PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artyom Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Sykes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Artyom Sokolov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sokolov
vs
Sykes

193 cm
24
222 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

190 cm
22
222 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Artyom Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov scores with a nice head shot.
Sokolov throws a leg kick but Sykes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sokolov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sykes connects with a body shot.
Sykes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sokolov tries to keep at a distance but Sykes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sykes scores with a shoulder strike.

Sykes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sokolov throws a leg kick but Sykes checks it.
Sykes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Sykes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sokolov swings wildly with an uppercut but Sykes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sykes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sykes lands a body shot.
Sokolov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sokolov working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Sokolov fails to land.
Sykes gets through Sokolov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sokolov leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes struggles to land a body shot inside as Sokolov controls his hands.
Sokolov working aggressively here.
Sykes is working Sokolov over against the cage.
Sokolov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sykes blocking some punches.
Sokolov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.
Sokolov looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sykes.
Sykes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Sykes as the two fighters clinch.
Sokolov misses with some punches.
Sokolov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sykes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sokolov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sykes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sykes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sykes pushes Sokolov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Artyom Sokolov has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sykes prevents a body shot from Sokolov.
Sokolov scores with a shoulder strike.
Sykes holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov tries a body shot but Sykes blocks it.
Sokolov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sykes blocks an uppercut.
Sykes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sokolov backwards.
Sokolov lands a shoulder strike.
Sokolov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sykes's elbow.
Sokolov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.
Sokolov is pushing Sykes up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sykes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sokolov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sykes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sokolov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Sykes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sykes throws a shot from downtown. Sokolov moves away and avoids it.
Sykes lands a jab and follows it up with a massive straight that knocks Sokolov out cold! Sokolov is crumpled in the corner, his head only propped up by the cage! That's one for the organiziational promos right there! Wow, what a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Xavier Sykes!