PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Mstislav Volkov (ranked 4122 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lodzov Hugs (ranked 3734 p4p, 0 weight class). Volkov comes to the cage accompanied by Riverdance. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mstislav Volkov
vs
Hugs

171 cm
38
156 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

170 cm
22
156 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Woodshins' Ship

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ruslan Mstislav Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lodzov Hugs!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volkov clinches.
Hugs blocks a body shot from Volkov.
Volkov lands a body punch.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hugs misses with a body shot.
Hugs shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Volkov defends it nicely.
Volkov connects with a solid leg kick.

Volkov gets a clinch.

Volkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hugs gets caught napping as Volkov dives in and scores a takedown. Hugs manages to retain guard.
Volkov won't allow Hugs to sweep him here.
Volkov passes into half guard.

Volkov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hugs has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov tries to pass to full mount but Hugs defends it.
Volkov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hugs won't allow Volkov to pass to mount.
Volkov prevents Hugs from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkov is stalling here. Hugs is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Volkov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hugs has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Volkov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hugs wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hugs in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hugs cracks Volkov with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is trying to improve his position.

Hugs working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Volkov tries to bench press Hugs off him but Hugs keeps the position.
Hugs misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The strikes coming from Hugs are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Volkov defending against the ground and pound.
Hugs is looking to take a break and control but Volkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hugs tries to advance to mount but Volkov denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugs trying to control the action but Volkov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Volkov wants to get back to his feet.
Volkov tries to bench press Hugs off him but Hugs keeps the position.

Hugs goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Volkov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hugs but great work by Volkov.
Hugs takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hugs keeps working.
An elbow from Volkov crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries to move to mount but Hugs blocks the move with his legs.
Volkov wants to control but Hugs is keeping him busy.
Volkov works to advance to full mount. Hugs defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Hugs is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Volkov looking to control but Hugs is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov lands a big elbow.
Volkov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hugs really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Mstislav Volkov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Volkov shoots in and gets a takedown into Hugs's guard.
Volkov trying to control but Hugs is working from the bottom.
Hugs wants to sweep but no luck.
Volkov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hugs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hugs trying to hold on to Volkov's head to control him but Volkov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov prevents Hugs from improving his position.
Volkov is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Volkov advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Volkov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Volkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hugs with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Still in half guard, Volkov seems content to control.
Hugs wants to improve his position but Volkov is controlling well.
Volkov trying to control the action but Hugs is working from the bottom.
Hugs is trying to get back to full guard.
Hugs wants to control but Volkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Volkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hugs does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hugs makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hugs.
Hugs trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov trying to control but Hugs is working from the bottom.
Hugs trying to control the position here.
Volkov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hugs is proving hard to escape from.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hugs is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hugs dives in and grabs Volkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Volkov pushes down on Hugs's head and hops out.
Volkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hugs.
Volkov throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Volkov wants it to stay on the feet.
Volkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hugs tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
No joy there for Hugs, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hugs just misses with a punch to the body.
Hugs has his takedown stuffed

and Volkov moves into the clinch.
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lodzov Hugs.

Volkov jumps guard.
Hugs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Volkov wants to sweep but no luck.
Volkov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hugs throws a big right hand that misses.
Volkov keeping moving, preventing Hugs from controlling successfully.
Hugs postures up in Volkov's guard and throws a big left but Volkov blocks it.
Volkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Volkov clinches with his opponent.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Volkov defending well as Hugs loads up on a big left hand.

Volkov has closed the distance and engaged Hugs in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Volkov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Volkov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hugs desperately trying to maintain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Mstislav Volkov dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Volkov clinches up against the cage.
Hugs prevents a body shot from Volkov.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Volkov.

Volkov breaks from the clinch.
Volkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hugs can do to turn this around?
Volkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Hugs.

Volkov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Volkov breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov connects with a looping right hand.
Lodzov Hugs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hugs throws a body shot but no joy.
Hugs misses with the combination.
Hugs tries for a takedown but Volkov circles away easily
and Volkov counters with a left and a right that stings Hugs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hugs. That did some damage!
Hugs 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.

Hugs gets tackled into the cage by Volkov. Volkov maintains the clinch.

Volkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hugs moves into range and clinches up with Volkov.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hugs stuns Volkov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Volkov blocks a jab.
Volkov is looking to counter the offense by Hugs and move into the clinch.
Hugs throws a combination that misses

and Volkov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hugs's guard.
Volkov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Volkov'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.

Hugs looking for a guillotine here but Volkov defends easily.
Lodzov Hugs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov postures up and lands a big shot to Hugs's brow.
Volkov scoring with punches to the head and body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Volkov forces his way into half guard.
Volkov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Volkov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Volkov wants to control the pace but Hugs is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugs tries to hold on but Volkov postures up.
Volkov lands a big elbow.
Volkov trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Volkov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hugs has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hugs is trying to escape the mount.
Volkov content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov lands a big shot there that rocks Hugs but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Volkov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Volkov tries to control but Hugs wriggling away.
Volkov controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Volkov 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Mstislav Volkov!
Ruslan Mstislav Volkov looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'You were a good fighter laddy... But I've had stronger whiskey in me belly then them punches you be throwin.'.
Lodzov Hugs was interviewed post fight and said 'this was bullshit'.