PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arnavut Sevket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Sock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Sevket
vs
Sock

182 cm
26
192 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arnavut Sevket!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jack Sock!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sevket gets caught flat footed, as Sock shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sock trying to control but Sevket is working from the bottom.
Sevket utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sock trying to control but Sevket is working from the bottom.
Sevket is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've been hearing good reports from Sevket's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Sock throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sock trying to move into half guard but instead Sevket has managed to sweep!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sevket wants to pass the guard but Sock is keeping the position.

Sock working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sevket doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sevket manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sock looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sevket is one step ahead there.
Sock controls Sevket momentarily but Sevket frees himself.
Sock might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sevket haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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.
Sevket controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sevket wants to pass the guard but Sock is keeping the position.
Sevket controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sevket misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Sevket misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sock rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sevket connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sevket throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sevket connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sock on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Sevket closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sock is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sevket prevents Sock from breaking the clinch.
Sevket makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sevket misses with a punch on the inside.
Sevket lands an uppercut.
Sevket tries to throw a body punch but Sock avoids it by throwing Sevket back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sevket lands a shot to the body.
A shot in the inside from Sevket.
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 short right hand to the side of the head by Sevket.
Sevket lands a shot to the body.
Sevket lands with a left to the head.
Sevket lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sock or not.
Sock looks winded!
A short uppercut from Sevket.
Sevket is working Sock over against the cage.
Sevket misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sevket lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sevket.
Sevket lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnavut Sevket dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sock rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sevket counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sock thinking.
Nice defenses there by Sevket.
Sock is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sevket.
Sock keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sock decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sevket is doing well to control the position and prevent Sock from advancing to side control.
Sock sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sevket defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sevket manages to get to full guard.
Sock trying to control but Sevket is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sevket looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sock is one step ahead there.
Sock wants to control from the top but Sevket keeps moving.
Sock is looking to pass into half guard but Sevket pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Sevket is in guard.

Sevket wants to pass the guard but Sock is keeping the position.
Jack Sock has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sevket seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sevket pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sock is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Arnavut Sevket is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sevket keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sevket misses with a hook. Sock ducked under it nicely.
Sock changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sock takes a swing at Sevket's ribcage but misses.

Sevket drives through and clinches with Sock against the cage.
Nice body punch from Sevket.
Sock has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sevket is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sock is trying to drag Sevket to the mat but Sevket just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sevket leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sevket makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sevket tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sevket blocks a body shot from Sock.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sevket doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sevket lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good body shot from Sevket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnavut Sevket dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sevket lands with an uppercut that bounces Sock off the cage and back into range.
Sevket lands with a shot to the body.
Sevket throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sevket throws a shot from downtown. Sock moves away and avoids it.
Sevket wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sock takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sevket ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sock moves away.
Sock ducks under a wild hook from Sevket.
Sevket bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sock uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sevket.
A telegraphed right hand from Sock misses the target.
Sevket tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sock manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sevket looks to score with a jab to the body but Sock is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sock takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sevket swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sock feints the counter takedown.
Sock shoots in but no luck this time.
Sevket throws a hook to the side of Sock's head but Sock sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sock avoids the body shot from Sevket.
Sock throws an overhand right that lands on Sevket's shoulder, as Sevket tries to avoid the shot.
Sock cracks a nice hook into Sevket's ribs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sevket. Sock does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sevket doesn't manage to clinch there - Sock circles away.
Sock appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Sock keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And Sock tries to counter it with a takedown but Sevket pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sevket lands with a right hand.
Sevket is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sock can do to turn this around?
Nice defenses there by Sock.
A little jabbing left from Sock on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Sevket.
Sevket throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sevket scores with the left hand. Sock knows he should have avoided that one.
Sevket stuffs the takedown attempt from Sock. Sock gets slowly back to his feet.
Sock steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sevket.
Sock is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sevket bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sock's head.
Sevket just misses with a punch to the body.
Sock tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sevket throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sock throws a body punch but Sevket moves out of range.
Sevket takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sock slips a jab from Sevket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sevket throws a body shot but no joy.
Arnavut Sevket is winning the standup battle so far.
Sevket looks to land a left hand but Sock moved out of range nicely.
Sock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jab from Sock.
Sevket throws a shot to the body.
Sevket misses with a straight right.
Sock tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sock swings widly with a right hand
letting Sevket counter with a right hand.
Sevket looks to land a right hand but Sock moved out of range.
Sock misses the shot to the body.
Sock just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Sevket misses the target.
Arnavut Sevket seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sock steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sevket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sock looks to score with a jab to the body but Sevket is just out of range.
Sevket is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Sevket misses with a hook
and Sock counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sevket swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sevket missing with a left hand there. Sock was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sock scores with a shot to the body.
Good exchange - Sock coming out on top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sevket misses with a body punch
and Sock makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sevket waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sock.
Sevket throws out a loose jab but Sock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sevket ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sock moves away.
Sock with the counter takedown but Sevket avoids it easily.
Jack Sock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sock fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sevket manages to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Sevket misses the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arnavut Sevket showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sevket, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arnavut Sevket!