PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Skreba Reijonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Mstislav 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.

Reijonen
vs
Mstislav Volkov

172 cm
25
161 lbs
10 - 6 - 2

171 cm
26
157 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 10 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Skreba Reijonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ruslan Mstislav Volkov!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Reijonen. Volkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Volkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Reijonen.
Reijonen cracks Volkov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A big right from Reijonen misses.
Reijonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Reijonen throws a leg kick
and Volkov counters with a nice body kick.
Volkov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Volkov moves out of range of the body kick from Reijonen.
Volkov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Volkov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Reijonen missing with a left hand there. Volkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Volkov looks to land a right hand but Reijonen moved out of range.
Reijonen defending well as Volkov loads up on a big left hand.
Volkov is looking to slow Reijonen down with leg kicks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reijonen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Volkov lands a body shot.
Volkov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reijonen takes one on the button.
Reijonen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Volkov.
Volkov misses with a right hand
and Reijonen counters with a right hand to the body.
Reijonen tries to land a front kick but Volkov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Volkov looks for the body kick but Reijonen saw that one coming.
Volkov misses with a body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Reijonen.
Volkov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Volkov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Reijonens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Volkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Reijonen counters with a left to the body.
Volkov throws a body punch but Reijonen moves out of range.
Reijonen misses the shot to the body.
Reijonen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reijonen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Reijonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Volkov lands a glancing blow to the side of Reijonen's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Volkov, as that shot connected.
Reijonen takes a swing at Volkov's ribcage but misses.
Reijonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Reijonen is looking to wear down Volkov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Reijonen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Volkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Reijonen.
Reijonen thows a leg kick but Volkov checks it

and Volkov counters with a takedown into side control.

Volkov tries for a kimura but Reijonen is defending well.
Volkov laying and praying for a moment but Reijonen takes advantage and regains half guard.
Volkov trying to control from half guard but Reijonen is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen wants to improve his position but Volkov is controlling well.
Volkov uses his free foot to push down on Reijonen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Reijonen.
Volkov prevents Reijonen from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reijonen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Volkov has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Sali. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Reijonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reijonen is one step ahead there.

Volkov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Volkov wants to control but Reijonen passes easily into half guard.
Reijonen controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ruslan Mstislav Volkov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Reijonen lands with a straight right. Volkov didn't see that one coming.
Reijonen misses with a straight right.
Volkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reijonen.
Good leg kick by Volkov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Reijonen tries to land a front kick but Volkov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Volkov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Reijonen scores with a shot to the body.
Volkov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Volkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reijonen.
Volkov misses with a straight left.
Reijonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reijonen throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov throws an overhand right that lands on Reijonen's shoulder, as Reijonen tries to avoid the shot.
Volkov misses with a straight right.
Volkov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
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!
Reijonen throws an off balance right hand

so Volkov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Reijonen keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reijonen pulls Volkov in close to his closed guard and prevents Volkov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Reijonen continues to stall.
Volkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Volkov looking to sit in guard and control but Reijonen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Volkov controls Reijonen momentarily but Reijonen frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Volkov keeping full guard, as Reijonen tries to pass.

Volkov looking for subs off his back but Reijonen has passed one foot through into half guard.

Volkov looking for submissions off his back.
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reijonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Volkov keeps working.
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.
Volkov trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Reijonen manages to pass to mount!
Reijonen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Volkov reaches up to try and control the position but Reijonen seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Volkov rolls and tries to escape and now Reijonen has his back!
Volkov is really stuck here.
Volkov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Reijonen's guard. Nice work there by Volkov.
Reijonen pulls Volkov in close to his closed guard and prevents Volkov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Volkov trying to control but Reijonen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reijonen wants to control but Volkov passes easily into half guard.
Reijonen is holding on to half guard well.
Volkov trying to control the action but Reijonen is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reijonen is defending against the submission attempts here by Volkov.
Reijonen is refusing to be controlled, as Volkov sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruslan Mstislav Volkov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Volkov misses with a low kick.
Volkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Reijonen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Reijonen swings for the body but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Reijonen's hands.
Volkov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Reijonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Volkov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Reijonen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Reijonen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reijonen scores with a decent looking hook.
Volkov connects with an inside leg kick.
Reijonen throws a leg kick but Volkov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Volkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Reijonen is just out of range.
Volkov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Volkov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Reijonen throws a right and a left that Volkov avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Reijonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Reijonen throws a looping overhand right but Volkov ducks down to avoid it.
Reijonen catches Volkov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The fighters circling - Reijonen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Volkov misses with a body kick.
Reijonen connects with a crisp jab.
Volkov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Reijonen throws a body punch but Volkov moves out of range.
Reijonen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Reijonen scores with a spinning back kick!
Reijonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Volkov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Reijonen is looking to land body kicks.
Volkov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Volkov tries to land a leg kick but Reijonen saw it coming and moves away.
Skreba Reijonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reijonen throws a push kick but Volkov slaps the foot to one side.
Reijonen takes a swing at Volkov's ribcage but misses.
A left lands for Volkov.
Reijonen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Volkov lands a high kick!
Volkov punishes Reijonen's body with a nice straight punch.
Reijonen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Volkov counters with a straight right hand.
Reijonen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Volkov can pounce on him.
Reijonen tries to land a front kick but Volkov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've been told by Reijonen's head coaches at KO Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Reijonen looks to land a left hand but Volkov moved out of range nicely.
Volkov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Volkov throws a low kick but Reijonen moves out of range easily.
Volkov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Reijonen tries to land a leg kick but Volkov saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Volkov with a hook.
Reijonen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Volkov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Volkov connects with the punch.
Volkov moves out of range of the body kick from Reijonen.
Reijonen walks into a jab.
Reijonen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Volkov. Volkov obviously looking to wear him down.
Some bone on bone action there as Reijonen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Volkov lands a nice shot to the body.
Reijonen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Volkov throws a leg kick which misses Reijonen's front leg but catches the back leg as Reijonen tries to avoid it.
Volkov lands an overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Volkov cracks the inside of Reijonen's front leg.
Reijonen throws a wild body kick that Volkov sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov lands a nice hook to Reijonen's body. Reijonen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Volkov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Donk. Volkov catches Reijonen right on the button with a cross.
Volkov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Volkov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Reijonen's head.
Reijonen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Reijonen takes one to the side of the head.
Reijonen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Volkov feints and then cracks Reijonen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Reijonen down.
Reijonen swinging wildly here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reijonen looks to land a right hand but Volkov moved out of range.
Reijonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Reijonen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Volkov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Mstislav Volkov!