PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barack Obina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Obina is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Cio da Terra - Pena Branca & Xavantinho e Renato Teixeira. Nikolai Volkov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Volkov
vs
Obina

176 cm
24
170 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

172 cm
25
162 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nikolai Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barack Obina!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obina slips under a jab from Volkov.
Volkov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Volkov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Obina finds it's way round the side to connect with Volkov's head.
Volkov slips a straight right by Obina.
Volkov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A combination from Volkov does no damage.
A swing and a miss from Obina.
Obina throws a series of punches but Volkov avoids them all with ease.
Nice uppercut there from Volkov.
Obina swinging wildly here.
A jab from Obina finds it's way through Volkov's defenses.
Volkov throws a series of punches but Obina avoids them all with ease.
Obina lands a really nice looking cross but Volkov seems unphased.
Obina misses with a straight left.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.
Obina just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov fails with the takedown.
Volkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Obina circles away.
Obina connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Volkov scores with a body shot.
Volkov misses with a jab to the body
and Volkov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Obina displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Volkov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A swing and a miss from Obina.
Sloppy strikes from Obina. Those never looked like landing.
Volkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Volkov slips a jab from Obina.
Volkov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Obina cracks Volkov with an open hand slap.
Obina ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Obina throws a one two combo.
Obina looks to land a right hand but Volkov moved out of range.
Obina is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Volkov had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Volkov slips a jab and a cross from Obina.
Volkov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Volkov sizes up Obina with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Obina lands a jab.
Obina avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Obina connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Obina 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.
A shot to the liver by Obina. Beautiful body shot.
Volkov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Obina is out of range and Volkov settles back down.
Volkov misses with a head kick.
Volkov walks into a stiff left hand from Obina.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obina blocks a head kick by Volkov.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Obina sprawls well. Obina wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Volkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Volkov.
Obina scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Obina lands a right hook to the body.
Obina thows a body shot but no joy.
Obina looks to score with a jab to the body but Volkov is just out of range.
A combination from Obina does no damage.
Obina throws a body punch but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Volkov shoots in and drives through. Obina sprawls well.
Volkov misses with a wild combination.
Volkov looks to land a combination but Obina avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obina looks to score with a jab to the body but Volkov is just out of range.
Good work by Obina as he checks the leg kick.
Obina uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Volkov.
Volkov drops his hands momentarily and Obina takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Obina scores with a body shot.
A big left from Obina misses.
Volkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Obina lands with a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Obina.
Obina bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Volkov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Volkov is breathing heavily.
Obina thows a left - swing and a miss!
Obina lands a lovely overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barack Obina dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Volkov fails to land the takedown.
Volkov throws a body punch but Obina moves out of range.
Obina throws a jab when Volkov was well out of range.
Obina lands with a right hand.
Obina stalks Volkov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Volkov's face. Volkov staggers backwards, shaken.
Obina throws a lazy uppercut
and Volkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Volkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barack Obina seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Obina smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Obina misses with a looping left.
Volkov slips a jab from Obina.
Obina misses with a looping left.
A nice combination there by Obina.
Volkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Obina.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obina swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Obina comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Volkov dives in and grabs Obina's left leg, looking for a takedown. Obina pushes down on Volkov's head and hops out.
Obina throws a good cross that connects.
Barack Obina is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Obina will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Volkov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Obina throws out a powerful jab.
Volkov throws a combination. Obina tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Volkov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Obina throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Volkov on the side of the head.
Obina throws the left hand but Volkov avoids the punch easily.
Obina connects with a right hand. Volkov shakes it off.
Volkov misses the shot to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Obina!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov shoots for a takedown but Obina saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Obina throws a body punch but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Obina as he jumps to the side.
Obina lands an overhand right.
Obina swings widly with a right hand

and Volkov counters with a single leg into guard. Obina didn't expect that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Volkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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 Obina is working from the bottom.
Obina trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Volkov throwing strikes but missing.

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

Volkov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is looking for a triangle but Obina pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Barack Obina will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Obina misses with a straight left.
Obina misses with an uppercut. Volkov saw that one coming.
Volkov dives in and grabs Obina's left leg, looking for a takedown. Obina pushes down on Volkov's head and hops out.
Volkov slips a jab and a cross from Obina.
Volkov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Obina throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Obina thows a left - swing and a miss!
Obina ducks right into an uppercut from Volkov.
Volkov shoots in but Obina avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Volkov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Obina counters with a stiff right hand.
Obina uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Volkov.
Obina jabs at Volkov's body.
Volkov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Volkov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Obina misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obina scores with a hook.
Obina throws a right and a left that both miss.
Volkov is looking to land body kicks.
Obina swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A combination from Volkov does no damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkov misses with a wild combination.
Obina throws a hook to the side of Volkov's head but Volkov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Obina throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Volkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Obina moves away from the strike by Volkov.
Obina misses with a straight right.
Obina throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Volkov on the side of the head.
Obina tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Volkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Obina.
Volkov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Volkov throws a right and a left that Obina avoids nicely.
Volkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov drops his hands momentarily and Obina takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Obina lands with an uppercut that bounces Volkov off the cage and back into rage.
Obina thows a body shot but no joy.
Obina connects with a good right hand that stumbles Volkov. Volkov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A leg kick checked by Obina.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Obina. Volkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Obina looks to score with a jab to the body but Volkov is just out of range.
Obina looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Obina does no damage.
Obina misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Volkov.
Obina dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Obina lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Obina swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Volkov scores with a punch to the head.
Volkov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Obina sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Obina.
Obina throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Obina throws an overhand right that lands on Volkov's shoulder, as Volkov tries to avoid the shot.
Volkov moves out of range as Obina strikes.
Obina misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Volkov.
Obina misses with a straight right.
Nikolai Volkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obina lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Obina.
Obina lands with an overhand left.
Obina moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Obina's corner calls for a 1-2. Obina obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Obina dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Obina connects with a looping right hand.
Obina misses with a hook. Volkov ducked under it nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Obina throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Volkov thows a body shot but no joy.
Obina takes a shot to the body in his stride.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Volkov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Volkov wants to clinch.
Barack Obina is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Obina moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barack Obina comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Obina 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barack Obina!