PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valeri Sobotkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleks Newtom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sobotkin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Metallica - Enter Sandman. Aleks Newtom told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sobotkin
vs
Newtom

189 cm
20
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
24
221 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valeri Sobotkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleks Newtom!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newtom tries to clinch but Sobotkin moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sobotkin lands with a short shot to the head.

Sobotkin has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Newtom is trying to keep an underhook but Sobotkin manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Newtom avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sobotkin.
Nice strikes from Sobotkin there.
Sobotkin working Newtom over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sobotkin winds up and cracks Newtom with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sobotkin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Newtom knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Sobotkin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Newtom on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Newtom trying to hold on to Sobotkin's head to control him but Sobotkin postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newtom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sobotkin lands with a punch from half guard.
Sobotkin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sobotkin is thwarting Newtom's attempts to control the position.

Sobotkin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Newtom has managed to free his arm - good work.
Newtom is not content to let Sobotkin control the position.
Newtom avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sobotkin.
Newtom regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sobotkin.
Newtom is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sobotkin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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.

Newtom escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sobotkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Newtom is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sobotkin stands and steps away. Newtom gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Sobotkin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Newtom did well to prevent Sobotkin getting side control.
Sobotkin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Newtom is not content to let Sobotkin control the position.
Sobotkin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Newtom is controlling Sobotkin's trapped leg to prevent Sobotkin from advancing to side control.
Newtom manages to get to full guard.
Sobotkin postures up in Newtom's guard and throws a big left but Newtom blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sobotkin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Newtom is trying to keep Sobotkin in close.
Sobotkin throwing strikes from guard but Newtom blocks nicely.
Newtom is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sobotkin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Newtom avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Newtom has momentary wrist control but Sobotkin slips an elbow through the middle.
Sobotkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Sobotkin is looking to work some ground and pound but Newtom has wrist control.
Newtom working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sobotkin.

Newtom is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sobotkin is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sobotkin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sobotkin chips away with some ground and pound.
Sobotkin cracks Newtom with a solid left hand.
Newtom utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sobotkin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sobotkin is breathing heavily.
Sobotkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Newtom is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sobotkin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Newtom utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sobotkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Newtom avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Newtom is trying to keep Sobotkin in close.
Newtom working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sobotkin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valeri Sobotkin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sobotkin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Newtom shoots and misses

and Sobotkin counters with a takedown into side control.

Newtom is rocked!
Newtom wants to control but Sobotkin postures up.
Sobotkin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Newtom taking punishment in the form of punches.
Newtom struggling a bit here.
Valeri Sobotkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Newtom might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sobotkin kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobotkin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sobotkin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Newtom is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Newtom is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sobotkin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Newtom trying to control from the bottom.
Newtom is breathing heavily.
Sobotkin is nestled in close to Newtom, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sobotkin winds up and cracks Newtom with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Newtom trying to control but Sobotkin postures up.
Sobotkin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sobotkin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sobotkin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Newtom's head.
Ground and pound from Sobotkin.
Sobotkin thows a huge punch but Newtom dodges it nicely.
Newtom trying to hold on to Sobotkin's head to control him but Sobotkin postures up.
Sobotkin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Newtom on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newtom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Newtom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sobotkin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sobotkin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Newtom is still in real trouble! Can Sobotkin finish him?
Sobotkin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sobotkin winds up and cracks Newtom with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sobotkin scores with a big shot! Newtom's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Newtom! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Valeri Sobotkin!