PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Knockout King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Knockout King has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

King
vs
Volkov

225 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 10 - 0

205 cm
20
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Knockout King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mark Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King fails to land with a series of punches.
King throws a head kick but Volkov moves out of range.
King throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Volkov.
Volkov misses with a takedown attempt - King sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

King shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Volkov's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Volkov wants to sweep here but King controlling him for the moment.

Volkov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
King tries to circle away but Volkov has him pinned against the cage.
Volkov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Volkov is looking for a takedown.
Knockout King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Volkov.
King is trying to break the clinch but Volkov has him pressed against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Volkov as King tries to tie him up.

Volkov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics King uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King looking to pass the guard.
Volkov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Volkov is looking to sweep but instead, King has passed into half guard.

Volkov manages to escape and get back to his feet!

King gets tackled into the cage by Volkov. Volkov maintains the clinch.
Volkov slowing the pace effectively.

King lands a takedown into guard.
Volkov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in King's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
King is trying to keep Volkov in close.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Volkov is pushing down on King's leg trying to pass to half guard. King is fighting to maintain full guard but Volkov has managed to sneak the leg through.
King throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Volkov in particular looking to stall.
King trying to control but Volkov postures up.
King is trying to get back to full guard.
Volkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throws a strike but King avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Volkov throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Volkov throws a big right hand that misses.
King working a defensive guard here.
Volkov trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volkov.
Volkov postures up in King's guard and throws a big left but King blocks it.

Volkov drops back looking for a leg! King is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and King manages to kick Volkov off! Volkov jumps back into King's guard.
Volkov advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Volkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Volkov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
King is trying to control but can't.
Volkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
King is looking to improve his position.
King is breathing heavily.
Volkov trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Volkov stands up out of the half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Volkov scores with a punch to the head.

King looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

King takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Volkov looks to land a combination but King avoids it well.

King drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Volkov holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mark Volkov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

King gets the takedown into side control.
King is looking to take a break and control but Volkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Volkov sneaks back into half guard.
King is looking to pass Volkov's guard but actually Volkov recovers to full guard.
Volkov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. King manages to get himself to full guard.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Volkov controls the pace.
King is trying to keep Volkov in close.
Volkov throwing strikes from guard but King blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov content to stall in guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Volkov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Knockout King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King moves out of range of the strikes.

Volkov clinches with his opponent.
King tries to break the clinch but Volkov is controlling the position.
Volkov presses King against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

King manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
King knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Volkov on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov content to stall in guard here.
Mark Volkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
King 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.
Volkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
King keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volkov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

King 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Volkov pushing down on King's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Volkov lands a really nice looking cross but King seems unphased.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Volkov, pushing him back against the cage.
Volkov wants to get back to striking at distance but King won't allow it.
Volkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Volkov is trying to break the clinch but King has him pressed against the cage.

King pulls guard successfully.
King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volkov.
King being controlled here, momentarily.
Volkov is looking to work some ground and pound but King has wrist control.
King is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Volkov looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Volkov throws a series of punches but King moves out of range.
Volkov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sloppy strikes from Volkov. Those never looked like landing.
King tries to land a front kick but Volkov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Volkov instigates a clinch.

King turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
I wouldn't like to be where Volkov is right now.
Volkov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked King off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throwing sloppy strikes.
A lull in the action here.
King rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King is looking to improve his position but Volkov isn't that keen on the idea.

Volkov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but King is surviving well by controlling Volkov's body position as best he can.
Volkov looking to ground and pound but King is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
King wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Volkov.
Volkov dominating with strikes here.
Volkov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for King because Volkov loaded up on that one.
Volkov unloads with some shots from mount but King bucks and avoids them well.
Volkov tries to control but King wriggling away.
Volkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Volkov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Poor strikes thrown by Volkov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov controlling from the full mount.
King really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Volkov 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.
Volkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mark Volkov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Let's hope that Volkov 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King tries to hold on but Volkov postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Volkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Volkov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

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