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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Sokolov (ranked 67 p4p, 214 weight class) and Sabas Mendiola (ranked 8 p4p, 32 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 180 cm
31
181
17 - 6 - 0 |
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173 cm
31
179
18 - 8 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sergei Sokolov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sabas Mendiola!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokolov dives in for a single leg takedown but Mendiola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mendiola tries to land knees in the clinch but Sokolov avoids the damage to the body.
Mendiola misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sokolov.
Mendiola lands a good knee to the midsection. Sokolov won't want to take too many of those.
Sokolov is trying to pull guard but Mendiola has him pressed against the cage.
Mendiola lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sokolov is breathing heavily.
Sokolov jumps guard and drags Mendiola to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mendiola trying to control the position from guard on top but Sokolov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendiola sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendiola wants to pass the guard but Sokolov is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendiola controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sokolov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendiola seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mendiola works over Sokolov with some ground and pound from guard.
Mendiola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Mendiola from controlling successfully.
Mendiola looking to sit in guard and control but Sokolov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sokolov with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokolov throwing strikes but missing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov trying to control but Mendiola is working from the bottom.
Mendiola wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling the position.
We've been hearing that Sokolov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Sokolov is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendiola has wrist control.
Mendiola wants to stand up but Sokolov is controlling him.
Sokolov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mendiola manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sokolov has Mendiola in his guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mendiola stands up over Sokolov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sokolov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mendiola stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sokolov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mendiola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mendiola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mendiola looking to sit in guard and control but Sokolov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendiola wants to stand but Sokolov is controlling the position.
Sokolov looking to pass the guard.
Sokolov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Sabas Mendiola will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Sokolov misses with a hook.
Sokolov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mendiola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mendiola tries to move into range but Sokolov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mendiola loads up on a big right hand but Sokolov slips the punch.
Sokolov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sokolov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mendiola's half guard.
Mendiola wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendiola has hold of Sokolov's hands but Sokolov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendiola looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mendiola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sokolov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mendiola's head.
Mendiola is trying to stand.
Sokolov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sokolov stops Mendiola from getting back to his feet.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sokolov lands a jab.
Sergei Sokolov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendiola lands with a nice body punch.
Sokolov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sokolov missing with a left hand there. Mendiola was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sokolov throws a right hand that misses
and Mendiola counters with a straight right hand.
Sokolov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mendiola was well out of range. Poor timing from Sokolov.
Sokolov misses with a hook to the body
letting Mendiola counter with a right hand.
Mendiola scores with a body shot.
Sokolov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sokolov stops Mendiola from getting back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov working the head and body with strikes.
Mendiola tries to kick Sokolov off in order to stand up. Sokolov Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Mendiola is pushing Sokolov's head away, looking to escape. Sokolov manages to hold on to the position though.
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.
Mendiola managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sokolov.
Mendiola wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sokolov wants to take a breather but Mendiola manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Sokolov.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendiola is wriggling around but Sokolov manages to pass to half guard.
Mendiola has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Mendiola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sokolov.
Sergei Sokolov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sokolov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mendiola is refusing to be controlled, as Sokolov sits in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Sergei Sokolov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Sokolov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sokolov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sokolov lands a nice shot that snaps Mendiola's head back.
Sokolov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sokolov fails with a takedown attempt.
Sokolov shoots in but Mendiola avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendiola decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Mendiola seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sokolov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendiola throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mendiola controlling the action here.
Mendiola not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sokolov wants to improve his position but Mendiola is controlling well.
Mendiola looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sokolov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mendiola working the head and body with strikes.
Mendiola looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mendiola wants to control but Sokolov is keeping him busy.
Mendiola wants to pass to mount but Sokolov is defending the position.
Mendiola thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sokolov digs a good body shot into Mendiola's ribs.
Mendiola looks to score with a jab to the body but Sokolov is just out of range.
Sabas Mendiola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sokolov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mendiola manages to avoid it.
Sokolov misses with a right hand
and Mendiola counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sokolov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mendiola.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Sokolov misses its intended target.
Mendiola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sokolov attempts a counter takedown but Mendiola avoids it well and moves away.
Mendiola takes one on the button.
Mendiola ducks under a wild hook from Sokolov.
Sokolov scores with a nice strike.
Mendiola ducks under a wild hook from Sokolov.
Mendiola swinging wildly here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sokolov. Mendiola does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mendiola throws out a counter right but Sokolov avoids it with no problem.
Sokolov needs to keep his hands up - Mendiola had a free shot at his head there.
Sokolov slips under a jab.
Sokolov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sokolov lands a nice hook to Mendiola's body. Mendiola takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sokolov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mendiola was well out of range. Poor timing from Sokolov.
Mendiola throws out a counter right but Sokolov avoids it with no problem.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov fails with the takedown.
Sokolov throws out a loose jab but Mendiola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mendiola misses with a body shot.
Sokolov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A little jabbing left from Mendiola on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sokolov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Sokolov there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sokolov lands with a cross.
Mendiola keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sokolov looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendiola is just out of range.
Mendiola missing with a left hand there. Sokolov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sokolov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mendiola was well out of range. Poor timing from Sokolov.
Mendiola is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sokolov with a body shot.
Sokolov thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close third round but Sabas Mendiola just about did enough to take it.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Mendiola looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mendiola on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sokolov ducks right into an uppercut from Mendiola.
Sokolov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mendiola stuffs the takedown attempt from Sokolov. Sokolov gets slowly back to his feet.
Mendiola looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sokolov throws a jab but it's blocked by Mendiola.
Mendiola doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mendiola misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendiola scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sokolov in his tracks.
Sokolov scores with a nice right hand.
Mendiola takes a swing at Sokolov's ribcage but misses.
Sokolov shoots in for a double leg but Mendiola sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Sokolov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendiola misses the jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Sokolov. That snapped Mendiola's head back.
Mendiola throws a combination. Sokolov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sokolov misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from Mendiola on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sokolov lunges at Mendiola with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mendiola's hand.
Sokolov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sokolov throws a lazy right hand but Mendiola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sokolov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mendiola's waist but Mendiola gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sokolov off to one side.
Sokolov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sokolov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendiola moves away.
Sokolov throws a lazy right hand but Mendiola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sokolov misses with an uppercut.
Mendiola connects with a body shot that sends Sokolov's belly button to the back.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sokolov wants to pass to mount but Mendiola is defending the position.
Mendiola avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sokolov.
Sokolov stops Mendiola from getting back to his feet.
Mendiola is not content to let Sokolov control the position.
Mendiola tries to kick Sokolov off in order to stand up. Sokolov Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendiola is trying to get back to his feet.
Sokolov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sokolov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sokolov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sokolov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mendiola throws a hook but Sokolov avoids it easily.
Sokolov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mendiola circles away.
A big left from Mendiola misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendiola jabs Sokolov right on the nose. Sokolov blinks but takes it well.
Mendiola lands a nice looking body shot.
Mendiola walks into a straight right hand from Sokolov.
Nice defenses there by Mendiola.
Sokolov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sokolov, as that shot connected.
Mendiola gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Good standup being displayed there by Sokolov as he connects with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
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.
Mendiola walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mendiola throws a right hand that Sokolov ducks under and follows up with a left that Sokolov also avoids with ease.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Sergei Sokolov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sokolov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Sokolov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mendiola.
Sokolov cracks Mendiola with an open hand slap.
Sokolov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mendiola was well out of range. Poor timing from Sokolov.
Mendiola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sokolov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Sokolov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sokolov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sokolov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sokolov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendiola is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sokolov is controlling him well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendiola is looking to get back to his feet here but Sokolov is keeping cool and he's managed to take Mendiola's back.
Sokolov throwing strikes and Mendiola squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sokolov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mendiola is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sokolov lands with some strikes.
Mendiola is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendiola is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Mendiola wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sokolov.
Sokolov working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Mendiola slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Mendiola wants to get back to his feet.
Mendiola on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mendiola is rocked!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sokolov 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. Mendiola tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Sokolov!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sergei Sokolov!
Sergei Sokolov retains his welterweight title!
After winning the bout, Sergei Sokolov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
48% |
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