PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron McDonald (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
McDonald

182 cm
24
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 Los Angeles, Alexander 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, Ron McDonald !
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McDonald avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

McDonald closes the distance and pushes Sokolov back into the cage.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown but Sokolov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from McDonald as Sokolov shoots in.
A solid leg kick lands there for McDonald .

McDonald rushes Sokolov and presses him up against the cage.

McDonald breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McDonald .
Alexander Sokolov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ron McDonald .
McDonald avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sokolov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McDonald sprawls well. McDonald wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sokolov gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sokolov is defended easily by McDonald .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov shoots in looking for a takedown but McDonald manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sokolov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McDonald moves out of range of the body kick from Sokolov.
Sokolov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sokolov wants to clinch.
Sokolov tries for a takedown but McDonald sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McDonald fails with a takedown attempt.

McDonald has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sokolov shoots for a takedown but McDonald saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sokolov as he avoids it easily.
McDonald shoots in for a double leg but Sokolov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McDonald throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sokolov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McDonald .
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sokolov.
Sokolov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sokolov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sokolov rushes McDonald and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McDonald fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sokolov managing to block the knees to the body from McDonald .
Sokolov trying to stall but McDonald improves his position.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sokolov stuffs the takedown.
Sokolov moves in looking to clinch but McDonald pushes him off.
Sloppy strikes from Sokolov. Those never looked like landing.

McDonald moves into the clinch.
McDonald managing to block the knees to the body from Sokolov.

McDonald pulls Sokolov into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sokolov postures up.
McDonald wants to stand and escape but Sokolov is having none of it.

McDonald 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.
Sokolov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McDonald looking for a sweep. Not yet McDonald , not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ron McDonald dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sokolov has a takedown stuffed.

Sokolov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
McDonald can't do much from the bottom here.
McDonald is looking to reverse the position.
McDonald is trying to control Sokolov's posture but Sokolov avoids it.

Sokolov decides to stand up, so the ref orders McDonald to his feet.
Sokolov dives in and grabs McDonald 's left leg, looking for a takedown. McDonald pushes down on Sokolov's head and hops out.
Sokolov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - McDonald looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McDonald throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sokolov's waist but Sokolov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McDonald off to one side.
McDonald is breathing heavily.
Sokolov shoots in looking for a takedown but McDonald manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sokolov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDonald tries to clinch there but Sokolov circles away.
Sokolov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McDonald misses with a series of wild punches.
Sokolov misses with a head kick.
Sokolov tries to close the distance and clinch but McDonald swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sokolov throws a right hand that McDonald ducks under and follows up with a left that McDonald also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald cracks the inside of Sokolov's front leg.

McDonald darts in and clinches Sokolov up against the cage.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sokolov sprawls well. Sokolov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McDonald gets slowly back to his feet.
Sokolov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sokolov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sokolov tries to clinch but McDonald is having none of it.

McDonald darts in and clinches Sokolov up against the cage.
McDonald fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McDonald blocks it with crossed arms.
McDonald prevents Sokolov from breaking the clinch.
Sokolov tries to pull guard but McDonald holds him up against the cage and eventually Sokolov drops back down to his feet.
McDonald tries to pull guard but Sokolov won't allow it.
McDonald jumps guard but Sokolov stands there with McDonald around his waist. McDonald gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
McDonald is trying to break the clinch but Sokolov is controlling him.
Sokolov is looking to break free of the clinch but McDonald has double underhooks.

Sokolov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics McDonald uses from the top position.
Sokolov trying to keep a closed guard but McDonald is proving a slippery customer.
McDonald 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov has control of McDonald 's left arm, preventing McDonald from doing any damage.
Sokolov wants to stand and escape but McDonald is having none of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sokolov is trying to keep McDonald in close.
McDonald must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alexander Sokolov just wasn't active enough.
McDonald fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sokolov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McDonald but McDonald pushes him off and we're back to square one.

McDonald tries to keep at a distance but Sokolov has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Sokolov dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonald shoots in for a takedown but Sokolov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sokolov fails to land the takedown.
McDonald stuffs the takedown.
McDonald chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Sokolov tries to keep at a distance but McDonald has taken the fight into the clinch.
McDonald stops a takedown attempt from Sokolov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sokolov can't break the clinch.
McDonald stalling the fight.
McDonald tries to pull guard but Sokolov won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald tries to pull guard but Sokolov won't allow it.
McDonald looking to throw knees to the head but Sokolov is blocking nicely.
McDonald landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McDonald lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sokolov backwards.
McDonald is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
McDonald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McDonald trying to control the position but instead, Sokolov has worked for underhooks and has pushed McDonald into the cage.
McDonald prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short right from Sokolov on the inside.
McDonald jumps guard but Sokolov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sokolov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but McDonald regains guard immediately.
Sokolov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Sokolov drops back looking for a leg! McDonald is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McDonald manages to kick Sokolov off! Sokolov jumps back into McDonald 's guard.
McDonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sokolov trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald 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.
Sokolov pushes down on McDonald 's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sokolov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Alexander Sokolov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sokolov wants to stand but McDonald has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McDonald controlling the position for now.
McDonald is not content to let Sokolov control the position.
McDonald keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDonald has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sokolov is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Sokolov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sokolov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 for Ron McDonald !
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Alexander Sokolov!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Ron McDonald !

Ron McDonald wins by split decision!