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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Merel (ranked 1254 p4p, 1289 weight class) and Ivan Volkov (ranked 136 p4p, 144 weight class). Ivan Volkov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.
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171 cm 28 152 11 - 8 - 0 |
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175 cm 35 154 20 - 18 - 0 |
Great wrestler World class boxer Insanely flexible |
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BJJ Red Belt World class MT Granite chin |
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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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Merel! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of 20 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Volkov! The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/round1.jpg) The bell rings for round one and we are underway! This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Merel. Volkov slips a straight right by Merel. We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Volkov has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat. Merel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Volkov sees it coming and avoids it easily. Volkov takes a swing at Merel's ribcage but misses. Volkov ducks under a wild hook from Merel. Merel stuns Volkov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Volkov rushes Merel and presses him up against the cage. Merel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Merel breaks from the clinch.
Volkov clinches up against the cage. Merel working aggressively here.
Merel blocks a body shot from Volkov. Volkov misses with a short punch on the inside. Merel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Volkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat. Merel connects with the punch. The crowd are loving this. Great action here. Merel misses the jab. Volkov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made. Merel loads up on a big right hand but Volkov slips the punch.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/1.gif) That's one minute gone in the round. Volkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Volkov throws out a counter right but Merel avoids it with no problem. Merel circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck for Volkov with that takedown attempt. A little feinted left hand from Merel on the counter but he doesn't commit to it. Merel seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym. Volkov misses with a straight right. Merel moves away from the strike by Volkov. Merel stuffs the takedown attempt from Volkov. Volkov gets slowly back to his feet. Merel is looking to counter punch. Merel keeps the fight on the outside. Ivan Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. Merel with a nice cross. A left lands for Merel. Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Merel gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage. Anthony Merel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Volkov. Volkov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily and Merel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/2.gif) That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Volkov to score an easy takedown into full guard. This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff! Merel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Volkov's guard.
Merel trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Merel content to stall in guard here. Volkov tries to land a sweep but no joy. Volkov keeping full guard, as Merel tries to pass. Volkov keeping moving, preventing Merel from controlling successfully. Merel stands up over Volkov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/3.gif) That's three minutes gone in the round. Merel tries to free his leg and advance position but Volkov is retaining full guard. Volkov wants to sweep but no luck. Volkov is looking to sweep but instead, Merel has passed into half guard.
Merel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard. Volkov wants to improve his position but Merel is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Merel is thwarting Volkov's attempts to control the position. Ground and pound from Merel. Volkov is looking for a sweep. Merel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position. Volkov is staying active underneath Merel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/4.gif) That's four minutes gone in the round. Volkov is trying to get back to full guard. Volkov gets full guard.
Volkov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Merel cracks Volkov with a solid left hand. Merel postures up.
Volkov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Merel has passed into half guard!
Volkov is in trouble now - Merel has advanced to mount! The referee warns Volkov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Merel has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Volkov's face.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Anthony Merel dominated that round. The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
A slow jab from Merel misses its intended target. Volkov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merel. Volkov throws a body shot but no joy. Merel misses with a looping right. Volkov scores with a sloppy right hand. Merel should have avoided that one. Merel misses with a lunging right hand
and Volkov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Merel actively working from the bottom here. Ground and pound from Volkov.
Merel looking for submissions from an awkward position here. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Merel moves into full guard.
Volkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Merel's head.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/1.gif) That's one minute gone in the round. Volkov connects with a couple of short punches.
Volkov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Volkov passes Merel's right leg, so he's now in half guard. Anthony Merel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far. Volkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time. Merel is pressing down on Volkov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it. Volkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time. Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Merel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Merel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Volkov defends it easily. Volkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/2.gif) That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position. Volkov works over Merel with some ground and pound from guard. Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Merel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Merel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Volkov can do to turn this around? Volkov scoring with punches to the head and body. Merel pulls Volkov in to control the position.
Merel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Merel wants to sweep here but Volkov controlling him for the moment.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/3.gif) That's three minutes gone in the round. Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Merel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Merel is trying to keep Volkov in close.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/refstandup3.gif) The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. Merel throws a lazy uppercut
and Volkov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle. A decent looking cross lands there for Volkov. Merel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all. Volkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it. Volkov has a takedown stuffed. Merel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger. Merel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Volkov shoots in for a double leg but Merel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy. Anthony Merel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Volkov. Merel misses with a jab to the body
and Volkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw. Nice cross by Volkov.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/4.gif) That's four minutes gone in the round. Merel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Volkov. Volkov closes the distance and clinches up with Merel, looking for a takedown. Volkov pushes Merel against the cage but Merel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch. Merel is looking to counter with a shot to the body. Merel swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Volkov counters into the clinch. Nicely done. Merel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Merel misses with a body punch.
Merel scores with a shoulder strike. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov manages to break the clinch.
Merel just misses with a punch to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Volkov. Merel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe. Volkov throws a body shot but no joy. Volkov fails in his attempt to clinch. Merel appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body. Merel takes a swing at Volkov's ribcage but misses. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ivan Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards. Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Volkov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Volkov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here. Volkov lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Volkov. Volkov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Merel. Merel tries a body shot but Volkov blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Merel scores with a nice short uppercut. Volkov blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Volkov fails to land. Volkov can't find room to land a body shot as Merel controls the action.
Merel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee. Good body shot from Merel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Volkov prevents a body shot from Merel. Merel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Volkov backwards. Volkov is stalling here.
Volkov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked. Volkov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/1.gif) That's one minute gone in the round. Merel misses with a short punch on the inside. Volkov wants to stall.
Merel lands a hook that snaps the head of Volkov backwards. Volkov blocks an uppercut.
Volkov lands a body punch. Volkov wants to stall.
Volkov tries a body shot but Merel blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Merel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut. Volkov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Merel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Merel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Volkov manages to break the clinch.
Volkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merel.
Volkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Merel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/2.gif) That's two minutes gone in the round. Merel misses with a body shot.
A big left from Merel misses. Merel misses with a right hand letting Volkov counter with a right hand. Volkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion. A little feinted left hand from Merel on the counter but he doesn't commit to it. Volkov fails with the takedown. Merel throws a shot from downtown. Volkov moves away and avoids it. Merel throws an overhand right that lands on Volkov's shoulder, as Volkov tries to avoid the shot. Merel misses with a wild body shot. We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Volkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Merel swivels and escapes. Anthony Merel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Volkov. Merel moves forwards but Volkov connects with a nice, crisp jab. Volkov takes a body punch but keeps moving. Nice uppercut there from Volkov.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/3.gif) That's three minutes gone in the round. Merel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Volkov. Good shot there by Merel. Volkov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Merel manages to avoid it. Merel misses with an uppercut
letting Volkov counter with a right hand. Volkov looks to land a right hand but Merel moved out of range.
Volkov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Merel quickly recovers to half guard. Merel trying to hold on to Volkov's head to control him but Volkov postures up.
Merel gets full guard.
Merel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/4.gif) That's four minutes gone in the round. Volkov landing with the ground and pound.
Volkov is posturing up here but Merel has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Volkov tries to roll out but it's too tight and Volkov has to tap! Slick submission there by Merel!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anthony Merel! Anthony Merel thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
63% |
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