PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yohama Sokima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carson McMurder (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.

Sokima
vs
McMurder

171 cm
21
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yohama Sokima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carson McMurder!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Sokima looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sokima fails in his attempt to clinch.
McMurder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sokima.
Yohama Sokima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokima fails with an attempt to clinch.

McMurder looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McMurder is stalling in the full guard.
McMurder trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sokima's guard.
McMurder wants to pass the guard but Sokima is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokima wants to stand but McMurder is controlling the position.
McMurder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McMurder trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McMurder scores with a nice head shot.
McMurder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sokima.
McMurder tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sokima swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McMurder keeps the fight on the outside.
Sokima tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McMurder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sokima wants to clinch.
Sokima connects with a crisp jab.
Sokima fails with an attempt to clinch.
McMurder takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McMurder fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sokima tries to close the distance and clinch but McMurder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McMurder has a takedown stuffed.
Yohama Sokima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carson McMurder.
Sokima is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McMurder.
McMurder shoots in for a double leg but Sokima sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokima tries to close the distance and clinch up but McMurder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McMurder cracks Sokima with an open hand slap.
McMurder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sokima fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sokima scores with a jab. McMurder acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McMurder closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sokima circles away.
McMurder looks gassed!
Sokima lands with a slapping head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sokima looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sokima tries to clinch but McMurder is having none of it.
McMurder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sokima as he avoids it easily.
Sokima tries to clinch but McMurder is having none of it.
Nice jab there from McMurder.
Yohama Sokima is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sokima tries to close the distance and clinch but McMurder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sokima looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McMurder shoots for a takedown but Sokima saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McMurder takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sokima wants to clinch up but McMurder keeps it at a distance.
McMurder looks to score with a jab to the body but Sokima is just out of range.
Sokima fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sokima closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sokima is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sokima doesn't manage to clinch there - McMurder circles away.
Sokima is looking to clinch.
Sokima wants to clinch.
McMurder swats away the attempt to clinch by Sokima.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yohama Sokima will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sokima gets caught flat footed, as McMurder shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McMurder wants to control from the top but Sokima keeps moving.
Sokima is looking to stand up but McMurder isn't so interested in that idea.
Sokima keeping moving, preventing McMurder from controlling successfully.
McMurder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McMurder trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sokima scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMurder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sokima tries to clinch up but McMurder circles away and keeps his distance.
McMurder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sokima misses with an uppercut. McMurder saw that one coming.
McMurder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sokima tries to clinch there but McMurder circles away.
Sokima misses with a head kick.
Sokima tries to clinch up but McMurder circles away and keeps his distance.
McMurder blocks a jab.
Sokima dips to his left and cracks McMurder with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sokima misses with a double jab

and McMurder counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sokima!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McMurder throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The referee warns Sokima that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
McMurder fails to move to back control.
McMurder throws some wild stikes that Sokima manages to avoid easily.

McMurder jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sokima manages to avoid the submission attempt.

McMurder is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sokima has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Sokima's face as McMurder controls the position.
Sokima is working to avoid the ground and pound but McMurder connects with a decent elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McMurder thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

McMurder tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McMurder has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McMurder throws a strike aimed at the side of Sokima's head but Sokima avoids it well.
McMurder is looking to take a break and control but Sokima is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McMurder has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

McMurder is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sokima is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carson McMurder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McMurder drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McMurder laying and praying for a moment but Sokima takes advantage and regains half guard.
McMurder wants to control but Sokima is keeping him busy.

McMurder is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sokima defends it well.
McMurder trying to control from Sokima's half guard. Sokima has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
McMurder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMurder stops Sokima from standing up.
McMurder trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McMurder thows a big elbow that misses.

McMurder postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sokima is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McMurder, into his guard.
Sokima would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

McMurder throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sokima uses it to pass to side control.
McMurder is trying to control Sokima's posture but Sokima avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sokima decides to stand up, so the ref orders McMurder to his feet.
McMurder misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMurder walks into a jab.
McMurder circles away from the clinch attempt

and McMurder counters with a single leg into guard. Sokima didn't expect that.
McMurder throws a big right hand that misses.
McMurder is pushing down on Sokima's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sokima is fighting to maintain full guard but McMurder has managed to sneak the leg through.
McMurder is looking to stall here but Sokima recovers full guard.
Sokima wants to get back to his feet but McMurder is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMurder looking to pass the guard.
McMurder trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McMurder postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McMurder won't allow Sokima to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carson McMurder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McMurder 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carson McMurder!