PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daisuke Takemura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shapovolov Sokoloff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Takemura
vs
Sokoloff

176 cm
20
180 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]
Zipp Zapp

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daisuke Takemura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Shapovolov Sokoloff!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Takemura.
Sokoloff avoids the head kick by Takemura.
Sokoloff is looking to clinch.
Takemura tries to land a front kick but Sokoloff steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Takemura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Sokoloff does no damage.
Takemura throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Takemura scores with a jab. Sokoloff acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Takemura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takemura throws a head kick but Sokoloff moves out of range.
Takemura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice takedown defense from Sokoloff. No joy for Takemura on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takemura avoids the head kick by Sokoloff.
Takemura throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sokoloff.
Takemura tries a head kick but it misses.
Takemura rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sokoloff makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokoloff swings for the body but Takemura moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Takemura.
Takemura takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Takemura throws a push kick but Sokoloff slaps the foot to one side.
Takemura misses with a body kick.
Takemura throws a wild body kick that Sokoloff sees coming a mile off.
Takemura dives in for a single leg takedown but Sokoloff sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Sokoloff gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Sokoloff drops back looking for a leg! Takemura is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Takemura manages to kick Sokoloff off! Sokoloff jumps back into Takemura's guard.
Takemura looking for a sweep. Not yet Takemura, not yet.
Takemura is working hard here to advance position.
Sokoloff wants to control from the top but Takemura keeps moving.
Takemura trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takemura wants to sweep here but Sokoloff controlling him for the moment.
Takemura lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sokoloff trying to keep a closed guard but Takemura is proving a slippery customer.
Sokoloff avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Takemura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Takemura has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Takemura landing some decent shots from guard.
Takemura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sokoloff is keeping the position for now.
Sokoloff is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Takemura is working Sokoloff over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takemura is working Sokoloff over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sokoloff tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takemura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Takemura being controlled here momentarily.
Takemura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sokoloff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Takemura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Takemura throws a strike but Sokoloff rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Takemura is looking to sweep but instead, Sokoloff has passed into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Takemura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sokoloff is looking to stand up but Takemura won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takemura trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sokoloff lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sokoloff is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Takemura thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Takemura striking off his back but it's not causing Sokoloff any problems.
Takemura trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Takemura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Takemura slips a nice elbow through Sokoloff's hands, connecting with Sokoloff's forehead.
Takemura looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sokoloff with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sokoloff wants to control but Takemura is keeping busy.
Sokoloff keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Takemura 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Takemura scores with a body shot.

Sokoloff scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sokoloff is working for a submission of some sort.
Sokoloff tries to stand but can't do so whilst Takemura controls his leg.
Sokoloff looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Takemura slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Takemura throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokoloff tries to free his leg and advance position but Takemura is retaining full guard.
Sokoloff trying to control the position from guard on top but Takemura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takemura thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Takemura throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takemura has a closed guard, preventing Sokoloff from standing up.
Takemura lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Takemura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Takemura throwing strikes but missing.
Sokoloff is trying to keep Takemura in close.
Takemura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sokoloff seems keen to control Takemura's posture.
Takemura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Daisuke Takemura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takemura is fighting to break Sokoloff's control of his arms but Sokoloff is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sokoloff trying to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Takemura tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sokoloff sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takemura somewhat.
Sokoloff thows a leg kick but Takemura checks it

and Takemura counters with a single leg into guard. Sokoloff didn't expect that.
Takemura scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Takemura throws a strike but Sokoloff rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Takemura with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Sokoloff can't handle though.
Sokoloff postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Takemura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sokoloff can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takemura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Takemura throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sokoloff pushes down on Takemura's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sokoloff in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Takemura tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Sokoloff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Shapovolov Sokoloff!
Shapovolov Sokoloff decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Daisuke Takemura had this to say: 'Team Goroshi - Kore Fight Nutrition - Euolocao'.