PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 3114 p4p, 3005 weight class) and Bobby Minnagh (ranked 379 p4p, 373 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Volkanovski might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 2pac - Hail Mary. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Volkanovski
vs
Minnagh

193 cm
27
217
7 - 9 - 0

205 cm
27
220
8 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aleksandar Volkanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Minnagh!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkanovski tries to clinch there but Minnagh circles away.
Volkanovski throws a head kick but Minnagh moves out of range.
Minnagh only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Volkanovski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Minnagh manages to avoid it.
Aleksandar Volkanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volkanovski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Volkanovski misses.
Volkanovski misses with a head kick.
Volkanovski closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Minnagh counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski moves in looking to clinch but Minnagh pushes him off.
Volkanovski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Minnagh was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minnagh circles away from the clinch attempt.
A shot to the body from Minnagh misses
and Volkanovski counters with a body kick.
Volkanovski darts in trying to clinch
and Minnagh connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Volkanovski tries to bum rush Minnagh with a series of wild strikes but Minnagh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Volkanovski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Minnagh, pushing him back against the cage.
Minnagh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Volkanovski's efforts to push away.
A short left from Minnagh.

Minnagh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Volkanovski clinches up with Minnagh and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minnagh breaks from the clinch.
Volkanovski falls off balance throwing a combination
and Minnagh counters with a stiff right hand.
Volkanovski takes a swing at Minnagh's ribcage but misses.
Minnagh only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Volkanovski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Minnagh replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Volkanovski blocks it well.
We've been informed that Minnagh has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Volkanovski lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

It looks like Bobby Minnagh has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Volkanovski throws a sloppy head kick and Minnagh moves out of range easily.
Minnagh just misses with a punch to the body.
Volkanovski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Minnagh paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Volkanovski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Volkanovski darts in and clinches Minnagh up against the cage.

Minnagh breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski throws a lazy head kick
and Minnagh counters with a body kick.
Minnagh misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Volkanovski counters with a nice uppercut.
Volkanovski throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Volkanovski tries to clinch there but Minnagh circles away.
A good leg kick by Minnagh.
Volkanovski takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Minnagh shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Volkanovski eats them both and turns towards Minnagh to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Volkanovski misses with a body kick.
Minnagh swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Volkanovski tries to clinch up but Minnagh circles away and keeps his distance.
Minnagh only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Volkanovski shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Minnagh looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Minnagh misses with a hook.
It looked like Volkanovski was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Minnagh appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Volkanovski jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minnagh blocks a leg kick.
Minnagh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Volkanovski is looking for a counter combo.
Volkanovski throws a jab when Minnagh was well out of range.
Volkanovski throws a low kick but it's checked well by Minnagh.
Minnagh takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Minnagh looks to land a right hand but Volkanovski moved out of range.
Minnagh has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Donk. Volkanovski catches Minnagh right on the button with a cross.
Volkanovski closes the distance looking to clinch
and Minnagh counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bobby Minnagh will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bobby Minnagh's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses.
Volkanovski throws a body kick that misses.
Minnagh slaps away a takedown attempt from Volkanovski, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Volkanovski misses with a double jab
and Minnagh counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Volkanovski lands with a kick to the temple. Minnagh shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Minnagh tries a low kick but Volkanovski avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick from Volkanovski lands but Minnagh takes it in his stride.
Volkanovski throws a nice looking combination but Minnagh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Volkanovski throws a head kick but Minnagh moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski scores with a nice strike.
Volkanovski fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Minnagh checks it well.
Despite the aggression on Minnagh's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Minnagh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Volkanovski.
Aleksandar Volkanovski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Volkanovski.
A left and a right from Minnagh both land. Nice combination.
Minnagh throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski misses with a body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Minnagh misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Volkanovski wants to clinch.
Volkanovski wants to clinch up but Minnagh keeps it at a distance.
It seemed like Minnagh was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Volkanovski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Volkanovski fails to land with a series of punches.
Volkanovski walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volkanovski lands a jab to the head.
Volkanovski looks to land a combination but Minnagh avoids it well.
Volkanovski tries to close the distance and clinch but Minnagh swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Minnagh scores with a hook to the body.

Minnagh breaks the clinch.
Minnagh slips a straight right by Volkanovski.
Minnagh shapes to counter with a head kick.
No joy there for Volkanovski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Volkanovski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Volkanovski darts in trying to clinch
letting Minnagh counter with a right hand.
Minnagh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Volkanovski throws a lazy head kick
and Minnagh counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski tries to clinch but Minnagh is having none of it.
Minnagh doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Volkanovski throws a lazy head kick
and Minnagh counters with a stiff right hand.
Volkanovski closes the distance but Minnagh moves to the side
and Minnagh connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Volkanovski wants to clinch but Minnagh slips to the side
and Minnagh counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Volkanovski jabs Minnagh to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Minnagh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Minnagh raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Volkanovski pushes Minnagh away with a front kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Minnagh. Volkanovski does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Minnagh misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aleksandar Volkanovski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bobby Minnagh's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Minnagh throws a jab when Volkanovski was well out of range.
Volkanovski swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Minnagh counter with a right hand.
Volkanovski closes the distance but Minnagh moves to the side
and Minnagh counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Volkanovski tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Minnagh is able to avoid easily.
Minnagh is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Volkanovski.
Volkanovski throws a right and a left that Minnagh avoids nicely.

Volkanovski has Minnagh up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minnagh lands a right hand that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Minnagh looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Volkanovski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Minnagh tries to break the clinch but Volkanovski is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minnagh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Volkanovski thuds his shin into the meat of Minnagh's side.
Minnagh takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Volkanovski tries a head kick but it misses.
Volkanovski throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Minnagh cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Minnagh buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Volkanovski misses with a right hand
and Minnagh counters with a good low kick that Volkanovski was not able to check.
Minnagh cracks Volkanovski with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A nice combination there by Volkanovski.
Volkanovski lands a jab-cross combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minnagh misses with a low kick.
Volkanovski is looking to counter with head kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Volkanovski takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Minnagh looks to land a right hand but Volkanovski moved out of range.
Bobby Minnagh seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick by Volkanovski misses
and Minnagh counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Minnagh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Volkanovski takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Volkanovski.
Minnagh looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Volkanovski tries to clinch but Minnagh moves away
and Minnagh counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Volkanovski throws a looping overhand right but Minnagh ducks down to avoid it.
Volkanovski throws a leg kick
and Minnagh counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Minnagh looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice defenses there by Minnagh.
Volkanovski throws a left and a right that both miss

and Minnagh counters with a nice right hand that sends Volkanovski toppling to the canvas! Volkanovski scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Minnagh finish him?!

Volkanovski is rocked!
Volkanovski tries to get into range but Minnagh steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Volkanovski! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! Minnagh scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Bobby Minnagh!
A relieved looking Bobby Minnagh thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.