PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Segey Taranin (ranked 2301 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Volkov (ranked 4062 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.

Taranin
vs
Volkov

166 cm
34
159 lbs
24 - 14 - 1

177 cm
31
159 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 24 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Segey Taranin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksandr Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov lands a slapping body shot.
Taranin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Volkov defends it nicely.
Taranin shoots in for a takedown but Volkov shows good takedown defense.
Taranin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Taranin scores with a jab.
Volkov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sloppy strikes from Volkov. Those never looked like landing.
A quick step to the side and Taranin tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Volkov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taranin defending well as Volkov loads up on a big left hand.
Taranin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Volkov.
Taranin throws a lazy right hand but Volkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taranin misses with an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Volkov.
Taranin throws a hook but Volkov avoids it easily.
Volkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Taranin. Taranin gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Segey Taranin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov tests Taranin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Aleksandr Volkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taranin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Volkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taranin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Volkov momentarily.
Volkov throws a jab but it's blocked by Taranin.

Taranin rushes Volkov and presses him up against the cage.
Taranin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Taranin breaks the clinch.
Volkov looks to land a combination. Taranin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Taranin loads up on a big right hand but Volkov slips the punch.
Volkov walks into a jab.
Taranin misses with a takedown attempt - Volkov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taranin looks to throw the jab but Volkov is out of range.
Volkov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Volkov duly obliges.

Taranin rushes Volkov and presses him up against the cage.

Volkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Volkov misses with the combination.
Nice straight punches there by Taranin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taranin.
A jab lands there for Volkov.
Taranin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A slow jab from Volkov misses its intended target.
Taranin avoids a punch combination nicely.

Taranin gets a double leg takedown into Volkov's guard.
Taranin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Volkov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Volkov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taranin is one step ahead there.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Volkov holds on and takes a little breather.
Taranin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Taranin with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taranin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Volkov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taranin is controlling him.
Volkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taranin throwing strikes from guard but Volkov blocks nicely.
Volkov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taranin is one step ahead there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taranin misses the shot to the body.
Volkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aleksandr Volkov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Taranin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Donk. Volkov catches Taranin right on the button with a cross.
Aleksandr Volkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taranin tries to bum rush Volkov with a series of wild strikes but Volkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Taranin dives in and scores a takedown into Volkov's guard.
Volkov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Taranin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Volkov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Taranin has Volkov in his guard.

Taranin controls Volkov momentarily but Volkov frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Volkov has passed into side control.
Volkov wants to stand but Taranin is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin can't do much from the bottom here.
Taranin is looking to regain half guard here but Volkov keeps moving and retains side control.
Taranin looking for a sweep but Volkov has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Volkov wants to control the pace but Taranin is squirming around nicely.
Taranin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Volkov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taranin is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taranin tries to lock up and control but Volkov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Taranin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Volkov controlling the pace for now.
Taranin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Taranin is desperately trying to improve his position but Volkov has a good base and remains in mount.
Taranin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Segey Taranin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taranin wants to get back to full guard but Volkov has passed into side control.
Taranin regains half guard.
Taranin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Volkov is working away from the top position though.
Volkov stalling away here and it's allowed Taranin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taranin throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Volkov stopping the sweep attempt from Taranin.
Taranin is working hard here to advance position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Volkov gets to his feet. Taranin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Volkov slips under a jab.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taranin blocks a jab.
Taranin is looking to counter punch.
Volkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Volkov misses with a wild body shot.
Volkov connects with an inside leg 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.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Volkov throws a right hand that misses

and Taranin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Taranin trying to mount his opponent but Volkov defends it.
Taranin working over Volkov with some ground and pound. Volkov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Volkov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Taranin is thwarting Volkov's attempts to control the position.
Taranin wants to free his trapped foot but Volkov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taranin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Volkov has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov tries to kick Taranin off but Taranin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Volkov is refusing to be controlled, as Taranin sits in half guard.
Volkov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Volkov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taranin.
Taranin working Volkov over with strikes.
Volkov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taranin.
Segey Taranin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 wants to control but Taranin is keeping busy.
Taranin trying to control the action but Volkov is working from the bottom.
Volkov is looking for a sweep. Taranin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Taranin trying to control the action but Volkov is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Volkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Volkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taranin.
Taranin lands an overhand right.
Volkov looks to throw the jab but Taranin is out of range.
Volkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taranin is looking to counter punch.
Taranin with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taranin circles away quickly and effectively.
Taranin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Volkov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Volkov moves away from the strike by Taranin.
Taranin swings widly with a right hand
and Volkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Volkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taranin.
Volkov scores with a nice head shot.
Volkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taranin throws a hook but Volkov blocks it.
Volkov throws a combination that misses

and Taranin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Volkov's guard.
Volkov keeping moving, preventing Taranin from controlling successfully.
Taranin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Taranin throws a big right hand that misses.
Taranin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Taranin drops back looking for a leg! Volkov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Volkov manages to kick Taranin off! Taranin jumps back into Volkov's guard.
Taranin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taranin is working Volkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Segey Taranin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Volkov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Volkov!
Aleksandr Volkov decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.