PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Sokolov (ranked 3128 p4p, 3038 weight class) and Greight Ness (ranked 341 p4p, 330 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sokolov
vs
Ness

180 cm
22
181
2 - 1 - 0

181 cm
20
175
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

All-Star Apparel
Groove Gear

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sergei Sokolov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Greight Ness!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sokolov clinches up with Ness and pushes him back against the cage.
Sokolov tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short left from Ness.
Ness makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sokolov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ness gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've been hearing reports that Sokolov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sokolov jumps guard but Ness turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sokolov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sokolov.
Ness prevents the takedown attempt.
Sokolov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ness prevents it.
Ness misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Ness.
Sokolov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sokolov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sokolov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ness to keep the fight standing.
Sokolov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ness smiles and moves away.
Ness throws out a loose jab but Sokolov uses good head movement to avoid it.

Sokolov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ness, pushing him back against the cage.
Ness lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sokolov backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sokolov jumps into guard, dragging Ness to the mat.
Sokolov trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sokolov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ness defends it easily.
Sokolov is adopting a defensive guard.
Sokolov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sokolov with a nice head shot there.
Sokolov wants to control from the top but Ness keeps moving.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sokolov stopping the sweep attempt from Ness.
Ness trying to control the position.
Sokolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ness works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ness really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sokolov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sokolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sokolov landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Ness has wrist control.
Sokolov distracts Ness with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ness is pulling down on Sokolov's head. It's preventing any offense from Sokolov, at least for the moment.
Sokolov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ness avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sokolov postures up.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ness is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ness is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ness is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sokolov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ness paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ness fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sokolov manages to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Ness. No joy for Sokolov on that attempt.

Sokolov gets a double leg takedown into Ness's guard.
Sokolov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sokolov throws a strike but Ness rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sokolov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ness trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergei Sokolov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Sokolov.
Ness misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sokolov.
Sokolov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ness manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sokolov doesn't manage to clinch there - Ness circles away.

Sokolov clinches up with Ness and pushes him back against the cage.
Sokolov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ness pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ness cracks Sokolov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Sokolov is looking to clinch but Ness is avoiding it.
It seemed like Ness was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sokolov looks to clinch
and Ness counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ness has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sokolov is landing a low percentage of strikes.
A jab from Ness misses.
Sokolov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sokolov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ness circles away.
Ness swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sokolov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ness is fending him off so far but Sokolov persists. Nope, Ness circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ness misses with a looping right.
Sokolov looks to clinch
and Ness counters with a left to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sokolov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sokolov gets a clinch.
Ness goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sokolov is looking to take this one to the mat.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ness.
Sokolov wants a takedown but no success here.
A shot in the inside from Ness.
Sokolov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ness fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ness has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Sokolov scores with a takedown into Ness's guard.
Ness not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sokolov is fighting to break Ness's control of his arms but Ness is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sokolov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ness can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sokolov controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ness is trying to control the position but Sokolov postures up.
Sokolov cracks Ness with a solid left hand.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Ness has wrist control.
Ness pulls Sokolov in to control the position.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Ness has wrist control.
Ness working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sokolov.
Ness wants to sweep but no luck.
Sokolov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ness trying to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sokolov looking to sit in guard and control but Ness gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sokolov seems keen to control Ness's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ness trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
Sokolov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sokolov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sokolov working Ness over with strikes.
Ness wants to improve his position but Sokolov is controlling well.
Sokolov wants to advance to full mount but Ness doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Ness wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sokolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ness is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sokolov postures up in Ness's guard and throws a big left but Ness blocks it.
Sokolov trying to control but Ness is working from the bottom.
Ness is pulling down on Sokolov's head. It's preventing any offense from Sokolov, at least for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokolov postures up in Ness's guard and throws a big left but Ness blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Greight Ness showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ness clobbers Sokolov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Sokolov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ness, pushing him back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ness is pressed up against the cage. Sokolov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ness down to the mat. Ness avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ness connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sokolov is looking to clinch but Ness is avoiding it.
A left lands for Ness.
Ness looks to score with a jab to the body but Sokolov is just out of range.
Sokolov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ness manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sokolov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sokolov staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ness takes a swing at Sokolov's ribcage but misses.
Ness takes a swing at Sokolov's ribcage but misses.
Ness scores with a jab to the head.
Ness scores with a shot to the body.

Sokolov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ness was covering up waiting for the punch and Sokolov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sokolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokolov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.
Sokolov trying to control but Ness is working from the bottom.
Ness keeping full guard, as Sokolov tries to pass.
Sokolov throwing strikes from guard but Ness blocks nicely.
Ness working a defensive guard here.
Ness seems keen to control Sokolov's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sokolov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.
Sokolov trying to control but Ness is working from the bottom.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Ness has wrist control.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sokolov won't allow Ness to sweep him here.
Ness preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sokolov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Sokolov is looking to clinch but Ness is avoiding it.
Sokolov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ness.
Sokolov tries to clinch up but Ness circles away and keeps his distance.
Ness circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ness counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sokolov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sokolov looking to score a takedown here. Ness is defending well but Sokolov drives through and ends up in Ness's guard.
Ness wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling the position.
Ness working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sokolov.
Sokolov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ness wants to sweep here but Sokolov controlling him for the moment.
Sokolov wants to control from the top but Ness keeps moving.
Sokolov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sokolov looking to pass the guard.
Ness is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ness is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sokolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Greight Ness.
I think Ness has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greight Ness!