PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgehuy Polkovnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Volkov
vs
Polkovnikov

201 cm
22
219 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgehuy Polkovnikov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov throws a head kick that misses
and Polkovnikov counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Alexander Volkov has been cut.
Polkovnikov looks for a takedown but Volkov sprawls well.
Volkov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Volkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Polkovnikov. Polkovnikov gets slowly back to his feet.

Polkovnikov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Polkovnikov tries to advance to mount but can't.

Polkovnikov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Polkovnikov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Alexander Volkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov pushes Polkovnikov away with a front kick.
Polkovnikov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Volkov circles away.
Alexander Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgehuy Polkovnikov.

Polkovnikov drives through and clinches with Volkov against the cage.
Polkovnikov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Volkov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Polkovnikov stalling against the cage.
Polkovnikov looks gassed!
Polkovnikov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Volkov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Volkov trying to land knees to the body.
Volkov prevents the takedown attempt.
Polkovnikov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Polkovnikov being controlled against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Maybe Volkov would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov keeps control of Polkovnikov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Polkovnikov jumps guard but Volkov stands there with Polkovnikov around his waist. Polkovnikov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Polkovnikov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Polkovnikov fails to pull guard.
Volkov pushes off an throws an elbow but Polkovnikov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Volkov tries to stall but Polkovnikov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Polkovnikov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Polkovnikov blocks an elbow strike.
Volkov wants to stall.
Volkov lands an elbow inside.
Polkovnikov tries to pull guard but Volkov holds him up against the cage and eventually Polkovnikov drops back down to his feet.

Polkovnikov jumps guard and drags Volkov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Polkovnikov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Volkov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to stand up but Polkovnikov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Volkov trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Volkov is thwarting Polkovnikov's attempts to control the position.
Polkovnikov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four 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 stops Polkovnikov from getting back to his feet.
Polkovnikov tries to roll over but Volkov keeps him under control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alexander Volkov.
Volkov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Polkovnikov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Volkov.
Volkov misses with a low kick.
Polkovnikov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Volkov. Volkov obviously looking to wear him down.
Volkov scores with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volkov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Volkov'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.

Volkov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Polkovnikov. That did some damage!
Volkov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Polkovnikov shoots in for a takedown but Volkov shows good takedown defense.
Volkov lands a nice shot that snaps Polkovnikov's head back.
Polkovnikov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Volkov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Polkovnikov somewhat.
Volkov looks to land a combination. Polkovnikov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Polkovnikov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Volkov tests Polkovnikov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Alexander Volkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Volkov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Polkovnikov.
Alexander Volkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgehuy Polkovnikov.
Volkov throws a combination. Polkovnikov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Polkovnikov is breathing heavily.
A good leg kick by Volkov.
Polkovnikov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polkovnikov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Volkov.
Polkovnikov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Polkovnikov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Volkov digs a good hook to Polkovnikov's body.
Volkov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Polkovnikov eats them both and turns towards Volkov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Polkovnikov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Volkov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Polkovnikov back to the cage. Volkov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Volkov connects with a leg kick. Polkovnikov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Polkovnikov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Volkov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Volkov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Polkovnikov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Polkovnikov fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throws a leg kick which misses Polkovnikov's front leg but catches the back leg as Polkovnikov tries to avoid it.
Volkov is looking to wear down Polkovnikov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Polkovnikov fails to land the takedown.
Alexander Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Polkovnikov has managed to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Polkovnikov blocks the elbow strike.
Volkov trying to control the position but instead, Polkovnikov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Volkov into the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Volkov.
Polkovnikov avoids a wild elbow strike from Volkov.
Volkov trying to land knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Polkovnikov as the two fighters clinch.
Polkovnikov has Volkov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Volkov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Volkov stalling in the clinch but Polkovnikov improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polkovnikov managing to block the knees to the body from Volkov.
Volkov lands an elbow inside.
Volkov taking a breather.
Polkovnikov avoiding damage as Volkov throws knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Polkovnikov pulls guard successfully.

Polkovnikov pushes Volkov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Polkovnikov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Polkovnikov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Volkov.
Volkov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Polkovnikov blocks a leg kick.

Volkov tries to keep at a distance but Polkovnikov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Polkovnikov as Volkov tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Polkovnikov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Polkovnikov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Polkovnikov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Volkov defends well.
Polkovnikov wants to stand but Volkov is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Polkovnikov is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Volkov dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volkov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Volkov's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Volkov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Volkov lands a two punch combo.
A combination from Volkov does no damage.
Volkov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Polkovnikov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Polkovnikov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Volkov avoids it really well and circles away.
Volkov swinging wildly here.
Polkovnikov throws a combination that misses
and Volkov counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkov lands a nice shot to the body.
Alexander Volkov is winning the standup battle so far.
Volkov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Polkovnikov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Volkov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Volkov scoring well with a low kick there.
Volkov digs a good hook to Polkovnikov's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Polkovnikov on the side of the head.
Volkov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Polkovnikov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Volkov.
Volkov stalks Polkovnikov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Polkovnikov's face. Polkovnikov staggers backwards, shaken.
Polkovnikov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Volkov. Volkov obviously looking to wear him down.
Volkov stalks Polkovnikov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Polkovnikov's face. Polkovnikov staggers backwards, shaken.
Volkov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Volkov.
Volkov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Volkov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Polkovnikov managing to block the knees to the body from Volkov.
Volkov wants to stall.

Polkovnikov pulls Volkov into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polkovnikov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Volkov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Polkovnikov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Polkovnikov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polkovnikov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Polkovnikov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
BOOM! Polkovnikov connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Polkovnikov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Polkovnikov controlling from mount.
Volkov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Polkovnikov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Volkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Volkov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Volkov!