PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jason Arlington (ranked 937 p4p, 109 weight class) and Ivan Volkov (ranked 1092 p4p, 126 weight class). Arlington comes to the cage accompanied by Unchained Melody. On his way into the cage it seems that Jason Arlington has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jason Arlington seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Arlington
vs
Volkov

170 cm
24
145 lbs
8 - 3 - 2

175 cm
26
154 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Groove Gear
UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Arlington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov misses with a wild body shot.
Arlington tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Volkov swivels and escapes.
A nice side step and Volkov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Arlington displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Volkov.
Arlington lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Volkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Arlington swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Volkov connects with a right hand. Arlington shakes it off.
Good standup being displayed there by Arlington as he connects with a hook.

Arlington scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Arlington wants to control but Volkov is keeping him busy.
Volkov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Volkov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Volkov wants to sweep but no luck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Volkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Arlington 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlington slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Arlington trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Volkov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Arlington is aware though and is defending well.
Volkov looking to control.
Arlington trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arlington pushing down on Volkov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Arlington trying to control the action but Volkov is working from the bottom.
Arlington perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Volkov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Arlington's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Arlington's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkov has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Arlington has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Volkov is hanging on to Arlington's back as he tries to escape.

Volkov is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Arlington knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Arlington for a finish.
Arlington rolls, trying to escape but Volkov keeps control of the position.
Arlington trying to control the action but Volkov just sinks the hooks in.
Arlington tries to escape the position.
Arlington breaks Volkov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arlington stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Arlington won't allow Volkov to sweep him here.
Volkov keeping moving, preventing Arlington from controlling successfully.
Volkov keeping full guard, as Arlington tries to pass.
Arlington trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.

Volkov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Arlington is aware though and is defending well.
Volkov keeping moving, preventing Arlington from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Volkov controls Arlington momentarily but Arlington frees himself.
Arlington is pushing down on Volkov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Volkov is fighting to maintain full guard but Arlington has managed to sneak the leg through.
Arlington drops an elbow to the side of Volkov's head.
Arlington is looking to take a break and control but Volkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Volkov is trying to control but Arlington manages to pass to mount!
Volkov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Arlington dominated that round.
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.

Volkov shoots for a takedown but Arlington saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Arlington fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Volkov to the ground. Arlington is now in Volkov's guard.
Arlington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Arlington is stalling in the full guard.
Arlington tries to free his leg and advance position but Volkov is retaining full guard.

Volkov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Volkov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arlington looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Volkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Arlington has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Volkov has managed to get both his arms back between Arlington's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlington wants to sweep here but Volkov controlling him for the moment.
Arlington trying to keep a closed guard but Volkov is proving a slippery customer.
Volkov postures up in Arlington's guard and throws a big left but Arlington blocks it.
Jason Arlington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Arlington keeps moving.
Arlington tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Arlington has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Volkov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Volkov pushing down on Arlington's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

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.
Arlington makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Arlington.
Volkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Arlington keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Volkov looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Arlington is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arlington looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Volkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Arlington preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Volkov preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Arlington shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Arlington was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Arlington is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Volkov can do to turn this around?
Volkov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Arlington is thwarting Volkov's attempts to control the position.
Volkov is trying to get back to full guard.
Arlington controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlington passes to full mount!
Volkov tries to lock up and control but Arlington gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Volkov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arlington wants to control the pace but Volkov is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arlington is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Volkov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Volkov tries to reverse the position but Arlington maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Arlington dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Volkov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
An attempted straight right counter from Arlington misses the target.
Arlington thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arlington throws a hook but Volkov avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Volkov misses its intended target.
Arlington swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Volkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Arlington.
Arlington throws a body shot but no joy.

Volkov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Arlington looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Arlington is working to avoid the ground and pound but Volkov connects with a decent elbow.
Arlington gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Arlington works his way to full guard. Good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Arlington escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Volkov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Arlington is pulling down on Volkov's head. It's preventing any offense from Volkov, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arlington 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.
Arlington is working hard here to advance position.
Arlington pulls Volkov in close to prevent any damage.
Volkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Arlington is trying to keep Volkov in close.
Volkov passes into half guard.
Arlington is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Volkov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arlington has managed to free his arm - good work.
Arlington is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Volkov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Volkov's back!
Volkov looking very determined here, making life difficult for Arlington.
Volkov tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Arlington unloading with bombs!
Volkov is looking to improve his position but Arlington isn't that keen on the idea.
Arlington lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is squirming around, avoiding Arlington's attempts to control the action.
Arlington with good strikes from the mount here!
Arlington controlling from mount.
Ivan Volkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Volkov working to try and regain half guard.
Volkov holds of for dear life.
Arlington landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Arlington tries to control but Volkov wriggling away.
Volkov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Arlington tries to control but Volkov wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Arlington cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arlington raining down shots from the mount!
Volkov flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Arlington showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Arlington has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Arlington!
An out of breath Jason Arlington thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.