PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Sobolev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and nof nof (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sobolev
vs
nof

216 cm
22
295 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Sobolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, nof nof!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobolev throws a lazy right hand but nof sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
nof tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sobolev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
nof fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sobolev avoids it really well and circles away.
nof closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sobolev circles away.

Sobolev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sobolev not doing much here.
Sobolev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down nof for as long as he can get away with.
Sobolev prevents nof from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sobolev stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows nof to get to his feet.
nof tries for a takedown but Sobolev circles away easily

and Sobolev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Viktor Sobolev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of nof nof.
nof working a defensive guard here.
Sobolev stays in close to nof's body and controls the position.
Sobolev tries to free his leg and advance position but nof is retaining full guard.
Sobolev wanted to stand there but nof had control of the position.
Sobolev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
nof looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
nof wants to stand and escape but Sobolev is having none of it.
Sobolev 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.
nof has momentary wrist control but Sobolev slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
nof wants to sweep but no luck.
Sobolev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for nof on the ground.
nof working a defensive guard here.
Sobolev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. nof swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sobolev content to stall in guard here.

That's four 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.
Sobolev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sobolev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Viktor Sobolev just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Sobolev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
nof tries to hold on but Sobolev pushes him away.
Sobolev with shots to the head and body - nof looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Sobolev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

nof throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sobolev darts in and clinches nof up against the cage.

Sobolev wants the takedown. nof is fighting it off but Sobolev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in nof's guard against the cage.
Sobolev wants to control from the top but nof keeps moving.

Sobolev stands up and waves to nof to follow him.

Sobolev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. nof looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
nof manages to get back to half guard.
Sobolev is taking a breather. nof says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
nof trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sobolev is pressing down on nof's thigh, looking to free his foot. nof is holding on for now.
nof trying to control but Sobolev postures up.
Sobolev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sobolev is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Sobolev moves nicely into side control.
Sobolev takes a little break here. nof wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

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.

Sobolev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Sobolev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. nof looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
nof struggling a bit here.
Sobolev scoring with punches from side control.
Sobolev working away.
nof is letting Sobolev control him for a moment.

Sobolev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
nof can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
nof tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Sobolev presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Sobolev is going oldschool here, as he tries to force nof to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so nof shrugs it off.
Sobolev wants to take nof's back here but nof is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Sobolev prevents nof from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Sobolev dominated that second round.
That's time! Sobolev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

nof has his takedown stuffed
and Sobolev makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
nof throws a looping overhand right but Sobolev ducks down to avoid it.

Sobolev clinches up with nof and pushes him back against the cage.

Sobolev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
nof throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sobolev moves into the clinch.
Sobolev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
nof wants to break free but Sobolev has control.

Sobolev successfully pulls guard.
Sobolev is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev keeping moving, preventing nof from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sobolev has control of nof's left arm, preventing nof from doing any damage.
Sobolev keeping moving, preventing nof from controlling successfully.
Sobolev wants to sweep here but nof controlling him for the moment.

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.
Sobolev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

nof avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sobolev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from nof.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev controlling the position.
nof trying to control but Sobolev is working from the bottom.
Sobolev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
nof trying to control but Sobolev is working from the bottom.
Sobolev pulls nof in close to his closed guard and prevents nof from doing any damage or advancing position.
nof stops Sobolev from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sobolev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sobolev is working hard here to advance position.
Sobolev pulls nof in close to his closed guard and prevents nof from doing any damage or advancing position.
nof stopping the sweep attempt from Sobolev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Sobolev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sobolev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Sobolev!