PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikolai Volkov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Duran
vs
Volkov

177 cm
18
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Duran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nikolai Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Volkov slips under a jab.
Duran is looking to clinch.
Duran bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Volkov moves out of range as Duran throws a body kick.
Duran shoots in looking for a takedown. Volkov tries to sprawl out of it but Duran 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.
A head kick misses from Duran.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Volkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Duran throws a nice looking combination but Volkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran misses with a series of wild punches.
Duran lands with an uppercut that bounces Volkov off the cage and back into rage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Duran.
Some wild striking there from Duran.
Duran displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Volkov throws out the jab.
Some wild striking there from Duran.
Volkov blocks a head kick by Duran.
Duran misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Duran misses with a kick to the body.

Duran feints and as Volkov raises his hands in defense, Duran changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Duran trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.

Volkov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Duran wants to get up but he can't break Volkov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Volkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Duran can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Duran slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Volkov looking for a guillotine here but Duran defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Duran gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Duran looking to pass the guard.
Duran has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Volkov is on top in guard.
Duran controls Volkov momentarily but Volkov frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Volkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Duran on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Duran tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Volkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duran swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Duran doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Volkov stopping the sweep attempt from Duran.
Duran keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.

Volkov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Volkov trying to control but Duran is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Duran lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Volkov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A jab from Volkov misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Duran!
Duran wants to clinch.
Duran lands a nice hook to Volkov's body. Volkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Duran scores with a takedown into Volkov's guard.
Duran stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Volkov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Volkov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran controlling from the top position.

Volkov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Volkov is breathing heavily.
Duran's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Duran wanted to stand there but Volkov had control of the position.

Volkov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Duran doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Duran manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Duran trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Volkov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Duran controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran wanted to stand there but Volkov had control of the position.

Volkov has his foot on Duran's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Duran works his way back into a safe position though.

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

Volkov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Duran defends well.
Duran tries to free his leg and advance position but Volkov is retaining full guard.
Volkov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Duran controls the pace.
Duran pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Volkov is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duran got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Duran has managed to get both his arms back between Volkov's legs - danger averted.
Duran has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Volkov is proving hard to escape from.

Volkov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Duran knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Volkov on the ground.

Duran decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Volkov, up you get!
Volkov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duran sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Duran doesn't manage to clinch there - Volkov circles away.

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.

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

Volkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Duran gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Duran controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Duran wants to get up but he can't break Volkov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Volkov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Duran doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Duran manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Duran is looking to stand up but Volkov won't let him.
Duran sitting in guard here, content to control.

Volkov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Duran is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Duran dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Duran throws a push kick but Volkov slaps the foot to one side.
Duran throws a right and a left that Volkov avoids nicely.
Duran looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Duran fails in his attempt to clinch.

Duran scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Volkov is refusing to be controlled, as Duran sits in half guard.
Volkov tries to roll over but Duran keeps him under control.

Duran decides to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkov misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Duran misses with a series of wild punches.
Volkov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Duran scoring well with a low kick there.
Volkov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Duran shoots in but Volkov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Volkov misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Volkov dodges the punch combination from Duran.
Duran looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Duran tries to bum rush Volkov with a series of wild strikes but Volkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Duran lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Volkov tries for a takedown but Duran sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Duran moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Volkov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Volkov to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Duran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov throws a hook to the side of Duran's head but Duran sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Duran takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Duran shoots in and drives through. Volkov sprawls well.
Duran shoots and misses
enabling Volkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Volkov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Duran gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Volkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Duran doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Volkov counters with a head kick.
Duran misses with a takedown
and Volkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Duran throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Volkov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Volkov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Duran throws a head kick that misses.
Volkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29

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