PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Duggan (ranked 1642 p4p, 197 weight class) and Aleksey Sokolov (ranked 3054 p4p, 351 weight class). Duggan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company . Sokolov has chosen Stelio Kontos as his entrance music. Jim Duggan had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Duggan
vs
Sokolov

200 cm
22
250 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
21
275 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Duggan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aleksey Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duggan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Duggan pushes Sokolov away with a front kick.
Nice body punch from Duggan.
We've been told by Duggan's head coaches at River's Edge Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sokolov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sokolov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sokolov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Duggan is looking to land body kicks.
Duggan misses with a kick to the body
and Sokolov counters with a right hand to the body.
Sokolov misses with a straight right.
Sokolov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sokolov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sokolov throws a jab when Duggan was well out of range.
Duggan attempts a counter takedown but Sokolov avoids it well and moves away.
Duggan takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sokolov swings widly with a right hand
and Duggan counters with a straight right hand.
Duggan connects with a crisp jab.
Nice body kick there by Duggan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duggan takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Jim Duggan has been cut.
Duggan throws a shot to the body.
Duggan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sokolov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sokolov throws an off balance right hand
and Duggan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Aleksey Sokolov has been cut.
Sokolov throws an off balance right hand
and Duggan counters with a nice body shot.
Duggan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Duggan ducks right into an uppercut from Sokolov.

Duggan closes the distance and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Duggan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Duggan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Duggan digs a right hand into Sokolov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sokolov's gas tank.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Duggan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sokolov pulls his leg out and moves away.
A shot to the body from Sokolov misses
and Duggan counters with a leg kick.
Sokolov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sokolov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sokolov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Duggans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sokolov misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duggan thumps Sokolov with a low kick.
A shot to the body from Sokolov misses
and Duggan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Duggan slips a straight right by Sokolov.
Duggan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Duggan is looking to slow Sokolov down with leg kicks.
Duggan tests Sokolov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Duggan clinches.
Sokolov swings wildly with an uppercut but Duggan uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Duggan on the inside.
Duggan swings wildly with an uppercut but Sokolov uses good head movement to avoid it.

Duggan gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sokolov regains guard.
Duggan with a flurry of punches that miss.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sokolov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Duggan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov wants to get back to his feet but Duggan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Duggan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokolov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Duggan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sokolov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokolov wants to stand up but Duggan is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sokolov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Duggan wants to clinch up but Sokolov keeps it at a distance.
A slow jab from Sokolov misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Duggan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sokolov.
Duggan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sokolov.
A solid leg kick lands there for Duggan.
Sokolov misses with a hook.
Sokolov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sokolov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sokolov misses with a left hand
and Duggan counters with a right hand to the body.
Sokolov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Duggan.
Sokolov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sokolov misses with an uppercut
and Duggan counters with a thumping low kick.
Sokolov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Duggan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sokolov misses the jab.
As Sokolov backs away, Duggan returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Duggan scores with a nice body kick.
Aleksey Sokolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duggan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Duggan - that will leave a mark!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Duggan dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sokolov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duggan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Duggan catches Sokolov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sokolov misses with an uppercut
and Duggan counters with a low kick, right behind Sokolov 's knee.
Sokolov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Duggan slips under a jab.
Sokolov looks to score with a jab to the body but Duggan is just out of range.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Duggan here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Sokolov clobbers Duggan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Duggan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Duggan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sokolov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sokolov misses with a looping right.
Duggan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That has opened up Aleksey Sokolov's cut even more.
Duggan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Duggan lands a glancing blow to the side of Sokolov's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duggan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sokolov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duggan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sokolov throws a hook but Duggan avoids it easily.
Duggan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sokolov throws an overhand right that lands on Duggan's shoulder, as Duggan tries to avoid the shot.
Sokolov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Duggan avoids the body shot from Sokolov.
Duggan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Aleksey Sokolov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Duggan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sokolov throws a jab when Duggan was well out of range.
Duggan moves out of range as Sokolov strikes.
Sokolov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Duggan connects with a crisp jab.
Sokolov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Duggan manages to avoid it.

Duggan moves into the clinch.
Duggan scores with a shoulder strike.

The cut above Aleksey Sokolov's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

Sokolov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sokolov avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov connects with the punch.
Sokolov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sokolov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sokolov lands with a straight right. Duggan didn't see that one coming.
Duggan connects with a nice looking jab.
Duggan is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sokolov. Duggan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sokolov just misses with a punch to the body.
Duggan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sokolov's sensitive parts.
Sokolov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Duggan counters with a nice uppercut.
Duggan scores with a jab to the head.

Aleksey Sokolov's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Sokolov throws a body punch but Duggan moves out of range.
Duggan half committed to a counter leg kick.
Duggan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duggan tries to clinch up.
Duggan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice uppercut lands for Duggan. That snapped Sokolov's head back.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Aleksey Sokolov's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jim Duggan!
Jim Duggan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.