PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 1666 p4p, 3468 weight class) and Sven Eriksson (ranked 243 p4p, 452 weight class). Volkanovski comes to the cage accompanied by 2pac - Hail Mary. This should be fireworks!

Volkanovski
vs
Eriksson

193 cm
32
217
12 - 14 - 0

193 cm
29
209
3 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

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 12 - 14 - 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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sven Eriksson!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkanovski throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Eriksson's head.

It looks like Sven Eriksson has been cut.
Volkanovski throws a sloppy head kick and Eriksson moves out of range easily.

Volkanovski shoots in and bounces Eriksson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Eriksson pushes Volkanovski off and gets back to his feet.
Eriksson throws a chopping leg kick but Volkanovski manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Volkanovski lands a nice looking kick to the body. Eriksson takes a step back to recover.
Volkanovski ducks under a wild hook from Eriksson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Volkanovski misses the shot to the body.
Eriksson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice shot by Volkanovski.
Eriksson dodges the punch combination from Volkanovski.
Eriksson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eriksson throws a hook but Volkanovski blocks it.
Volkanovski falls off balance throwing a combination
and Eriksson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A swing and a miss from Volkanovski.
A looping hook to the body misses from Volkanovski. Eriksson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Eriksson throws a big counter head kick but Volkanovski avoids it with no problem.
Volkanovski lands with a good body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Volkanovski.
Decent striking displayed by Eriksson there.

Volkanovski moves into the clinch.
Volkanovski blocks an uppercut.
Eriksson gets through Volkanovski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkanovski jumps guard and drags Eriksson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Volkanovski is looking for a triangle but Eriksson pushes his legs off easily.
Volkanovski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Volkanovski seems keen to control Eriksson's posture.

Volkanovski looking for a guillotine here but Eriksson defends easily.

Volkanovski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Volkanovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eriksson is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkanovski controls Eriksson momentarily but Eriksson frees himself.
Volkanovski looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Volkanovski is trying to control the position but Eriksson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Volkanovski wants to sweep here but Eriksson controlling him for the moment.

Volkanovski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Volkanovski is looking for a triangle but Eriksson pushes his legs off easily.
Eriksson controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandar Volkanovski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sven Eriksson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Volkanovski moves into the clinch successfully.
Eriksson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Eriksson misses with the head strike.

Volkanovski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Eriksson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Volkanovski moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Volkanovski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Eriksson! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Volkanovski has closed the distance and engaged Eriksson in a clinch.

Eriksson manages to break the clinch.
Volkanovski lands a leg kick that knocks Eriksson off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Volkanovski takes the fight into the clinch.
Eriksson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Eriksson.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Volkanovski creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Volkanovski wants to get back to striking at distance but Eriksson won't allow it.

Volkanovski jumps into guard, dragging Eriksson to the mat.
Volkanovski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eriksson can do to turn this around?

Volkanovski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Eriksson defends it easily.
Eriksson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Volkanovski is keeping the position for now.
Aleksandar Volkanovski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Volkanovski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eriksson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Volkanovski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eriksson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Let's hope that Eriksson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Volkanovski working for submissions but it's allowed Eriksson to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkanovski looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Eriksson pushes past his half guard into mount!
Volkanovski is wriggling around trying to escape.
Volkanovski tries to hold on but Eriksson pushes him away.
Volkanovski regains half guard.
Eriksson tries to stand and escape but Volkanovski is controlling the position.

Volkanovski looking for submissions off his back.
Eriksson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski is looking to control Eriksson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Volkanovski avoid being mounted?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eriksson controlling the action here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandar Volkanovski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sven Eriksson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Volkanovski scores with the left hand. Eriksson knows he should have avoided that one.
Volkanovski tries to land a front kick but Eriksson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Aleksandar Volkanovski is winning the standup battle so far.
Sloppy strikes from Volkanovski. Those never looked like landing.
Eriksson throws out a counter right but Volkanovski avoids it with no problem.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Volkanovski.

Volkanovski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Eriksson.
Our sources have told us that Volkanovski has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski blocks an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Volkanovski takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Eriksson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Eriksson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Eriksson thinks about the counter body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski's corner calls for a 1-2. Volkanovski obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Volkanovski closes the distance and pushes Eriksson back into the cage.
Eriksson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Volkanovski works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Volkanovski drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Eriksson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Volkanovski has Eriksson in his guard.

Volkanovski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Eriksson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Eriksson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eriksson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volkanovski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eriksson has managed to get both his arms back between Volkanovski's legs - danger averted.

Eriksson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Eriksson lands with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski throws a sloppy head kick
and Volkanovski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Eriksson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Volkanovski was well out of range. Poor timing from Eriksson.
An attempted straight right counter from Volkanovski misses the target.
Eriksson slips a jab and a cross from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski misses with a series of wild punches.

Volkanovski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Eriksson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Eriksson lands a left hand.
Volkanovski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Eriksson avoids it.
Volkanovski wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Volkanovski.
Eriksson gets through Volkanovski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Aleksandar Volkanovski has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski trying to land knees to the body.
Volkanovski takes a shot to the head.
Eriksson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Eriksson lands with a right to the head.
Eriksson has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Volkanovski seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Eriksson can turn it around.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Eriksson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Volkanovski connects with a good right hand that stumbles Eriksson. Eriksson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Aleksandar Volkanovski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aleksandar Volkanovski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Eriksson avoids the head kick by Volkanovski.
Volkanovski throws an off balance right hand

and Eriksson moves into the clinch.
Eriksson misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Eriksson.
Still in the clinch, Eriksson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Still in the clinch, Eriksson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Eriksson lands with a right to the head.
Eriksson lands a left hand.
Eriksson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sven Eriksson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Eriksson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Volkanovski has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandar Volkanovski!
Our winner, Aleksandar Volkanovski, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.