PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Braga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Volland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Volland will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Braga
vs
Volland

175 cm
24
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Diogo Braga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Robert Volland!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volland moves into the clinch.
Braga wants a takedown but no success here.
Braga is trying to pull guard but Volland has him pressed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Volland.
Braga has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Volland avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Braga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Volland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick by Braga misses
and Volland counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Volland has taken the fight to the clinch.

Volland has picked Braga up - he's going for a ride! Volland dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Braga works his way to full guard. Good work.
Braga manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Volland manages to get himself to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Volland is trying to keep Braga in close.

Volland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braga looking to pass the guard.
Braga wants to control from the top but Volland keeps moving.
Braga looking to pass the guard.
Braga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Volland trying to control the position.
Volland is looking to sweep but instead, Braga has passed into half guard.
Braga controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volland regains full guard. Nicely done.
Volland wants to stand but Braga is controlling the position.
Braga 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.
Volland keeping full guard, as Braga tries to pass.
Volland is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Braga drops back, looking for a kneebar! Volland looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Volland looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Volland!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Braga keeps working.
Braga wants to control but Volland postures up.
Braga is trying to get back to half guard.
Braga gets back to half guard.
Volland wants to control but Braga is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Braga slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braga is pulling down on Volland's head. It's preventing any offense from Volland, at least for the moment.

Braga working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Volland has passed into half guard!
Volland is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Volland looks to land a strike but Braga avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Braga has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Volland is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Braga.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert Volland will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Volland fails with a takedown attempt.

Volland drives through with a takedown into guard.
Volland trying to control the position from guard on top but Braga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Braga looking for a guillotine here but Volland defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Braga has an active guard here but Volland has managed to pass into half guard.
Volland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Braga keeps working.
Braga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volland trying to control from Braga's half guard. Braga has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Braga has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Volland can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Volland wants to pass the guard but Braga is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Braga is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Volland is aware though and is defending well.
Volland trying to control the position from guard on top but Braga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volland tries to free his leg and advance position but Braga is retaining full guard.

Braga looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Volland has picked Braga up and slammed him! Braga can't keep hold of the triangle and Volland manages to pass to side control!
Braga is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Volland's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Volland is pressing down on Braga's thigh, looking to free his foot. Braga is holding on for now.

Braga looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Braga is looking to control Volland's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Braga avoid being mounted?
Volland trying to mount his opponent but Braga defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volland is thwarting Braga's attempts to control the position.
Braga works his way to full guard. Good work.

Braga looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Braga has control of Volland's left arm, preventing Volland from doing any damage.
Volland trying to control the position from guard on top but Braga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Volland is looking to stand up but Braga won't let him.
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 Diogo Braga will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Braga throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Volland counters with a one-two to the body.
Volland slips a jab and a cross from Braga.
Volland tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Braga defends well and Volland ends up having to push Braga into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Volland prevents the takedown attempt.

Volland breaks from the clinch.
Volland moves in looking to clinch but Braga pushes him off.
Braga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Braga shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Volland darts in and clinches Braga up against the cage.

Volland gets control of Braga's arms and successfully pulls guard. Volland will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Volland looking to control.
Volland avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braga seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Volland looking to control.
Volland will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Volland trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Braga trying to control the position from guard on top but Volland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Braga is really struggling to control Volland but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Diogo Braga wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Volland connects with a nice looking jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Braga shoots for a takedown but Volland saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Braga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Volland is defended easily by Braga.
Braga misses with a kick to the body
and Volland counters with a three punch combo that has Braga backing up. Braga nods at Volland to acknowledge the strikes.
Volland takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Braga misses with a body shot.
Braga defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Volland.
Volland keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Braga gets caught flat footed, as Volland shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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!
Braga bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Volland's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Volland is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braga is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Braga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Braga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Volland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Braga has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Volland has passed into side control.
Volland with the ground and pound but Braga regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Braga manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Braga looking for a guillotine here but Volland defends easily.

Braga had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Volland defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Braga keeping moving, preventing Volland from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Volland.
I think Volland 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Volland!