PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Brooks (ranked 3337 p4p, 3387 weight class) and Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 434 p4p, 440 weight class). Volkanovski is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by 2pac - Hail Mary. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brooks
vs
Volkanovski

193 cm
25
213
8 - 5 - 0

193 cm
25
217
6 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Brooks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aleksandar Volkanovski!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volkanovski rushes Brooks and presses him up against the cage.
Volkanovski throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Still in the clinch, Volkanovski scores with a nice short uppercut.
Volkanovski is stalling here.
Brooks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Brooks working Volkanovski over with knees to the body.
Brooks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Volkanovski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Volkanovski cracks Brooks with a nice body shot.
Volkanovski manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Brooks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Brooks lands a left hand.
Brooks lands a nice uppercut.
Volkanovski holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Volkanovski receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Brooks wants to stall.
Brooks misses with a knee strike.
Volkanovski blocks an uppercut.
Volkanovski working aggressively here.
Volkanovski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Brooks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Brooks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Volkanovski misses with a head kick.

Brooks closes the distance and clinches.
Brooks wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brooks scores a nice knee to the body.
Volkanovski blocks an uppercut.
Brooks lands a hook that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Volkanovski slowing the pace effectively.
Volkanovski has Brooks pushed against the cage.
Brooks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Brooks lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Brooks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Brooks tries to circle away but Volkanovski has him pinned against the cage.
Volkanovski effectively controlling the action here.
Our sources have told us that Brooks has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Volkanovski lands with a light punch inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Volkanovski has Brooks pushed against the cage.
Volkanovski throws a punch but it's blocked by Brooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski keeps control of Brooks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Volkanovski.
Volkanovski lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Brooks is trying to stall.
Brooks stalling in the clinch.
Volkanovski misses with a punch to the body.
Volkanovski has a couple of punches blocked by Brooks.
Volkanovski tries to stall but Brooks uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nice body punch from Volkanovski.
A short right from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski cracks Brooks with a nice body shot.
Volkanovski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Volkanovski struggles to land a body shot inside as Brooks controls his hands.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Brooks fails to land.

Brooks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brooks misses with an uppercut.
Volkanovski goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Aleksandar Volkanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volkanovski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brooks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brooks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Brooks takes one to the chin there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Brooks does it's job there.

Volkanovski moves into range and clinches up with Brooks.
Volkanovski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brooks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Brooks prevents a body shot from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski just leaning against Brooks, taking a breather.

Brooks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Volkanovski has closed the distance and engaged Brooks in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Volkanovski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Brooks misses with a hook.
Volkanovski throws a big counter head kick but Brooks avoids it with no problem.
Aleksandar Volkanovski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Brooks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Volkanovski misses with a head kick.

Volkanovski closes the distance and clinches.
Volkanovski misses with the head strike.
Brooks tries to break free but Volkanovski pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Brooks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Volkanovski looking to stall.
Brooks lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski avoiding damage as Brooks throws knees to the body.
Brooks can't break the clinch.

Brooks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Volkanovski instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brooks breaks the clinch.

Brooks moves into the clinch successfully.
Brooks is looking to break free of the clinch but Volkanovski has double underhooks.
Brooks blocking some punches.

Volkanovski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick lands from Brooks.
Volkanovski misses with a double jab.
Brooks connects with a single shot there.
Brooks throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Volkanovski counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Brooks. Volkanovski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Volkanovski tries to counter with a clinch but Brooks shakes him off and moves away.

Volkanovski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Volkanovski slowing the pace effectively.
Brooks is trying to force a seperation but Volkanovski has the dominant position.
Volkanovski gets through Brooks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Volkanovski has Brooks pushed against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski misses with a body punch.
Brooks working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Brooks working aggressively here.
Brooks throws a head punch that misses.
Brooks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brooks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Brooks manages to break the clinch.
Brooks scores with a jab. Volkanovski acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Volkanovski lands a nice leg kick that just misses Brooks's sensitive parts.

Volkanovski closes the distance and pushes Brooks back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Brooks wants to get back to striking at distance but Volkanovski won't allow it.
Brooks makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Volkanovski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Brooks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Volkanovski scores with a hook to the body.
Brooks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Volkanovski managing to block the knees to the body from Brooks.
A frustrated look appears on Brooks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Brooks is trying to break the clinch but Volkanovski is controlling him.
Brooks tries to land knees in the clinch but Volkanovski avoids the damage to the body.

Volkanovski manages to break the clinch.
Volkanovski tries to clinch but Brooks is having none of it.
Brooks swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Brooks is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Volkanovski has managed to clinch.
Brooks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Volkanovski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Brooks.
Volkanovski pressing his opponent against the cage.
Brooks prevents a body shot from Volkanovski.
A head punch on the inside from Brooks fails to land.
Volkanovski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Volkanovski lands a right hand.
Brooks blocks a body shot from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski presses Brooks against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Brooks breaks from the clinch.

Volkanovski clinches up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aleksandar Volkanovski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Brooks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Volkanovski closes the distance and clinches.
Volkanovski lands a body punch in the clinch.
Brooks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Brooks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Volkanovski is stalling here.
Brooks misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Volkanovski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Volkanovski avoiding damage as Brooks throws knees to the body.
Brooks lands a right hand that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Brooks takes a shot to the head.
Volkanovski lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks lands an uppercut.
Volkanovski taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Volkanovski lands a body shot.
Volkanovski manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Volkanovski breaks the clinch.
Volkanovski tries to clinch up but Brooks circles away and keeps his distance.
Brooks fires out a quick counter leg kick but Volkanovski just manages to avoid it.

Brooks darts in and clinches Volkanovski up against the cage.
Volkanovski slowing the pace effectively.
Nice body punch from Volkanovski - that landed with a thud.
Volkanovski working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Volkanovski.
Volkanovski will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Brooks up against the cage.
Eric Brooks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski pushes Brooks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Brooks misses with a knee to the head.
Volkanovski tries for a takedown. No joy.
Volkanovski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Brooks is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Volkanovski is defending well for now.
Volkanovski lands a nice uppercut.
Volkanovski misses with the head strike.
Brooks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right from Brooks.
Brooks tries to break the clinch but Volkanovski is controlling the position.
A right hook to the body lands for Volkanovski.
Volkanovski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Volkanovski taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brooks breaks from the clinch.
Brooks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Volkanovski lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Brooks backs up against the cage.
Brooks gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Volkanovski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Volkanovski taking a breather.
Brooks with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Volkanovski lands a right hand.
Brooks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Brooks misses with the head strike.
Brooks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Volkanovski tries to stall but Brooks uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Volkanovski working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks misses with a hook from the clinch.
Brooks being controlled against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Volkanovski misses with a body punch.
Aleksandar Volkanovski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Brooks throws a head punch that misses.
Volkanovski lands a shoulder strike.
Brooks tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Brooks misses with the head strike.
Volkanovski lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Brooks or not.
Brooks swings wildly with an uppercut but Volkanovski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Volkanovski on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandar Volkanovski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Volkanovski 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandar Volkanovski!
Aleksandar Volkanovski seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.