PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Vereschagin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergei Sokolov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sergey Vereschagin's chin.

Vereschagin
vs
Sokolov

177 cm
25
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

183 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Vereschagin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sokolov moves in looking to clinch but Vereschagin pushes him off.
Vereschagin shoots in looking for a takedown but Sokolov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vereschagin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Vereschagin could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sokolov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sokolov gets a takedown into half guard.
Vereschagin trying to control here.
Vereschagin is looking to escape.
Sokolov throwing shots but Vereschagin is blocking nicely.

Sokolov is looking for a kimura but Vereschagin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sokolov to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vereschagin wants to control but Sokolov is keeping busy.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Vereschagin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sokolov working Vereschagin over with strikes.
Vereschagin is looking for a sweep. Sokolov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sokolov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vereschagin defending well though.
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.
Vereschagin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sokolov.

Sokolov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vereschagin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sokolov.
Sokolov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vereschagin is trying to stand back up but Sokolov is controlling him
Vereschagin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vereschagin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sokolov.

Sokolov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vereschagin landing small, sideways elbows.
Vereschagin wants to get back to full guard.
Sokolov throws a strike but Vereschagin avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sokolov with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vereschagin has momentary wrist control but Sokolov slips an elbow through the middle.

Vereschagin looking for a guillotine here but Sokolov defends easily.
Vereschagin is breathing heavily.
Sokolov won't allow Vereschagin to sweep him here.
Sokolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Vereschagin has wrist control.
Vereschagin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Sokolov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vereschagin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sokolov is looking to clinch.
Sokolov moves in looking to clinch but Vereschagin pushes him off.
Vereschagin blocks a head kick by Sokolov.
Sokolov looks to clinch

and Vereschagin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vereschagin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sokolov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vereschagin is one step ahead there.
Sokolov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov cracks Vereschagin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sokolov looking to finish Vereschagin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Vereschagin!

Vereschagin is rocked!
Sokolov postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Vereschagin bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Sokolov and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sergei Sokolov!