PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Volkov (ranked 2283 p4p, 2247 weight class) and Damen Mayer (ranked 241 p4p, 126 weight class). Ivan Volkov had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Volkov
vs
Mayer

175 cm
28
154
8 - 8 - 0

170 cm
36
142
23 - 19 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sydney Fight Gear (London Rebirth)
Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 1, fighting out of New York, Damen Mayer!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mayer throws out a loose jab but Volkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Volkov slips a jab from Mayer.
Volkov misses with a hook. Mayer ducked under it nicely.
Mayer changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mayer as he avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mayer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A big left from Mayer misses.
Volkov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mayer shoots for a double leg takedown but Volkov sprawls well. He's pushed Mayer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Volkov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mayer lands a head shot.
A cross from Mayer lands.
Volkov misses the shot to the body.
Mayer tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mayer throws a jab but it's blocked by Volkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Volkov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Volkov looks to land a strike but Mayer avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Volkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mayer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Volkov has managed to get both his arms back between Mayer's legs - danger averted.
Mayer keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Volkov lands a couple of elbows.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Mayer keeps moving.
Volkov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Volkov landing some decent shots from guard.
Volkov postures up in Mayer's guard and throws a big left but Mayer blocks it.
Mayer has momentary wrist control but Volkov slips an elbow through the middle.

Mayer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mayer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mayer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Volkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Mayer keeps moving.
Volkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Volkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Volkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Volkov has gone for a leg lock! Mayer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Volkov's guard.

Volkov is trying to control the position but Mayer postures up.
My spies in Dark Horse MMA inform me that Mayer has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to improve his position but instead Mayer has moved into half guard.
Volkov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Volkov 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.

Mayer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Volkov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Volkov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Volkov!

Mayer tries to bench press Volkov off him but Volkov keeps the position.

Volkov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mayer knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mayer is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayer manages to work his way to half guard, despite Volkov's best efforts.
Volkov winds up and cracks Mayer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Volkov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
BOOM! Volkov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
BOOM! Volkov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Volkov breaks from Mayer's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Volkov dominated that round.
That's time! Volkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mayer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mayer throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Volkov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mayer looks to land a right hand but Volkov moved out of range.

Mayer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Volkov sprawls well initially but Mayer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Volkov gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mayer stopping the sweep attempt from Volkov.

Mayer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Volkov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Volkov has escaped and now he's on top!

Mayer working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Volkov has passed into half guard!
Well, if Volkov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Volkov.
We've been hearing that Volkov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Volkov stopping the sweep attempt from Mayer.
Volkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mayer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Mayer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mayer has momentary wrist control but Volkov slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two 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.

Mayer 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.

Volkov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mayer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mayer has escaped and now he's on top!

Volkov has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Mayer should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Volkov has tightened it up now! Mayer should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ivan Volkov!
During a confident post fight interview, Ivan Volkov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.