PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yin Tao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tao has chosen Philip Bailey - Walking on the Chinese Wall as his entrance music. 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.

Vyacheslav Volkov
vs
Tao

175 cm
30
162 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

175 cm
37
160 lbs
38 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yin Tao!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Volkov.
Volkov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tao stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Volkov.
Tao throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Volkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Volkov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tao's hands.
Tao swings for the body but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Volkov.
Volkov throws a looping overhand right but Tao ducks down to avoid it.
We've been informed that Tao 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.
Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tao takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tao avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Volkov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tao.
Tao follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tao. Volkov shrugs it off though.
Volkov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tao checks a leg kick nicely.
Volkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tao moves away.
Tao misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov scores with the left hand. Tao knows he should have avoided that one.
Tao misses with a low kick.
Volkov misses with a kick to the body
and Tao counters with a body kick that stops Volkov in his tracks momentarily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tao.
Volkov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Volkov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Sali in the buildup to the fight.
Tao throws a leg kick but Volkov checks it.
Tao keeps Volkov at a distance using the push kick.
Volkov throws a hook but Tao avoids it easily.
Volkov misses with a hook. Tao ducked under it nicely.
Volkov looks to throw the jab but Tao is out of range.
Tao cracks Volkov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Volkov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tao.
Tao thuds his shin into the meat of Volkov's side.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tao, right into the meat.
Tao on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Tao.
Tao misses with a lunging right hand
and Volkov counters with a left to the body.
Volkov blocks the body kick.
Tao connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Volkov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Volkov throws a right hand that misses
and Tao counters with a stiff right hand.
Tao lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Volkov blocks the body kick.
A low kick from Tao is predictable there
and Volkov counters with a low kick, right behind Tao 's knee.
Volkov jabs Tao right on the nose. Tao blinks but takes it well.
Volkov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tao shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Volkov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tao misses with a kick to the body.
Tao on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Volkov. Those never looked like landing.
Volkov explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Tao keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tao has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Volkov.
Volkov checks a leg kick.
Tao lands a leg kick that knocks Volkov off balance momentarily.
Volkov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Volkov misses with a wild body shot.
Volkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tao moves away.
Tao fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Volkov is out of range.
Tao throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A solid body kick from Volkov.
Danga de danga de dang - Tao scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov has been cut.
Tao gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Volkov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tao blocks a leg kick.
Volkov looks to land a left hand but Tao moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice shot lands for Volkov.
Tao walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Volkov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Volkov moves into range and clinches up with Tao.
Volkov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tao is keeping busy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tao.
Tao tries to work over Volkov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Volkov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tao scores with a shot to the side of Volkov's head.
Tao lands a hook that snaps the head of Volkov backwards.
Volkov throws a head punch that misses.
Volkov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tao has a couple of punches blocked by Volkov.
A right hook to the body lands for Volkov.
Tao tries a body shot but Volkov blocks it.
Volkov misses with a punch on the inside.
Tao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Volkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Tao is just out of range.
Volkov tries a low kick but Tao avoids it.
Good work by Volkov as he checks the leg kick.
Volkov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tao manages to avoid it.
Tao on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Volkov. Volkov obviously looking to wear him down.
Volkov tries a head kick but it misses.
Tao throws out a counter right but Volkov avoids it with no problem.
A looping hook to the body misses from Volkov. Tao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tao blocks a head kick by Volkov.
Tao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tao throws a body kick that misses.
Tao moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Volkov moves out of range of the body kick from Tao.
Volkov scores with a nice strike.
Tao tries a low kick but Volkov avoids it.
Volkov throws a shot from downtown. Tao moves away and avoids it.
Tao is trying to counter with his kicks.
Tao swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao throws a body kick that misses.
Tao lands a leg kick that knocks Volkov off balance momentarily.
Tao avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tao throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tao thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Volkov if he has to take too many more of those.
Tao looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Volkov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tao scores with a hook.
Volkov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nice shot lands for Tao.
Tao drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Volkov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tao.
Tao lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Volkov lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tao throws a head kick but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Volkov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Volkov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov scores with a body shot.
Volkov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Volkov works Tao's body with a nice hook.
Volkov throws a front kick aimed at Tao's knee but Tao avoids it well.
Tao throws a sloppy head kick and Volkov moves out of range easily.
Volkov blocks a low kick nicely.
Volkov throws a low kick but Tao moves out of range easily.
Volkov wants to slow Tao down by chopping away at his legs.
Volkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Volkov misses with a combination
and Tao counters with a thumping low kick.
Tao stuns Volkov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tao buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jab by Volkov.
Tao shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Volkov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tao counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao lands with a hook. Volkov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Volkov throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Tao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
An inside leg kick lands from Volkov.
Volkov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A low kick from Tao misses
and Volkov counters with a nice body shot.
Volkov checks a leg kick.
Tao connects with a jab.
Tao throws a body punch but Volkov moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Volkov misses the target.
Decent striking displayed by Tao there.
Volkov misses with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tao.
Volkov throws a push kick but Tao slaps the foot to one side.
A head kick misses from Tao.
Volkov misses with a leg kick.
Volkov tries to land a front kick but Tao steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tao connects with a looping right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Volkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Volkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tao.
Tao fakes the leg kick and cracks Volkov in the body.
Volkov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Tao misses the shot to the body.
Volkov thows a body kick. Tao tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Volkov scores with a punch to the head.
Nice jab there from Volkov.
Volkov stuns Tao with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tao takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Tao is rocked!
Volkov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tao let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Tao is still on wobbly legs! Can Volkov finish him?
Volkov pounces like a tiger and cracks Tao with a vicious hook! Tao is down but not out! Volkov follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov!
Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov took some time post fight to say the following; 'I am proud communist.'.