PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Jahn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nik Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jahn
vs
Volkov

165 cm
26
144 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

176 cm
26
140 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Oliver Jahn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nik Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Volkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Volkov prevents Jahn from getting back to his feet.
Jahn being controlled here, momentarily.
Volkov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Jahn is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Volkov has Jahn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jahn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Jahn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jahn throws a body punch but Volkov moves out of range.
Jahn throws an off balance right hand

and Volkov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jahn won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov is chipping away with strikes.
Jahn parries the strikes from Volkov easily there. Volkov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Jahn to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volkov throws a strike aimed at the side of Jahn's head but Jahn avoids it well.
Volkov trying to control the position but Jahn is working away.

Volkov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jahn has escaped the position, nice work there.
Volkov is looking to take a break and control but Jahn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkov tries for a kimura but Jahn is defending well.
Volkov scores with punches from side control.
Jahn pushes Volkov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Volkov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Volkov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Jahn, who protects the arm well.
Jahn wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jahn has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Volkov lands a few punches from side control.
Jahn might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Volkov lands some shots froms side control.

Volkov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jahn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jahn is looking to get back to his feet here but Volkov is keeping cool and he's managed to take Jahn's back.

Volkov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov lands with a hammerfist to the side of Jahn's head.
Well, with Volkov on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Jahn is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Jahn is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Volkov gets his way!
Volkov wants to control but Jahn is keeping busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jahn trying to get back to his feet but Volkov is in full control for now.
Volkov lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Jahn.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Volkov looking for the choke from the back.
Jahn trying to get back to his feet but Volkov is in full control for now.
Volkov throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Volkov is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Jahn defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Volkov is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Jahn wants to get back to his feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Volkov trying to control.

Volkov is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Jahn wants to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Volkov.
Volkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Volkov has got his arm under Jahn's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Jahn has spun round into Volkov's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Volkov looking to control.

Volkov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jahn defends it easily.
Jahn wants to stand but Volkov is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's eight 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.
Volkov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Oliver Jahn just wasn't active enough.
Jahn throws an overhand right that lands on Volkov's shoulder, as Volkov tries to avoid the shot.
A head kick misses from Jahn.
Jahn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jahn. Volkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jahn goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jahn as he avoids it easily.
Oliver Jahn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nik Volkov.
Jahn throws a hook but Volkov blocks it.
Jahn smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jahn connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Volkov's hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jahn sprawls well. Jahn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Volkov gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Jahn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nik Volkov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Volkov staying out of range there.
Donk. Jahn catches Volkov right on the button with a cross.
Oliver Jahn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Volkov shoots in but Jahn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Volkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jahn pinned against the cage. Jahn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Volkov slips a straight right by Jahn.
Volkov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jahn.

Volkov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jahn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Volkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jahn is keeping the position for now.
Volkov forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jahn is looking to escape.

Volkov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jahn is just riding it out for now. Volkov eventually gives up the hold.
Jahn is trying to stand up here but Volkov is controlling him well.

Volkov is working for a submission of some sort.
Volkov trying to pass the guard but Jahn defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jahn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Volkov.
Jahn is trying to stand.
Volkov working Jahn over with strikes.

Volkov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Jahn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Volkov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is looking for a kimura but Jahn is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Volkov to get the leverage.
Volkov is trying to control. Jahn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Volkov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Volkov trying to control the action but Jahn is working from the bottom.
Volkov controlling the action here.

Volkov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jahn is just riding it out for now. Volkov eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jahn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Volkov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jahn sees it coming and defends easily.
Volkov trying to control from half guard but Jahn is working away.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nik Volkov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jahn throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
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.
Jahn misses with a body kick.
Jahn tries a head kick but it misses.
Jahn goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jahn tries a head kick but it misses.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.
Oliver Jahn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nik Volkov.
Jahn scores with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Jahn.
Volkov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jahn's waist but Jahn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Volkov off to one side.
Jahn misses with a body shot.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Jahn misses.
Jahn throws a right hand that misses

and Volkov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Volkov postures up in Jahn's guard and throws a big left but Jahn blocks it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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 the position from guard on top but Jahn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Volkov swings around for an armbar but Jahn sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Volkov's guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Volkov trying to keep a closed guard but Jahn is proving a slippery customer.
Jahn is looking to stand up but Volkov won't let him.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jahn postures up.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Volkov shoots for a double leg takedown but Jahn sprawls well. He's pushed Volkov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Oliver Jahn is winning the standup battle so far.
Jahn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Volkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jahn throws a hook to the side of Volkov's head but Volkov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jahn leaves Volkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jahn throws out a loose jab but Volkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Volkov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jahn's waist but Jahn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Volkov off to one side.
Volkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Volkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jahn cracks Volkov with an open hand slap.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Jahn enables Volkov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Jahn manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Jahn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Volkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jahn is keeping the position for now.

Volkov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jahn is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Volkov, into his guard.
Jahn has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Volkov is proving hard to escape from.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nik 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Nik Volkov!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Nik Volkov!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Nik Volkov!

Nik Volkov wins by unanimous decision!
After the fight, Nik Volkov was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.