PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bas Volkov (ranked 4420 p4p, 4350 weight class) and Stewart Folayang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Folayang is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Francis Magalona - Man from Manila. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Volkov
vs
Folayang

178 cm
25
190
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
192
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bas Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stewart Folayang!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volkov closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Folayang's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Folayang fails to pull guard.
Folayang on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Volkov stalling in the clinch.
Folayang prevents a takedown attempt there.

Folayang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Volkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Folayang. Folayang gets slowly back to his feet.

Volkov drives through with a takedown into Folayang's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Folayang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Folayang should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Folayang tries to pass to full mount but Volkov defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov trying to control but Folayang postures up.
Volkov tries to roll over but Folayang keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Folayang wants to control but Volkov is keeping him busy.
Volkov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Volkov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Folayang won't allow Volkov to sweep him here.
Volkov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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 looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Folayang puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Folayang wants to work for an arm triangle but Volkov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Folayang not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Folayang takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Volkov trying to control from the bottom.

Folayang postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Volkov to stand up.
Folayang closes the distance and clinches up with Volkov, looking for a takedown. Folayang pushes Volkov against the cage but Volkov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bas Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stewart Folayang.

Volkov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Folayang looks winded!
Volkov looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov advances to half guard.
Volkov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've been informed that Folayang has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Folayang is trying to maintain the position but Volkov is very close to passing his half guard.

Volkov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Volkov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Volkov showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Folayang manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Folayang is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Volkov controlling from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Folayang trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Volkov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Volkov has managed to clinch.
Nice elbow from Volkov.
Folayang trying to control the position but instead, Volkov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Folayang into the cage.
Volkov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Folayang just stands there and leans against the cage.
Volkov is pressed up against the cage. Folayang has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Volkov down to the mat. Volkov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bas Volkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Folayang closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov tries a knee to the head but Folayang blocks it.
Folayang is trying to force a seperation but Volkov has the dominant position.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Volkov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Volkov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Folayang on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Volkov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Folayang scores with a few weak punches.
Folayang trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Volkov manages to pass to mount!
Volkov wants to control the pace but Folayang is squirming around nicely.
Volkov landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Folayang looks a forlorn figure.

Volkov get's back to his feet.
Volkov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Folayang misses with a takedown attempt
and Volkov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Folayang is breathing heavily.

Volkov pushes Folayang up against the cage in a clinch.
Volkov gets through Folayang's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Volkov can't get the takedown.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Volkov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Folayang's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Folayang keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Volkov connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Folayang keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Folayang wants to sweep but no luck.

Folayang has an active guard here but Volkov has managed to pass into half guard.

Volkov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four 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 shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Volkov gets to his feet. Folayang looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Volkov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Folayang's half guard.
Bas Volkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Folayang has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Volkov is working away from the top position though.
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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Volkov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Folayang has his takedown stuffed
enabling Volkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Volkov stuffs the takedown.
Volkov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Stewart Folayang has been cut.
Volkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Folayang steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Volkov.

Folayang moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Volkov breaks from the clinch.
Volkov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Folayang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Folayang tries to close the distance and clinch but Volkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Folayang shoots in looking for a takedown. Volkov tries to sprawl out of it but Folayang keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Volkov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bas Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stewart Folayang.
Folayang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov thuds his shin into the meat of Folayang's side.

Volkov pushes Folayang up against the cage in a clinch.

Volkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Folayang throws a sloppy head kick and Volkov moves out of range easily.
Volkov fires out a quick counter leg kick but Folayang just manages to avoid it.

Volkov closes the distance and clinches.

Volkov tightens his grip and picks Folayang up, before dumping him to the ground. Folayang manages to land in guard.

Volkov drops back looking for a leg! Folayang is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Folayang manages to kick Volkov off! Volkov jumps back into Folayang's guard.
Volkov distracts Folayang with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov postures up and lands a big shot to Folayang's brow.
Volkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Folayang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Folayang 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Folayang trying to control the position.
Volkov controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Volkov looking to score a takedown here. Folayang is defending well but Volkov drives through and ends up in Folayang's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Volkov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Volkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nice strikes from Volkov there.
Folayang is trying to maintain the position but Volkov is very close to passing his half guard.

Volkov stands up out of the half guard.
Stewart Folayang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bas Volkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Volkov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Folayang was covering up waiting for the punch and Volkov finishes the takedown easily into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bas Volkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Volkov 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bas Volkov!