PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: CLICK CLICK BOOM. Alexander Volkov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Helio Dos Santos's chin.

Volkov
vs
Dos Santos

200 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Rastafarii Clothing
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexander Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Volkov as Dos Santos shoots in.

Dos Santos shoots in and bounces Volkov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dos Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Volkov is keeping the position for now.
Dos Santos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dos Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Dos Santos has gone for a leg lock! Volkov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dos Santos's guard.
Volkov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dos Santos's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dos Santos is on top in guard.
Volkov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dos Santos is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dos Santos is pushing down on Volkov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Volkov is fighting to maintain full guard but Dos Santos has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dos Santos is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Dos Santos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Dos Santos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Volkov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dos Santos has Volkov in his guard.
Volkov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dos Santos is trying to keep Volkov in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is looking to stand up but Dos Santos won't let him.

Volkov stands up and waves to Dos Santos to follow him.

Dos Santos closes the distance and clinches.
Volkov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Volkov wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Volkov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dos Santos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Dos Santos holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Volkov is pressed up against the cage. Dos Santos 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.
Alexander Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Dos Santos.

Dos Santos gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Volkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Volkov is breathing heavily.
Volkov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alexander Volkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Volkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Dos Santos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Dos Santos passes to full mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Dos Santos there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Dos Santos goes for an armbar but Volkov turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Volkov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to sweep here but Volkov controlling him for the moment.

Dos Santos is looking for a triangle but Volkov pushes his legs off easily.
Dos Santos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Dos Santos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dos Santos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Volkov.
Volkov's corner calls for a 1-2. Volkov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Dos Santos shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dos Santos showed some decent athleticism there.
Dos Santos moves nicely into side control.

Dos Santos tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dos Santos has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Volkov wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dos Santos looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Volkov prevents Dos Santos from moving into mount.
Volkov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Dos Santos asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Dos Santos throws an elbow but Volkov slips to the side and avoids it well.

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.

Dos Santos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Volkov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Dos Santos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Volkov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Volkov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dos Santos.
Volkov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Dos Santos momentarily.

Dos Santos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Volkov prevents the takedown attempt.
Volkov wants to get back to striking at distance but Dos Santos won't allow it.
Dos Santos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Volkov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Alexander Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Dos Santos.
Dos Santos is working for takedown but Volkov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Volkov breaks the clinch.
Dos Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Volkov throws a right and a left that Dos Santos avoids nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Dos Santos drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Dos Santos 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!
Dos Santos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries to stand but Dos Santos is controlling from the bottom.
Dos Santos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Volkov's guard.
Dos Santos wants to pass the guard but Volkov is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Helio Dos Santos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dos Santos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Dos Santos thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Dos Santos wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Volkov, who protects the arm well.
Volkov wants to get back to his feet but Dos Santos drags him back down.
Dos Santos fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dos Santos wants to take a breather but Volkov manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Dos Santos.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Volkov is retaining full guard.
Volkov keeping moving, preventing Dos Santos from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dos Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
Volkov lands a nice looking body shot.
Volkov throws a nice looking combination but Dos Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dos Santos wants a takedown but no success here.

Volkov manages to break the clinch.

Dos Santos has closed the distance and engaged Volkov in a clinch.
Volkov is pressed up against the cage. Dos Santos 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.
Alexander Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Volkov throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Dos Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Volkov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Volkov misses.

Dos Santos is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Volkov's half guard.
Dos Santos is looking to advance position but Volkov won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov pushes Dos Santos off and gets back to his feet.

Dos Santos decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dos Santos trying to pass the guard but Volkov defending well.
Dos Santos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Dos Santos 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 blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dos Santos.
Helio Dos Santos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Alexander Volkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Volkov is staying active underneath Dos Santos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dos Santos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Volkov throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helio Dos Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dos Santos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helio Dos Santos!