PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Iwao Wada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wada kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Stranglehold. Volkov has chosen Major Lazer & DJ Snake - Lean On (feat. MØ) as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wada
vs
Volkov

180 cm
28
195 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

190 cm
26
192 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Iwao Wada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wada fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Volkov avoids it really well and circles away.
Volkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wada.
Wada lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice shot by Wada.
Wada ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.
Nice uppercut lands for Wada. That snapped Volkov's head back.

It looks like Alexander Volkov has been cut.
Volkov scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Iwao Wada has been cut.

Wada closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wada lands a hook to the side of the head.
Volkov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Volkov is trying to pull guard but Wada turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Wada as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wada lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wada goes for a takedown in the clinch but Volkov prevents it.

Volkov decides to pull guard.
Wada is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wada wants to control from the top but Volkov keeps moving.
Volkov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wada controls the pace.
Volkov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Volkov working for submissions but it's allowed Wada to get to half guard.

Volkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wada pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is looking for a sweep. Wada is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Volkov is not content to let Wada control the position.
Wada is looking to advance position but Volkov won't allow it.

Wada wants to work for an arm triangle but Volkov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wada controlling the action here.
Wada trying to mount his opponent but Volkov defends it.
Wada performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Volkov is looking to get back to full guard here but Wada has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Wada politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Wada prefers to stall for the moment though.
Wada seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Volkov for as long as he can get away with.
Wada is looking to take a break and control but Volkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Wada is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Volkov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Volkov is looking to regain half guard here but Wada keeps moving and retains side control.
Wada trying to control the position but Volkov is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Wada is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Volkov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Wada is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Volkov has escaped the position, nice work there.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Wada wants to control but Volkov is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wada controlling the position from side mount.
Volkov is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwao Wada dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Wada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No joy there for Volkov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wada throws a hook but Volkov blocks it.
Wada moves out of range as Volkov strikes.
Volkov loads up on a big right hand but Wada slips the punch.
Volkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wada.
Volkov dodges the punch combination from Wada.
Wada is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Volkov can do to turn this around?
Wada lands with a nice body punch.
Wada throws a jab but it's blocked by Volkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wada tries to clinch but Volkov is having none of it.

Wada clinches up with Volkov and pushes him back against the cage.
Volkov is looking to control Wada's arms but Wada gets an underhook and turns him. Now Volkov has his back to the cage.
Wada looking for a takedown.
Volkov tries to break the clinch but Wada is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wada stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Volkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wada tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Volkov is trying to maintain a safe position but Wada gets an underhook and turns Volkov into the cage.
Wada tries a body shot but Volkov blocks it.
Wada tries to throw a body punch but Volkov avoids it by throwing Wada back against the cage.
Wada leaning his opponent against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Volkov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Volkov is trying to pull guard but Wada turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Volkov tries to break the clinch but Wada is controlling the position.
Volkov blocks a body shot from Wada.

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.
The referee calls for Volkov to work.
Volkov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wada has him pressed against the cage.
Wada struggles to land a body shot inside as Volkov controls his hands.
Volkov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Volkov blocking some punches.
Wada misses with a hook from the clinch.
Volkov stalling in the clinch.
Wada lands a hook that snaps the head of Volkov backwards.
Wada blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wada jumps guard but Volkov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iwao Wada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wada throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Volkov is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
A frustrated look appears on Volkov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wada lands a left hand.
I was talking to Wada's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Wada lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Volkov just leaning against Wada, taking a breather.
Iwao Wada has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wada can't find room to land a body shot as Volkov controls the action.
Wada working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wada lands with a light punch inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Wada effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Volkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wada darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Wada closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Volkov is trying to escape the position but Wada is controlling the position.
Iwao Wada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wada's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wada looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wada trying to control the position but Volkov is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwao Wada dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Volkov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wada tries to clinch there but Volkov circles away.
Volkov with the counter takedown but Wada avoids it easily.
Wada tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Volkov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Wada or perhaps it was just good defense by Volkov, which made it look bad.
Volkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Volkov feints the counter takedown.
Wada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wada looks to land a left hand but Volkov moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wada is looking to clinch but Volkov is avoiding it.
Volkov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Wada misses with a looping left.
Volkov throws out a loose jab but Wada uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Volkov.
Wada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov scores with a nice right hand.
Volkov lands with a cross.
Wada fails with an attempt to clinch.
Volkov throws a body shot but no joy.
Wada lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Volkov circles away quickly and effectively.
Volkov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wada defends it well.
Volkov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wada misses with an uppercut.
Wada wants to clinch.
Wada scores with a three punch combo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wada has Volkov up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Volkov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wada working aggressively here.
Wada slows down the pace here.
Wada digs a right hand underneath Volkov's ribcage. Volkov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Volkov jumps guard but Wada turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Volkov stops a takedown attempt from Wada.
Volkov blocking some punches.
Wada lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That has opened up Alexander Volkov's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Wada is keeping busy.
Wada content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Wada lands a body punch.
Volkov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wada holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Wada has Volkov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Wada pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Volkov tumbling to the mat - Wada dives into Volkov's guard.
Wada pushing down on Volkov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wada is keen to just control but Volkov is a slippery customer.
Wada with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is staying active underneath Wada, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wada sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Volkov is not content to let Wada control the position.
Wada is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Volkov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Alexander Volkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Iwao Wada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wada perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Volkov wants to get back to full guard.
Wada is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Volkov!

And that's the end of the fight!
Iwao Wada showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wada has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iwao Wada!
During a confident post fight interview, Iwao Wada thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.