PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Albert Aliev (ranked 25937 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Volkov (ranked 25998 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aliev
vs
Volkov

173 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 12 - 0

190 cm
18
157 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Pit Bull Development

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 0 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Albert Aliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov avoids the head kick by Aliev.
Volkov misses with a takedown attempt - Aliev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Volkov.
Volkov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Volkov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aliev has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov looks up at the clock and then as Aliev takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Volkov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov advances nicely into full mount.
Volkov looking to control and managing it successfully.

Volkov working for a submission but Aliev is keeping him at bay.
Aliev regains half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Volkov lands a nice short elbow.
Volkov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkov gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Volkov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nice takedown defense from Volkov. No joy for Aliev on that attempt.
Aliev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Volkov but Volkov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Volkov gets a takedown into half guard.
Aliev is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Volkov scores with a couple of nice shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Volkov decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliev stuffs the takedown.
A head kick by Aliev misses

and Volkov moves into the clinch.
Aliev is breathing heavily.

Volkov breaks the clinch.
Volkov swinging wildly here.

Volkov forces Aliev back against the cage and clinches.

Volkov pulls Aliev into guard.
Volkov is pulling down on Aliev's head. It's preventing any offense from Aliev, at least for the moment.

Aliev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aliev has managed to get both his arms back between Volkov's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aliev won't allow Volkov to sweep him here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Volkov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Volkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Aliev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Volkov pulls Aliev in to control the position.
Let's hope that Volkov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Volkov, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Volkov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Volkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aliev circles away quickly and effectively.
A quick step to the side and Aliev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aliev stuffs the takedown.
Aliev dives in and grabs Volkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Volkov pushes down on Aliev's head and hops out.

Volkov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Volkov is trying to drag Aliev to the mat but Aliev just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Volkov is stalling here.

Volkov decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aliev trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.
Volkov seems keen to control Aliev's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Volkov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Volkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aliev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Aliev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Volkov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Volkov has escaped and now he's on top!

Volkov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Aliev is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Aliev has escaped and now he's on top!

Volkov has his foot on Aliev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aliev works his way back into a safe position though.

Volkov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Aliev has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Aliev's face.
Aliev wants to break free but Volkov has control.

Volkov manages to break the clinch.
Aliev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aliev on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aliev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Volkov.
Albert Aliev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Volkov.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.
Aliev wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aliev lands with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Volkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Aliev swivels and escapes.
Aliev avoids the head kick by Volkov.

Volkov darts in and clinches Aliev up against the cage.
Volkov wants to take the fight to the mat but Aliev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Aliev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Volkov breaks the clinch.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown but Aliev shows good takedown defense.
Albert Aliev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Volkov.
Volkov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Aliev moves into range and clinches up with Volkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aliev is defending well.
Volkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aliev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Volkov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Aliev stops a takedown attempt from Volkov.
Volkov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov tries to score a body lock takedown but Aliev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Volkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Aliev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Aliev lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Aliev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Aliev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Volkov smiles and moves away.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.

Volkov has Aliev up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Aliev uses from the top position.
Volkov pulls Aliev in to control the position.

Volkov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Aliev uses it to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aliev working away.
Volkov sneaks back into half guard.
Volkov gets full guard.
Aleksandr Volkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aliev passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov throws Aliev to one side and escapes!
Aliev scores with a hook to the body. Volkov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Volkov darts in and clinches Aliev up against the cage.

Volkov successfully pulls guard.
Aliev stops Volkov from standing up.
Volkov wants to get back to his feet but Aliev passes into half guard.
Volkov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Aliev wanted to stand there but Volkov had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov controlling Aliev's posture.

Volkov working for a triangle but Aliev defends it easily.
Volkov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aleksandr Volkov.
I've got Volkov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

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