PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Thor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thor kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Boom - P.O.D. This should be a great matchup!

Thor
vs
Volkov

185 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Sparta Fightware

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonathan Thor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Volkov checks it well.
Thor misses with a low kick as Volkov jumps back.
Thor throws a sloppy head kick and Volkov moves out of range easily.
Thor has been working on his boxing with his coaches at MMA Sanok Training Center in the buildup to the fight.
Volkov ducks under a wild hook from Thor.
Thor misses with a body kick.
Thor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Volkov moves out of range of the body kick.
Volkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thor misses with a kick to the body.
Thor lands a right hook to the body.
Volkov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thor lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thor feints and then cracks Volkov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Volkov down.
Jonathan Thor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Thor.
Thor closes the distance but Volkov moves to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Volkov moves out of range as Thor throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thor lets loose with a powerful body kick. Volkov will feel that in the morning.
Thor throws a push kick but Volkov slaps the foot to one side.

Volkov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Volkov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thor just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've been informed that Volkov has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Volkov is stalling here.
Thor displaying some good clinch control by pressing Volkov up against the cage.

Volkov manages to break the clinch.
Thor blocks a head kick by Volkov.
Thor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Volkov counters with a head kick. That will keep Thor thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Volkov looks winded!
Thor tried to score with a low kick but Volkov checks it.
Thor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thor. That's going to slow Volkov down.

Thor clinches up against the cage.
Thor working Volkov over with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thor is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Thor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Volkov is defending well for now.
Thor with a knee to the head.
Thor taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Thor is trying to stall.
Thor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Volkov has Thor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jonathan Thor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Volkov.
Volkov avoiding damage as Thor throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Volkov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Thor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thor throws a quick inside leg kick.

Volkov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Thor is trying to control Volkov's posture but Volkov avoids it.

Volkov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Thor chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thor is looking to slow Volkov down with leg kicks.
Nice body kick there by Thor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thor tries to clinch but Volkov moves out of range.
Thor doesn't manage to clinch there - Volkov circles away.
Volkov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Volkov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thor. Thor obviously looking to wear him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Volkov shoots in but no luck this time.
Jonathan Thor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Volkov blocks the body kick.
Thor tries to clinch up but Volkov circles away and keeps his distance.

Volkov takes the fight into the clinch.
Volkov takes an elbow to the temple.
Volkov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thor is struggling to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Volkov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thor is keeping busy.
Thor has Volkov pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Thor dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Volkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thor slaps away a takedown attempt from Volkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Volkov takes the fight into the clinch.
Volkov is trying to drag Thor to the mat but Thor just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Volkov jumps guard but Thor stands there with Volkov around his waist. Volkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jonathan Thor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Volkov.
Volkov is breathing heavily.
Thor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Thor lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Alexander Volkov has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thor misses with a leg kick

and Volkov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thor is looking to escape.
Thor trying to control from the bottom.
Thor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Volkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thor defending well though.
Volkov works his foot free and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov controlling from the full mount.
Volkov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thor hang on?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thor wants to control but Volkov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Volkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thor tries to hold on but Volkov postures up.
Volkov content just to control the position here.
Thor tries to hold on but Volkov pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thor is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Volkov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thor to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thor shrugs it off.
Thor tries to hold on but Volkov postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Volkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexander Volkov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thor lands a nice shot to the body.
Thor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Volkov moves out of range of the body kick from Thor.
Volkov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thor can pounce on him.

Volkov drives through and clinches with Thor against the cage.
Volkov has Thor pressed against the cage, preventing Thor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thor wants to get back to striking at distance but Volkov won't allow it.
Thor is trying to pull guard but Volkov has him pressed against the cage.

Thor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thor throws a low kick but it's checked well by Volkov.
Thor thows a leg kick but Volkov checks it
and Thor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Volkov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Volkov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Volkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Volkov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Thor is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Volkov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thor, who protects the arm well.

Volkov stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thor attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Volkov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A solid body kick from Thor.
Thor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Volkov misses with a straight left.
Jonathan Thor is winning the standup battle so far.
Thor misses with a low kick.
Volkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thor.

Thor gets a clinch.

Thor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thor tries to close the distance and clinch but Volkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thor delivers a nice body kick.
Thor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thor fakes the leg kick and cracks Volkov in the body.
Thor tries to close the distance and clinch but Volkov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thor cracks a nice hook into Volkov's ribs.
Thor throws a big shot that misses.

Volkov closes the distance and clinches.
Volkov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thor's efforts to push away.

Thor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thor is looking to slow Volkov down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Volkov gets tackled into the cage by Thor. Thor maintains the clinch.

Volkov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Volkov stops Thor from standing up.
Volkov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Volkov controlling from the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Volkov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Alexander Volkov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Volkov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jonathan Thor.
I think Thor 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Thor!