PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Hamilton (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.

Sokolov
vs
Hamilton

175 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

203 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sergei Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riley Hamilton!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sokolov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sokolov wants to pass the guard but Hamilton is defending well.
Sokolov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hamilton on the ground.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ground and pound from Sokolov.
Sokolov throws a strike but Hamilton avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

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

Hamilton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sokolov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hamilton wants to sweep but no luck.
Hamilton working a defensive guard here.
Sokolov is working Hamilton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Hamilton has wrist control.
Sokolov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hamilton is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.
Sokolov cracks Hamilton with a solid left hand.
Hamilton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sokolov.
Sokolov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sokolov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sokolov working some strikes from top position.
Sokolov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokolov cracks Hamilton with a solid left hand.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.
Sokolov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hamilton's head.
Hamilton is trying to control the position but Sokolov postures up.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sokolov throws a strike but Hamilton rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamilton won't allow Sokolov to sweep him here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sokolov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hamilton.
Sokolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hamilton is one step ahead there.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Hamilton from controlling successfully.
Sokolov wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hamilton moves in looking to clinch but Sokolov pushes him off.
Sergei Sokolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sokolov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hamilton looks gassed!
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hamilton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sokolov looking to sit in guard and control but Hamilton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hamilton trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
Sokolov tries to strike from the bottom.
Hamilton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hamilton advances position into side control!
Sokolov is trying to work for a sweep but Hamilton has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sokolov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sokolov tries to hold on but Hamilton pushes him away.
Sokolov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sokolov tries to get out of the position.
Sokolov is desperately trying to improve his position but Hamilton has a good base and remains in mount.
Sokolov is working hard here to advance position.
Sokolov is squirming around, avoiding Hamilton's attempts to control the action.
Hamilton is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Sokolov is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sokolov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sokolov lands in his opponent's guard.
Hamilton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sergei Sokolov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokolov stands up over Hamilton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sokolov is working Hamilton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sokolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hamilton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hamilton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sokolov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hamilton controls Sokolov momentarily but Sokolov frees himself.
Sokolov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sokolov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hamilton keeping full guard, as Sokolov tries to pass.
Sokolov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sokolov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hamilton keeping full guard, as Sokolov tries to pass.
Sokolov with a nice head shot there.
Sokolov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sokolov stands up over Hamilton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hamilton is trying to keep Sokolov in close.
Sokolov 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hamilton has momentary wrist control but Sokolov slips an elbow through the middle.
Sokolov working some strikes from top position.
Sokolov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sokolov lands a couple of digs.
Hamilton keeping full guard, as Sokolov tries to pass.
Sokolov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hamilton's head.
Hamilton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sokolov lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov postures up and lands a big shot to Hamilton's brow.
Sokolov is in close to Hamilton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sokolov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hamilton's head.
Sokolov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sokolov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sokolov postures up and lands a big shot to Hamilton's brow.
Sokolov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sokolov connects with a couple of short punches.
Sokolov scoring with some ground and pound.
Sokolov won't allow Hamilton to sweep him here.
Sokolov postures up.
Sokolov distracts Hamilton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Hamilton working for a triangle but Sokolov defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sokolov stands up over Hamilton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hamilton has momentary wrist control but Sokolov slips an elbow through the middle.
Sokolov postures up.
Sokolov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hamilton has momentary wrist control but Sokolov slips an elbow through the middle.
Hamilton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sokolov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hamilton's head.
Sokolov with a nice head shot there.
Sokolov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Sokolov 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!

Sokolov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sokolov lands a few punches from side control.
Sokolov lands some shots froms side control.
Hamilton is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sokolov connects with a decent elbow.
You can see the frustration on Hamilton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hamilton is looking to regain half guard here but Sokolov keeps moving and retains side control.
Sokolov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hamilton is looking to reverse the position.
Sokolov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sokolov lands a few punches from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sokolov scoring with punches from side control.

Sokolov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hamilton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov lands a few punches from side control.
Sokolov working the ground and pound.
Sokolov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hamilton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sokolov looks up at the clock and then as Hamilton takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sokolov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sokolov is chipping away with strikes.
Sokolov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hamilton down.
Sokolov scores with punches from side control.
Sokolov working away.

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.
Hamilton might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sokolov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sokolov scoring with punches from side control.
Hamilton is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Sokolov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hamilton tries to strike but it doesn't land.
You can see the frustration on Hamilton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hamilton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sokolov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sokolov lands in his opponent's guard.
Sokolov landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamilton is trying to control the position but Sokolov postures up.
Hamilton has momentary wrist control but Sokolov slips an elbow through the middle.
Sokolov lands a couple of digs.
Sokolov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hamilton looking for a sweep. Not yet Hamilton, not yet.
Sokolov connects with a couple of short punches.
Sokolov cracks Hamilton with a solid left hand.
Hamilton wants to get back to his feet but Sokolov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sokolov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sokolov lands a couple of digs.
Hamilton has momentary wrist control but Sokolov slips an elbow through the middle.
Sokolov lands a couple of elbows.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sokolov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hamilton can do to turn this around?
Hamilton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hamilton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sokolov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sokolov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hamilton is trying to keep Sokolov in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sokolov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hamilton!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Sokolov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sokolov 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:25
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:25
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Sokolov!