PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Christian Volland (ranked 2265 p4p, 267 weight class) and Alexander Shlemenko (ranked 3126 p4p, 323 weight class). Shlemenko has chosen Omarion Ft. Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be 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.

Volland
vs
Shlemenko

177 cm
36
203 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

180 cm
36
185 lbs
23 - 20 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Christian Volland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shlemenko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Volland.
Volland is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shlemenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shlemenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Volland swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shlemenko moves out of range of the leg kick from Volland.
Volland with a poor takedown
letting Shlemenko counter with a right hand.
Some bone on bone action there as Shlemenko checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Volland drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Shlemenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Shlemenko blocks the leg kick.

Volland scores with a takedown into Shlemenko's guard.
Shlemenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Shlemenko, not yet.
Shlemenko keeping moving, preventing Volland from controlling successfully.
Shlemenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Volland is one step ahead there.
Shlemenko is trying to keep Volland in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volland tries to free his leg and advance position but Shlemenko is retaining full guard.

Volland drops back looking for a leg! Shlemenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shlemenko manages to kick Volland off! Volland jumps back into Shlemenko's guard.

Shlemenko has his foot on Volland's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Volland works his way back into a safe position though.
Volland definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Volland trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Shlemenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shlemenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Volland slips nicely into half guard.

Volland is trying to work for a kimura but Shlemenko is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volland trying to mount his opponent but Shlemenko defends it.
Shlemenko wants to get back to full guard.
Shlemenko moves into full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Volland looking to pass the guard.
Shlemenko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volland trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Volland advances to half guard.
Volland wants to control but Shlemenko is keeping him busy.
Shlemenko wants to control but Volland is keeping busy.
Volland wants to take a breather but Shlemenko is having none of it.
Shlemenko gets back to full guard.
Volland works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Shlemenko wants to improve his position but Volland is controlling well.
Shlemenko is refusing to be controlled, as Volland sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is looking to control Volland's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shlemenko avoid being mounted?

Volland wants to work for an arm triangle but Shlemenko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Shlemenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Volland makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Volland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shlemenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Shlemenko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Volland doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Volland manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volland trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Volland trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Volland dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shlemenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A looping hook to the body misses from Volland. Shlemenko does a little dance to reset his feet.

Shlemenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ground and pound from Shlemenko.

Volland looking for submissions off his back.
Volland taking some punishment here, with Shlemenko in his half guard.
Shlemenko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volland trying to hold on to Shlemenko's head to control him but Shlemenko postures up.
Shlemenko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Volland with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Shlemenko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Volland has hold of Shlemenko's hands but Shlemenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Shlemenko there.

Volland is rocked!
Alexander Shlemenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Volland trying to control but Shlemenko postures up.
Oh Volland is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Volland is refusing to be controlled, as Shlemenko sits in half guard.
Volland taking some punishment here, with Shlemenko in his half guard.

Shlemenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Volland is looking to improve his position.
Volland seems to have got his legs back now.

Volland looking for submissions off his back.
Volland is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volland gets full guard.

Volland looking for a guillotine here but Shlemenko defends easily.
Shlemenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Volland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko stopping the sweep attempt from Volland.

Volland is looking for a triangle but Shlemenko pushes his legs off easily.
Shlemenko with a nice head shot there.

Volland working for a triangle but Shlemenko defends it easily.
Shlemenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volland is looking for a triangle but Shlemenko pushes his legs off easily.

Volland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Volland can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shlemenko controls the pace.
Shlemenko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shlemenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shlemenko scoring with some ground and pound.

Volland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shlemenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko throwing strikes from guard but Volland blocks nicely.
Volland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Volland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shlemenko is one step ahead there.
Shlemenko wants to control from the top but Volland keeps moving.
Volland is trying to keep Shlemenko in close.
Volland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shlemenko.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Volland is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shlemenko scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Shlemenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shlemenko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Shlemenko throws a quick inside leg kick.

Volland bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Volland wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shlemenko, who protects the arm well.
Volland fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Shlemenko is looking for a sweep.
Shlemenko is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Volland is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Volland is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Shlemenko is surviving well by controlling Volland's body position as best he can.
Volland thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Shlemenko is in a horrible position here. Volland smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Volland goes for an armbar but Shlemenko turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Shlemenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko stopping the sweep attempt from Volland.
Shlemenko passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shlemenko is looking to take a break and control but Volland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Shlemenko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Shlemenko tries for a kimura but Volland is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Volland is trying to get back to half guard.
Volland is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shlemenko off and has taken his back!

Volland is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Shlemenko is defending well though. Volland let's go of the attempt for now.

Volland has got his arm under Shlemenko's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Shlemenko has spun round into Volland's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shlemenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shlemenko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Shlemenko lands a couple of digs.
Shlemenko lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volland has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shlemenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shlemenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shlemenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Shlemenko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Shlemenko trying to control but Volland is working from the bottom.
Shlemenko arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Volland's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Alexander Shlemenko!
Alexander Shlemenko decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.