PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Braden Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Alexander
vs
Volkov

195 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
20
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Win Nutritional - proof of quality
Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Braden Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Volkov!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alexander clinches with his opponent.
Volkov tries for a takedown. No joy.

Alexander ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Alexander no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Alexander is looking for a triangle but Volkov pushes his legs off easily.
Volkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Alexander knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Volkov on the ground.
Alexander controls Volkov momentarily but Volkov frees himself.
Alexander looking to hit a scissor sweep but Volkov is one step ahead there.

Volkov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander controls Volkov momentarily but Volkov frees himself.

Volkov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Volkov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alexander throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander throws a front kick that sends Volkov stumbling back into the ropes.
Alexander throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Volkov looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volkov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Alexander shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Alexander trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alexander with shots to the head and body - Volkov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Alexander is landing with some decent strikes but Volkov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Alexander tries to control but Volkov wriggling away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Volkov tries to reverse the position but Alexander maintains control.
Alexander trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alexander 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Volkov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Alexander in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Alexander with good strikes from the mount here!
Alexander is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Alexander blocks Volkov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The referee warns Volkov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Alexander with shots to the head and body - Volkov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Alexander landing strikes, looking to finish!

Alexander is working for a guillotine from mount but Volkov frees his head quite easily.
Alexander landing strikes from the mount and Volkov is in trouble!
Volkov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alexander pulls his head out easily.
Alexander landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Volkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Alexander pulls his head out easily.
Alexander sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Volkov defending well though.
Alexander is looking to take a break and control but Volkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alexander passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Volkov!
Alexander postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Volkov looks a forlorn figure.
Volkov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Volkov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Alexander looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Volkov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Volkov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Alexander's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Alexander's back!
Volkov throwing sloppy strikes.
Volkov scores with strikes from the back.
Alexander manages to reverse the position and now he's in Volkov's guard. Nice work there by Alexander.
Volkov wants to stand but Alexander is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alexander looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Braden Alexander dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jab by Alexander.

Alexander closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Volkov to the mat! Volkov manages to get full guard.

Volkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alexander gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Volkov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Volkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Volkov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alexander!

Volkov is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Alexander has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Alexander!
Alexander pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Volkov is keeping the position for now.
Alexander wanted to stand there but Volkov had control of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alexander trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.

Volkov has his foot on Alexander's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alexander works his way back into a safe position though.
Alexander trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Volkov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alexander passes into side control.
Alexander looks up at the clock and then as Volkov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Alexander smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Alexander in side control lands a decent elbow.
Volkov is looking for a sweep.
Alexander working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is trying to improve his position.
Alexander working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Volkov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Alexander connects with a decent elbow.
Alexander lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Volkov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Alexander is controlling him well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Alexander trying to control the position but Volkov is working away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Alexander stands up and beckons Volkov to his feet.
Volkov clinches but Alexander breaks the clinch

and Alexander counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Volkov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alexander walks away with a smile on his face. Volkov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Volkov tries for a takedown but Alexander circles away easily
and Alexander counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Volkov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Volkov stops Alexander from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Volkov is looking to take a break and control but Alexander is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Alexander tries to kick Volkov off but Volkov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Volkov working the head and body with strikes.

Volkov decides to return to a standing position.
Braden Alexander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alexander looks to land a combination. Volkov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alexander misses with a wild combination.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Volkov, right into the meat.
Alexander stalks Volkov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Volkov's face. Volkov staggers backwards, shaken.
Alexander throws a leg kick that is checked

so Volkov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Alexander looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexander, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alexander keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Alexander here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Volkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Volkov connects with a couple of short punches.
Alexander 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.
Volkov wants to stand but Alexander has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Volkov preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Volkov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Alexander counters with a three punch combo that has Volkov backing up. Volkov nods at Alexander to acknowledge the strikes.
Braden Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Volkov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alexander lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alexander.
Alexander moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Braden Alexander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexander lands with a nice combination. Volkov backs away looking to recover.
Volkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Alexander throws a leg kick which misses Volkov's front leg but catches the back leg as Volkov tries to avoid it.

Alexander closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Alexander prevents Volkov from escaping the position.
Volkov sneaks back into half guard.

Alexander looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Alexander thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alexander is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Volkov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Volkov moves into full guard.
Alexander has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov looking to control.
Volkov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alexander's guard.
Alexander tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Volkov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Volkov stops Alexander from standing up.
Volkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alexander working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volkov.
Alexander wants to sweep but no luck.
Alexander preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alexander throws a series of punches but Volkov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Volkov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Volkov slips a jab and a cross from Alexander.
Volkov misses with a body shot.
Alexander throws a lazy body kick

and Volkov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Alexander blocking the ground and pound attempt from Volkov.
Alexander trying to control but Volkov postures up.
Volkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alexander defending well though.
Alexander flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Alexander is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Volkov jumps into side control!

Volkov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Volkov tries to close the distance and clinch but Alexander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexander lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Volkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Alexander sprawls well initially but Volkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Volkov is looking to take a break and control but Alexander is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Volkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Volkov seems to be working for a kimura but Alexander defends the submission attempt.
Alexander manages to get to full guard.
Volkov being controlled here momentarily.

Volkov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Volkov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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.
Volkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alexander swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Volkov trying to control but Alexander is working from the bottom.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Volkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Volkov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

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