PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Peter Gretel (ranked 1906 p4p, 1907 weight class) and Jan Sokol (ranked 130 p4p, 131 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.

Gretel
vs
Sokol

170 cm
25
130
6 - 4 - 0

182 cm
28
135
14 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

NARCOS

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Peter Gretel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jan Sokol!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokol lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Sokol looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sokol throws a big right hand that misses.
Gretel looking for a sweep. Not yet Gretel, not yet.
Sokol throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokol throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gretel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokol with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sokol postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sokol looking to pass the guard.
Gretel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokol throwing strikes but missing.
Gretel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sokol throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sokol accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokol is looking to work some ground and pound but Gretel has wrist control.
Sokol advances to half guard.
Gretel has hold of Sokol's hands but Sokol slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sokol working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Sokol wants to control but Gretel is keeping him busy.
Sokol is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sokol thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gretel's head.
Gretel trying to control from the bottom.
Sokol missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gretel's coaches at Bronk´s GYM have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Sokol working Gretel over with strikes.
Sokol throwing shots but Gretel is blocking nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sokol lands a nice short elbow.
Sokol winds up and cracks Gretel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gretel is looking for a sweep. Sokol is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sokol throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gretel preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokol landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sokol missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sokol trying to control the action but Gretel is working from the bottom.
Sokol winds up and cracks Gretel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokol throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gretel tries to roll over but Sokol keeps him under control.
Sokol looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sokol working the head and body with strikes.
Sokol working over Gretel with some ground and pound. Gretel looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gretel has hold of Sokol's hands but Sokol slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sokol throwing shots but Gretel is blocking nicely.
Sokol wants to pass to mount but Gretel is defending the position.

Sokol is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gretel sees it coming and defends easily.
Gretel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sokol is stalling here. Gretel is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sokol seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gretel has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sokol gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sokol is looking for a sweep. Gretel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gretel controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sokol manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sokol wants to sweep here but Gretel controlling him for the moment.
Gretel is stalling in the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sokol is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokol throwing strikes but missing.
Gretel 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Sokol dominated that round.
That's time! Gretel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sokol missing with a left hand there. Gretel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sokol has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gretel looks to land a right hand but Sokol moved out of range.
Gretel lands a really nice looking cross but Sokol seems unphased.
Sokol bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sokol bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gretel's head.
Gretel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sokol uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gretel has time to react.
Sokol uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gretel.
Sokol let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sokol blocks the body kick.
Sokol feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gretels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sokol throws a right and a left that Gretel avoids nicely.
Sokol keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gretel misses with a body shot.
A clash of legs there as Sokol blocks the low kick.
Sokol swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokol connects with a jab.
Gretel lands with a hook. Sokol tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gretel misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokol with a poor takedown
and Gretel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sokol is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gretel.
Gretel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sokol's corner calls for a 1-2. Sokol obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gretel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gretel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sokol takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gretel throws a leg kick
and Sokol counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sokol goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gretel looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sokol lands the left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gretel keeps Sokol at a distance using the push kick.
Sokol sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sokol has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gretel lands with a good body shot.
Gretel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sokol lands with a nice body punch.
Sokol throws a big shot that misses.
Gretel fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sokol just manages to avoid it.
Sokol ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gretel moves away.
Gretel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokol slips under a jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sokol.
The crowd cheers as Sokol lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gretel doesn't seem phased though.
A big left from Gretel misses.
Sokol swinging wildly here.
A low kick lands for Gretel.
Sokol is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gretel scoring well with a low kick there.
Sokol is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gretel throws a body shot but no joy.
Sokol defending well as Gretel loads up on a big left hand.
Gretel shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A jab lands there for Gretel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Sokol.
Sokol swinging wildly here.
Gretel throws a sloppy head kick and Sokol moves out of range easily.
Sokol misses with a straight left.
Gretel looks to throw the jab but Sokol is out of range.
Sokol pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sokol throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gretel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Peter Gretel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gretel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sokol.
Gretel throwing a counter right hand but Sokol manages to avoid it.
Sokol listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sokol misses with an uppercut.
Sokol checks a leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Sokol on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sokol misses the body punch
and Gretel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sokol might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gretel lands a leg kick that knocks Sokol off balance momentarily.
Nice shot lands for Gretel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Gretel misses.
Sokol steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Sokol with a nice cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab lands there for Sokol.
Sokol looks to land a left hand but Gretel moved out of range nicely.
Nice uppercut lands for Gretel. That snapped Sokol's head back.
Gretel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gretel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gretel misses with a straight left.
Sokol scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jan Sokol seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gretel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sokol.
Gretel looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sokol blocks the body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A cross from Sokol lands.
Gretel with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sokol fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gretel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Sokol showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sokol drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gretel trying to control the position here.
Sokol trying to control but Gretel is working from the bottom.
Gretel wants to sweep here but Sokol controlling him for the moment.
Gretel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sokol trying to control but Gretel is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokol scoring with some ground and pound.
Sokol is in close to Gretel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sokol postures up in Gretel's guard and throws a big left but Gretel blocks it.
Gretel controls Sokol momentarily but Sokol frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gretel wants to sweep here but Sokol controlling him for the moment.
Sokol missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sokol showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sokol tries to free his leg and advance position but Gretel is retaining full guard.
Gretel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sokol has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gretel is on top in guard.

Sokol working a defensive guard here.
Gretel 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.
Peter Gretel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokol working a defensive guard here.
Sokol seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gretel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gretel wants to control from the top but Sokol keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Gretel lands a nice hook to Sokol's body. Sokol takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sokol looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gretel slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gretel looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sokol throws a hook but Gretel blocks it.
Gretel lands a nice looking body shot.
Sokol lands a lovely overhand right.

Sokol changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gretel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sokol tries to score with some ground and pound. Gretel controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sokol working the body and head with strikes.
Gretel can't do much from the bottom here.
Sokol wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gretel keeps working.
Gretel parries the strikes from Sokol easily there. Sokol is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gretel to escape.
Jan Sokol has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sokol throws an elbow but Gretel slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gretel tries to buck Sokol off but Sokol is having none of it.
Jan Sokol is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokol controlling the position from side mount.
Gretel is looking to reverse the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokol lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sokol is staying tight to Gretel's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Sokol avoids the strikes from the bottom by Gretel.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Sokol comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sokol 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Sokol!
A very excited looking Jan Sokol 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.