PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nik Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Bengtsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nik Volkov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Volkov
vs
Bengtsson

176 cm
21
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nik Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Bengtsson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bengtsson misses with a low kick.
Volkov has a takedown stuffed.
Volkov fails with a takedown attempt.

Volkov gets the takedown into side control.
Volkov wants to control but Bengtsson is keeping him busy.
Volkov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bengtsson is looking to reverse the position.
Volkov working the ground and pound but Bengtsson is defending the strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkov misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov is chipping away with strikes.
Bengtsson defending against the ground and pound.
Volkov tries to score with some ground and pound. Bengtsson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Volkov looks up at the clock and then as Bengtsson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Volkov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Bengtsson parries the strikes from Volkov easily there. Volkov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bengtsson to escape.
Volkov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Volkov with the ground and pound but Bengtsson regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
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.
Volkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Bengtsson keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Bengtsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bengtsson trying to control the position here.
Volkov trying to control but Bengtsson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bengtsson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bengtsson has escaped and now he's on top!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Volkov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bengtsson postures up in Volkov's guard and throws a big left but Volkov blocks it.
Bengtsson looking to pass the guard.
Bengtsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four 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.
Bengtsson throws a strike but Volkov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Volkov forces his way into half guard.
Bengtsson trying to control from the bottom.
Bengtsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Volkov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov trying to mount his opponent but Bengtsson defends it.
Volkov is thwarting Bengtsson's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nik Volkov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Volkov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bengtsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Volkov somewhat.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.

Volkov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bengtsson sneaks back into half guard.
Bengtsson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bengtsson is trying to control but can't.
Volkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Volkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Volkov working over Bengtsson with some ground and pound. Bengtsson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bengtsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Volkov stalling away here and it's allowed Bengtsson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Volkov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bengtsson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bengtsson has escaped and now he's on top!
Volkov trying to keep a closed guard but Bengtsson is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bengtsson throws a strike but Volkov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Bengtsson keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Volkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bengtsson trying to control the position here.
Volkov throws and elbow that misses. Bengtsson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Volkov's guard. Nice move by Bengtsson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Volkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Volkov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bengtsson throws and elbow that misses. Volkov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bengtsson's guard. Nice move by Volkov!
Bengtsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Volkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Volkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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 preventing the sweep.
Volkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Volkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Volkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Volkov won't allow Bengtsson to sweep him here.
Volkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Volkov throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bengtsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Volkov is looking to work some ground and pound but Bengtsson has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nik Volkov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bengtsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nik Volkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bengtsson leaves Volkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bengtsson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Volkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Bengtsson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Volkov.
Volkov shoots in but Bengtsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nik Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bengtsson but Bengtsson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bengtsson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bengtsson jumps guard and drags Volkov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Volkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Volkov trying to control but Bengtsson is working from the bottom.
Volkov throws and elbow that misses. Bengtsson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Volkov's guard. Nice move by Bengtsson!
Bengtsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Volkov looking for a guillotine here but Bengtsson defends easily.
Bengtsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Volkov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bengtsson landing some decent shots from guard.

Volkov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bengtsson postures up and lands a big shot to Volkov's brow.
Bengtsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Volkov has wrist control.
Bengtsson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bengtsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bengtsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bengtsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Volkov has wrist control.
Volkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bengtsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bengtsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Volkov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nik Volkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bengtsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bengtsson throws a strike but Volkov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Robert Bengtsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Volkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Bengtsson keeps moving.
Volkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bengtsson keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Volkov postures up in Bengtsson's guard and throws a big left but Bengtsson blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Volkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Volkov trying to control but Bengtsson is working from the bottom.
Bengtsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov is looking to work some ground and pound but Bengtsson has wrist control.
Nik Volkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Volkov 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Bengtsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

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