PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 2562 p4p, 2620 weight class) and Dillon Van Barle (ranked 321 p4p, 329 weight class). Volkanovski comes to the cage accompanied by 2pac - Hail Mary. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Volkanovski
vs
Van Barle

193 cm
26
217
7 - 8 - 0

188 cm
25
210
10 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aleksandar Volkanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dillon Van Barle!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Barle misses with a kick to the body.
Volkanovski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Volkanovski swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Volkanovski seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Van Barle throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Volkanovski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Volkanovski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Volkanovski tries to counter by clinching up but Van Barle breaks away and moves out of range.
Volkanovski throws a series of punches but Van Barle moves out of range.
Van Barle throws a poor cross that misses
and Volkanovski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses.
Volkanovski moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Van Barle keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Barle fails with an attempt to clinch.

Volkanovski drives through and clinches with Van Barle against the cage.

Van Barle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Barle takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Van Barle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Volkanovski rushes Van Barle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Van Barle tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Van Barle fails to land.
Volkanovski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Van Barle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Barle tries to work over Volkanovski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Van Barle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Volkanovski's defenses.

Van Barle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Volkanovski thows a body kick. Van Barle tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Volkanovski darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Volkanovski comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Volkanovski closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Volkanovski shoots in looking for a takedown but Van Barle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Volkanovski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Volkanovski fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Volkanovski moves out of range of the strikes.
And Volkanovski counters with a quick kick to the body but Van Barle blocks it.
Van Barle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Volkanovski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A decent looking cross lands there for Van Barle.
Volkanovski throws a nice looking combination but Van Barle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Van Barle scores with a nice strike.
Van Barle scores with a nice strike.

Van Barle feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Volkanovski sprawling to the canvas! Volkanovski rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Van Barle finish him?!

Volkanovski is rocked!
Dillon Van Barle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volkanovski is aggressively charging in as Van Barle backs up avoiding any damage. Van Barle tosses out a jab and Volkanovski runs right into it face first! Volkanovski is out cold! Van Barle dropped down on all fours and is barking in Volkanovski's face like a pit bull in celebration until the ref was finally able to pull him away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Dillon Van Barle!
A pretty intense looking Dillon Van Barle took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.