PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pasha Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

dos Santos
vs
Volkov

191 cm
25
240 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

191 cm
24
255 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Junior dos Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pasha Volkov!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Volkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract dos Santos.
dos Santos fails with the takedown.
Volkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. dos Santos defends it nicely.
Volkov throws a nice looking combination but dos Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pasha Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
dos Santos throws a push kick but Volkov slaps the foot to one side.
dos Santos slips a jab and a cross from Volkov.

dos Santos rushes Volkov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
dos Santos slows down the pace here.
Volkov misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov wants to break the clinch but can't.

Volkov breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from dos Santos is defended easily by Volkov.
dos Santos with a poor takedown

and Volkov counters with a shoot takedown. dos Santos fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov looks gassed!
dos Santos controls Volkov momentarily but Volkov frees himself.
Volkov wants to stand but dos Santos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Volkov won't allow dos Santos to sweep him here.
Volkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

dos Santos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Volkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Volkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Volkov throwing strikes but missing.
dos Santos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
dos Santos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Volkov throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Volkov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
dos Santos controlling the position.
Volkov stops dos Santos from standing up.
Volkov wanted to stand there but dos Santos had control of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
dos Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Volkov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten dos Santos somewhat.
Volkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

dos Santos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Volkov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. dos Santos defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead dos Santos passes into half guard.
Volkov is looking to control dos Santos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Volkov avoid being mounted?
Volkov gets full guard.

dos Santos stands up and waves to Volkov to follow him.
Volkov is looking to clinch but dos Santos is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos blocks a head kick by Volkov.
Volkov throws a head kick but dos Santos moves out of range.
dos Santos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Volkov.
Volkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Volkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
dos Santos slips a straight right by Volkov.
A bone on bone clash there as dos Santos blocks the leg kick.
Volkov throws a front kick that sends dos Santos stumbling back into the cage.

dos Santos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Volkov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Volkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Volkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Volkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Volkov tries to bum rush dos Santos with a series of wild strikes but dos Santos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

dos Santos shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
dos Santos trying to control from half guard but Volkov is working away.
dos Santos looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Volkov is trying to stand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Volkov wants to get back to full guard but dos Santos has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos manages to capitalize on a mistake by Volkov to take his back!
Volkov tries to escape the position.
dos Santos loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Volkov hold on?
You can see the frustration on Volkov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Volkov is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
dos Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Volkov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Volkov wants to clinch but dos Santos slips to the side
and dos Santos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Junior dos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
dos Santos has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Volkov. No joy for dos Santos on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Volkov, right into the meat.
dos Santos misses with a takedown
and Volkov counters with a straight right hand.
Volkov tries to clinch up.
dos Santos staying out of range there.
dos Santos wants to clinch but Volkov slips to the side

and Volkov counters with a takedown into side control.
dos Santos wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Volkov lands a nice forearm strike.
Volkov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but dos Santos is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
dos Santos is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Volkov stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Volkov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in dos Santos's half guard.
Volkov lands with a punch from half guard.
dos Santos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
dos Santos wants to get back to his feet.
Volkov winds up and cracks dos Santos with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov working the head and body with strikes.
Volkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
dos Santos has his hands clasped together around Volkov's back. He's all about the action.
Volkov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Volkov decides to return to a standing position.

dos Santos clinches.

Volkov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Volkov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Volkov wants to stand but dos Santos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pasha Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt

and Volkov moves into the clinch.
dos Santos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
dos Santos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Volkov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
dos Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Volkov just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior dos Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
dos Santos gets underhooks to prevent Volkov's takedown attempt.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Volkov fails with the takedown.
dos Santos has his takedown stuffed

and Volkov counters with a shoot takedown. dos Santos fights it but they end up in guard.

dos Santos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Volkov defends well.
Volkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Volkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as dos Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos wants to sweep here but Volkov controlling him for the moment.

dos Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Volkov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Volkov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but dos Santos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Volkov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Volkov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
dos Santos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Volkov seems content to control.
Volkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
dos Santos tries to get to full guard but Volkov has control of the leg.
Volkov wants to stand but his hand is trapped. dos Santos uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
dos Santos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Volkov is wriggling around trying to escape.
dos Santos avoids the attempt from Volkov to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is trying desperately to improve position.
Volkov looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

dos Santos has the hooks in. Volkov is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. dos Santos passes his arm under Volkov's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Volkov taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Junior dos Santos!