PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Drankonovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Volkov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Drankonovich
vs
Volkov

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
22
219 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Drankonovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drankonovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
Volkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Drankonovich closes the distance and clinches up with Volkov, looking for a takedown. Drankonovich pushes Volkov against the cage but Volkov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

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

Drankonovich decides to stand back up. Drankonovich steps back and let's Volkov get back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Drankonovich. Those never looked like landing.
Drankonovich connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Alexander Volkov has been cut.
Drankonovich throws a left and a right that both miss
and Volkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Drankonovich shoots in but Volkov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Volkov fails with a takedown attempt.

Volkov pushes Drankonovich up against the cage in a clinch.
Drankonovich has Volkov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Volkov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Drankonovich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Drankonovich pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Drankonovich prevents the takedown attempt.

Volkov decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drankonovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Volkov is trying to control the position but Drankonovich postures up.
Drankonovich is in close to Volkov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Drankonovich is looking to stand up but Volkov won't let him.
Drankonovich advances to half guard.
Volkov trying to hold on to Drankonovich's head to control him but Drankonovich postures up.

Volkov is defending against the submission attempts here by Drankonovich.

Drankonovich postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Volkov to stand up.
Drankonovich is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Volkov is defended easily by Drankonovich.
Volkov swinging wildly here.
Drankonovich tries to clinch there but Volkov circles away.

Drankonovich moves into the clinch.

Volkov decides to pull guard.
Drankonovich might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Drankonovich wanted to stand there but Volkov had control of the position.
Volkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Drankonovich wants to control from the top but Volkov keeps moving.
Volkov trying to keep a closed guard but Drankonovich is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drankonovich stands up from Volkov's guard - Drankonovich perhaps looking for a knockout.
A solid leg kick lands there for Volkov.
Drankonovich falls off balance throwing a combination
and Volkov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Drankonovich thinking.
Volkov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drankonovich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Volkov looks for a takedown but Drankonovich sprawls well.
Drankonovich swats away the attempt to clinch by Volkov.
Drankonovich throws a right and a left that Volkov avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drankonovich is looking to clinch but Volkov is avoiding it.
Drankonovich tries to clinch up but Volkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Drankonovich tries to clinch but Volkov is having none of it.

Drankonovich closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Drankonovich is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Volkov has one foot on Drankonovich's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Volkov dives in and grabs Drankonovich's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drankonovich pushes down on Volkov's head and hops out.
Volkov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Drankonovich.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Drankonovich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Volkov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Volkov cracks Drankonovich with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.
Drankonovich tries to clinch there but Volkov circles away.
Volkov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Drankonovich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Volkov throws a sloppy head kick and Drankonovich moves out of range easily.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown but Drankonovich shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Drankonovich rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Volkov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Drankonovich tries to clinch there but Volkov circles away.
Ivan Drankonovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drankonovich wants to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice sprawl there from Drankonovich as Volkov shoots in.
Ivan Drankonovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Volkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drankonovich tries to clinch but Volkov moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Drankonovich.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Drankonovich.
Volkov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drankonovich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Volkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drankonovich.

Drankonovich scores with a takedown into Volkov's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Drankonovich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Drankonovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Drankonovich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov pulls Drankonovich in close to his closed guard and prevents Drankonovich from doing any damage or advancing position.
Volkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Drankonovich engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Drankonovich shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Volkov as he avoids it easily.
Volkov shoots in but Drankonovich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Drankonovich fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drankonovich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Volkov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Drankonovich gets a clinch.
Drankonovich fails to pull guard.
Volkov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Drankonovich is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Drankonovich working hard to break the clinch.
Drankonovich jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Volkov walks away with a smile on his face. Drankonovich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Volkov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Drankonovich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Volkov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Drankonovich throws a left and a right that both miss
and Volkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Volkov tries to clinch up but Drankonovich circles away and keeps his distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Drankonovich.
Volkov is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drankonovich misses with a jab to the body
enabling Volkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Drankonovich chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Volkov can pounce on him.
Drankonovich shoots in for a double leg but Volkov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drankonovich moves out of range as Volkov throws a body kick.
Volkov shoots in looking for a takedown. Drankonovich tries to sprawl out of it but Volkov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Drankonovich manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Drankonovich fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drankonovich tries to clinch but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Volkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Drankonovich moves out of range of the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Drankonovich dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Volkov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Drankonovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Volkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice takedown defense from Drankonovich. No joy for Volkov on that attempt.
Volkov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Volkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Drankonovich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Drankonovich is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Volkov slips under a jab.
Volkov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Drankonovich is trying hard to land a takedown here. Volkov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ivan Drankonovich is winning the standup battle so far.
Volkov shoots in and drives through. Drankonovich sprawls well.
Drankonovich looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Drankonovich throws a left and a right that both miss
and Volkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Volkov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Volkov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drankonovich is looking to stand up but Volkov isn't so interested in that idea.
Drankonovich is wriggling around but Volkov manages to pass to half guard.
Volkov prevents Drankonovich from standing back up.
Volkov not doing much here.
Drankonovich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Volkov on the ground.
Drankonovich is trying to stand back up but Volkov is controlling him
Drankonovich is refusing to be controlled, as Volkov sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Drankonovich is looking to control Volkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Drankonovich avoid being mounted?
Drankonovich is trying to stand up here but Volkov is controlling him well.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexander Volkov.
Volkov wants to clinch up but Drankonovich keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Volkov.
Ivan Drankonovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Volkov.
Drankonovich shoots in for a takedown but Volkov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Volkov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Drankonovich sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Volkov somewhat.
Drankonovich tries to close the distance and clinch but Volkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drankonovich.

Volkov moves into range and clinches up with Drankonovich.

Volkov breaks from the clinch.

Volkov moves into the clinch.
Drankonovich has Volkov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Volkov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Volkov stalling in the clinch but Drankonovich improves position.
Drankonovich pressing his opponent against the cage.

Volkov pulls Drankonovich into guard.
Volkov wants to control but Drankonovich passes easily into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Drankonovich is working for a kimura but Volkov is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drankonovich is trying to work for a kimura but Volkov is defending well.
Ivan Drankonovich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Drankonovich wants to pass to mount but Volkov is defending the position.
Ivan Drankonovich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Volkov is looking to control Drankonovich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Volkov avoid being mounted?
Drankonovich is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Volkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Drankonovich 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Drankonovich!