PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abraham Volkov (ranked 4026 p4p, 3953 weight class) and Valdis Zatlers (ranked 430 p4p, 425 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.

Volkov
vs
Zatlers

195 cm
25
265
1 - 2 - 0

220 cm
27
265
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Abraham Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valdis Zatlers!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Dean Styles and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zatlers tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Volkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Zatlers.

Volkov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zatlers's guard.
Volkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zatlers is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Volkov works over Zatlers with some ground and pound from guard.
Volkov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Volkov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zatlers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Volkov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zatlers has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Volkov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Volkov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zatlers on the ground.
Volkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zatlers's head.
Zatlers can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Volkov controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zatlers bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Volkov's guard.

Zatlers is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Volkov wants to sweep here but Zatlers controlling him for the moment.
Volkov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Volkov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Volkov wants to sweep but no luck.
Volkov is controlling Zatlers's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zatlers is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A slow jab from Volkov misses its intended target.

Volkov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Zatlers!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zatlers tries to improve position but can't.
Volkov looking to control but instead Zatlers has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Zatlers avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Volkov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zatlers trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Volkov in particular looking to stall.
We've been informed that Zatlers has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Zatlers looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zatlers with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Volkov.
Volkov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Volkov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zatlers is refusing to be controlled, as Volkov sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Volkov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Zatlers is looking to control Volkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zatlers avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Volkov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zatlers is defended easily by Volkov.
Valdis Zatlers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zatlers takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Zatlers moves out of range as Volkov strikes.
Zatlers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Volkov.
Zatlers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Volkov.

Volkov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zatlers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Volkov is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Volkov 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zatlers wants to improve his position but Volkov is controlling well.
Abraham Volkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Volkov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Volkov winds up and cracks Zatlers with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Volkov wants to control but Zatlers is keeping him busy.
Volkov lands strikes from half guard.
Volkov is looking to take a break and control but Zatlers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zatlers blocking the ground and pound attempt from Volkov.
Zatlers is looking to control Volkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zatlers avoid being mounted?
Volkov lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zatlers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Volkov prevents Zatlers from improving his position.
Volkov is looking to advance position but Zatlers won't allow it.
Volkov content to control rather than advance.
Volkov is looking to stall here but Zatlers recovers full guard.
Volkov with a nice head shot there.
Volkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zatlers can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Volkov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Volkov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Volkov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zatlers for as long as he can get away with.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zatlers walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Volkov has Zatlers up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Volkov.
Volkov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zatlers trying to stall but Volkov improves his position.
Zatlers is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Volkov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Zatlers drops down looking for an ankle pick but Volkov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Abraham Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valdis Zatlers.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zatlers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Volkov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Volkov tries to close the distance and clinch but Zatlers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zatlers on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zatlers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Volkov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abraham Volkov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Volkov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zatlers's guard.
Volkov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Zatlers trying to keep a closed guard but Volkov is proving a slippery customer.
Volkov lands a couple of digs.
Volkov content to stall in guard here.

Zatlers has his foot on Volkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Volkov works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zatlers working a defensive guard here.
Volkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zatlers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Volkov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Volkov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zatlers wants to sweep but no luck.
Volkov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Volkov cracks Zatlers with a solid left hand.
Volkov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Volkov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov landing some decent shots from guard.
Volkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zatlers is keeping the position for now.
Volkov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zatlers keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zatlers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zatlers takes a jab right on the kisser.
Volkov seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Zatlers shoots for a double leg takedown but Volkov sprawls well. He's pushed Zatlers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Volkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Volkov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zatlers is working to avoid the ground and pound but Volkov connects with a decent elbow.
A lull in the action here as Volkov stalls from top position.
Volkov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Zatlers down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zatlers seems a little lost for a moment, as Volkov dominates the positioning.
Volkov cracks Zatlers with a big elbow.
Volkov lands a few punches from side control.
Volkov scores with a couple of short elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Volkov misses with the ground and pound.
Volkov takes a little break here. Zatlers wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Zatlers is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zatlers managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Volkov.
Volkov lands some shots froms side control.
Valdis Zatlers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Abraham Volkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Volkov working the ground and pound from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abraham 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

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