants to control but Sokoloff is keeping busy.
Sobando wants to improve his position but Sokoloff is controlling well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokoloff looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sokoloff wants to work for an arm triangle but Sobando is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sokoloff missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sobando pushes Sokoloff off looking to stand but Sokoloff dives back in and keeps control.
Sokoloff is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sobando is looking for a sweep. Sokoloff is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sokoloff trying to control the pace.
Sokoloff lands strikes from half guard.
Sokoloff stops Sobando from getting back to his feet.
Sokoloff is looking to take a break and control but Sobando is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sokoloff is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Sokoloff avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobando looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sokoloff tries to stand but Sobando is controlling from the bottom.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sobando tries to clinch up.
Sobando misses with a double jab
and Sokoloff counters with a nice uppercut.
Sokoloff will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sobando moves in looking to clinch but Sokoloff pushes him off.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokoloff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sobando sprawls well. Sobando wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sokoloff gets slowly back to his feet.
Sokoloff throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sobando's waist but Sobando gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sokoloff off to one side.
Koji Sobando has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shapovolov Sokoloff.
Sokoloff defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sobando.
Sobando wants to clinch.
Sokoloff with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sokoloff tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sobando paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sokoloff pushes Sobando up against the cage in a clinch.
Sokoloff successfully pulls guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Shapovolov Sokoloff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sokoloff has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shapovolov Sokoloff!
During a confident post fight interview, Shapovolov Sokoloff thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
29% |
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