PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Volkov (ranked 1285 p4p, 1272 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 141 p4p, 139 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Volkov
vs
Cruz

175 cm
34
154
19 - 17 - 0

172 cm
43
144
37 - 30 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Vegan Gains

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 19 - 17 - 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 37 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Volkov scores with a shot to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Volkov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Volkov's shoulder, as Volkov tries to avoid the shot.
Volkov tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz misses with a looping right.
Dom Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Cruz. Those never looked like landing.
Cruz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Volkov's head.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Volkov pinned against the cage. Volkov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.

Volkov rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cruz.
Volkov gets through Cruz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cruz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cruz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Volkov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Volkov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cruz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A punch combination from Volkov misses.
Cruz looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Volkov counters with a nice body shot.
Volkov closes the distance and clinches up with Cruz, looking for a takedown. Volkov pushes Cruz against the cage but Cruz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cruz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Volkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Volkov's shoulder, as Volkov tries to avoid the shot.
Nice shot by Cruz.
Volkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz fails to land the takedown.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cruz is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cruz cracks Volkov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Volkov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Volkov avoids the head kick by Cruz.
Volkov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Volkov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cruz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Cruz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Volkov cracks Cruz with a big elbow.
Cruz is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Volkov off and has taken his back!
Cruz has Volkov flattened out and is raining down punches.
Volkov tries to roll but Cruz sticks to his back.
Cruz lands shots from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov rolls, trying to escape but Cruz keeps control of the position.
Volkov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cruz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Volkov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cruz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Volkov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Volkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cruz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cruz working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cruz is pushing down on Volkov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Volkov is fighting to maintain full guard but Cruz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cruz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Volkov's head.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz wants to pass to mount but Volkov is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to take a breather but Volkov is having none of it.

Volkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cruz pulls his head out easily.
Cruz trying to mount his opponent but Volkov defends it.
Cruz is thwarting Volkov's attempts to control the position.
Volkov gets full guard.
Cruz wants to control from the top but Volkov keeps moving.
Volkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Volkov, not yet.
Cruz trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dom Cruz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters circling - Volkov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cruz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cruz dips to his left and cracks Volkov with an uppercut!
Cruz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Volkov throws a hook but Cruz avoids it easily.
Cruz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Volkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.
Volkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cruz lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Volkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Cruz, which made it look bad.
Cruz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Volkov eats them both and turns towards Cruz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Cruz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Volkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Volkov on the side of the head.
Volkov needs to keep his hands up - Cruz had a free shot at his head there.
Volkov moves in looking to clinch but Cruz pushes him off.
Nice shot lands for Volkov.
Cruz goes for a double leg but Volkov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Volkov continues to drive forward.
Cruz throws a shot from downtown. Volkov moves away and avoids it.
Cruz looks to land a left hand but Volkov moved out of range nicely.
Volkov feinted with a counter takedown.
Cruz scores with a jab to the jaw.

Volkov drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz trying to control the position.
Cruz keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Cruz looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Volkov postures up.
Volkov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Volkov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruz, who protects the arm well.
Volkov working the body and head with strikes.
Cruz tries to buck Volkov off but Volkov is having none of it.
Cruz parries the strikes from Volkov easily there. Volkov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cruz to escape.
Cruz wants to control but Volkov postures up.
Volkov working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov working the head with strikes.
Volkov landing a few strikes.
Cruz wants to control but Volkov postures up.
Volkov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volkov working away.
Cruz tries to improve position but can't.
Volkov grinds an elbow into Cruz's temple.

Volkov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cruz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cruz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Volkov cracks Cruz with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Volkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ground and pound from Volkov.

Volkov seems to be looking for submissions.
Cruz wants to control but Volkov is keeping busy.
Cruz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruz keeping full guard, as Volkov tries to pass.
Cruz is trying to control the position but Volkov postures up.
Volkov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Volkov dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Cruz swings widly with a right hand

and Volkov moves into the clinch.
Volkov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cruz is defending well.
Cruz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cruz.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cruz lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Cruz.
Volkov taking a breather.
Cruz presses Volkov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cruz takes a shot to the head.
Cruz misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov misses with the head strike.
Cruz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Volkov controls his hands.
A short right from Volkov on the inside.
Cruz lands a body shot.
Volkov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cruz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Cruz tries to throw a body punch but Volkov avoids it by throwing Cruz back against the cage.
Cruz struggles to land a body shot inside as Volkov controls his hands.
Volkov wants a takedown but no success here.
Cruz is leaning against Volkov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Volkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cruz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cruz tries a body shot but Volkov blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Cruz.
Volkov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Volkov is looking to control Cruz's arms but Cruz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Volkov has his back to the cage.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Cruz throws a big shot that misses.
Volkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cruz.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cruz but Cruz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cruz throws a body punch but Volkov moves out of range.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a leg kick but Volkov sees it coming and moves out of range.

Cruz tries to sprawl but Volkov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Volkov is very close to passing his half guard.
Volkov 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.
Cruz wants to get back to full guard.
Cruz gets full guard.
Cruz is pulling down on Volkov's head. It's preventing any offense from Volkov, at least for the moment.
Ivan Volkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Volkov cracks Cruz with a solid left hand.
Volkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cruz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Volkov is one step ahead there.
Cruz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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

Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Volkov is working away from the top position though.
Volkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
Volkov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Volkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cruz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Volkov is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov trying to mount his opponent but Cruz defends it.
Volkov is thwarting Cruz's attempts to control the position.
Volkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cruz is looking for a sweep. Volkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Volkov is looking to take a break and control but Cruz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cruz wants to control but Volkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Volkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Cruz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ivan Volkov.
I think Volkov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Volkov!
Our winner, Ivan Volkov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.