PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ares Varens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Viktor Volkov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Volkov
vs
Varens

179 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Viktor Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ares Varens!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varens misses with an uppercut. Volkov saw that one coming.
Volkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Varens.
Varens ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.
Volkov misses with a looping right.
Volkov lands with a hook. Varens tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Varens slips a jab from Volkov.
Volkov throws a hook but Varens blocks it.
Volkov misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Varens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Volkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Volkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varens throws a shot from downtown. Volkov moves away and avoids it.
Nice shot lands for Volkov.
Viktor Volkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Varens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Volkov throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Varens counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Volkov is controlling Varens's posture.
Varens is looking to work some ground and pound but Volkov has wrist control.
Volkov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Varens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Varens looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Volkov won't allow Varens to sweep him here.
Varens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Volkov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Varens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Volkov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Varens throws a hook but Volkov avoids it easily.
Varens throws a shot from downtown. Volkov moves away and avoids it.
Varens misses with a lunging right hand
and Volkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Volkov lands a right hook to the body.
Varens misses with a straight left.
Varens steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Volkov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throws a body punch but Varens moves out of range.
Volkov loads up on a big right hand but Varens slips the punch.
Volkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Varens.
Varens drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Volkov defends it well.
Varens ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.
Varens misses with a hook. Volkov ducked under it nicely.
A slow jab from Volkov misses its intended target.
Varens drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Volkov defends it well.
Varens misses with an uppercut. Volkov saw that one coming.
Volkov throws an overhand right that lands on Varens's shoulder, as Varens tries to avoid the shot.
Varens tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Volkov scores with the left hand. Varens knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Varens pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Volkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Varens counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Volkov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Varens ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.
Volkov misses with a hook.
Varens feints the counter takedown.
Nice straight punches there by Volkov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Volkov.
A swing and a miss from Volkov.
Volkov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Varens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Volkov throws an off balance right hand

so Varens counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Varens postures up and lands a big shot to Volkov's brow.
Varens landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov has control of Varens's left arm, preventing Varens from doing any damage.
Varens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Varens throws a big right hand that misses.
Volkov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Volkov tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Varens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Volkov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Varens's guard.

Volkov postures up in Varens's guard and throws a big left but Varens blocks it.
Varens looking to hit a scissor sweep but Volkov is one step ahead there.
Volkov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Varens trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throwing shots but Varens is blocking nicely.
Varens is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Volkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ares Varens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Volkov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Varens trying to control but Volkov postures up.
Volkov is trying to control. Varens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Volkov misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Volkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Volkov slips a straight right by Varens.
Varens blocks a jab.
Varens feints the counter takedown.
Varens slips under a jab.
Varens is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Varens missing with a left hand there. Volkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Varens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Varens takes a jab right on the kisser.
Volkov lands a body shot.
Varens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Varens blocks a jab.
Varens tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov punishes Varens's body with a nice straight punch.
Volkov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Volkov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Volkov misses with a straight right.
Volkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A swing and a miss from Varens.
A jab from Varens misses.
Volkov leaves Varens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jab, jab by Volkov - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Volkov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fighters circling - Varens throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Volkov scores with the left hand. Varens knows he should have avoided that one.
Viktor Volkov is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice defenses there by Volkov.
Volkov misses with a wild body shot.
Volkov ducks under a wild hook from Varens.
Viktor Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volkov throws a big shot that misses.
Volkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Volkov throws a big shot that misses.
Varens drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Volkov defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov ducks under a wild hook from Varens.
Varens needs to keep his hands up - Volkov had a free shot at his head there.
Volkov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Volkov ducks under a wild hook from Varens.
A big right from Volkov misses.
A big left from Volkov misses.
Varens misses with a looping left.
A lazy left from Volkov finds it's target.
Varens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Volkov blocks a jab.
A quick step to the side and Volkov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Volkov works Varens's body with a nice hook.
Varens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A counter left hand to the body from Volkov misses its target.
Volkov misses with a straight right.
Varens is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throws a good cross that connects.
A big right from Volkov misses.
And Varens tries to counter it with a takedown but Volkov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Volkov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Volkov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Volkov looks to throw the jab but Varens is out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov stuns Varens with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Volkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Varens.
An attempted straight right counter from Volkov misses the target.
Varens throws a shot from downtown. Volkov moves away and avoids it.
Varens on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Volkov. Varens does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varens walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Volkov lands with an uppercut that bounces Varens off the cage and back into range.
Volkov misses with a hook. Varens ducked under it nicely.
Varens avoids the body shot from Volkov.
Varens drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Volkov defends it well.
Volkov throws an overhand right that lands on Varens's shoulder, as Varens tries to avoid the shot.
Varens tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Varens misses with a right hand
and Volkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Varens.
Varens misses with a hook. Volkov ducked under it nicely.
Volkov digs a good hook to Varens's body.
Varens slips under a jab from Volkov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Varens misses.
Volkov jabs at Varens's body.
Varens slips under a jab.
Volkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Varens.
Volkov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Varens's hands.
Volkov looks to throw the jab but Varens is out of range.
Varens with the counter takedown but Volkov avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Volkov. That snapped Varens's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Varens slips under a jab from Volkov.
Volkov moves out of range as Varens strikes.
Volkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Varens can do to turn this around?
Varens misses with a hook. Volkov ducked under it nicely.
Ares Varens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Varens throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Volkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Volkov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight for Viktor Volkov!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Viktor Volkov!
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight for Viktor Volkov!

Viktor Volkov wins by unanimous decision!