PBP Commentary

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

Cobb
vs
Volkov

220 cm
20
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

188 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurt Cobb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roman Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Volkov.
Sloppy strikes from Cobb. Those never looked like landing.

Volkov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cobb to the ground. Volkov is now in Cobb's guard.
Cobb wants to sweep here but Volkov controlling him for the moment.
Volkov looking to sit in guard and control but Cobb gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cobb sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cobb prevents Volkov from getting back to his feet.
Volkov is looking to sweep but instead, Cobb has passed into half guard.

Cobb is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov is staying active underneath Cobb, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Volkov is looking for a sweep. Cobb is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cobb wants to lay and pray for a moment but Volkov keeps working.
Cobb prevents Volkov from improving his position.
Volkov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cobb content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kurt Cobb wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Volkov drives through and clinches with Cobb against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cobb shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Volkov moves into the clinch.
Volkov is trying to drag Cobb to the mat but Cobb just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cobb is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Volkov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Volkov tries to pull guard but Cobb holds him up against the cage and eventually Volkov drops back down to his feet.

Cobb has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Volkov uses from the top position.
Cobb keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Volkov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is pushing down on Cobb's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cobb is fighting to maintain full guard but Volkov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Volkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cobb wants to get back to full guard.
Volkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cobb does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Volkov working Cobb over with strikes.
Volkov is thwarting Cobb's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cobb makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cobb.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobb is looking to sweep but instead, Volkov has passed into half guard.
Cobb wants to get back to his feet.
Volkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cobb misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Volkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Cobb is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Volkov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cobb is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Volkov dominated that round.
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.

Cobb darts in looking for a takedown but Volkov gets double underhooks and turns Cobb into the cage.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Volkov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Volkov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Volkov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cobb postures up.
Cobb stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cobb throws a big right hand that misses.
Cobb trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cobb gets to his feet - Volkov follows without any prompting.
Volkov throws a low kick but Cobb moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick by Cobb misses

and Volkov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cobb jumps guard but Volkov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Volkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cobb fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cobb gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Volkov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Volkov is breathing heavily.
Cobb looking for a sweep. Not yet Cobb, not yet.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Cobb keeps moving.
Volkov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cobb is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobb lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Volkov!
Cobb trying to control but Volkov is having none of it.

Cobb is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Cobb digs a good body shot into Volkov's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cobb slaps away a takedown attempt from Volkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cobb fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Cobb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cobb misses the shot to the body.

Cobb darts in and clinches Volkov up against the cage.
Come on Cobb - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Volkov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cobb just stands there and leans against the cage.

Volkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Volkov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cobb manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Volkov leaves Cobb with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobb shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Volkov as he avoids it easily.

Cobb has taken the fight to the clinch.
Volkov is pressed up against the cage. Cobb has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Volkov down to the mat. Volkov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Volkov tries to clinch there but Cobb circles away.
Volkov leaves Cobb with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Volkov moves in looking to clinch but Cobb pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Volkov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cobb is looking for a sweep.
Volkov trying to control the action but Cobb is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kurt Cobb will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Cobb.
Cobb shoots in for a takedown but Volkov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cobb wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Volkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobb shoots in for a double leg but Volkov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Cobb. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cobb shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Volkov defends it nicely.
Cobb sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov fails with the takedown.
Volkov is looking to clinch.
Cobb fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cobb shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A combination from Volkov does no damage.

Volkov darts in and clinches Cobb up against the cage.

Volkov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cobb regains guard immediately.
Volkov controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is looking to stand up but Cobb won't let him.
Roman Volkov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cobb throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Volkov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cobb, up you get!
Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Cobb gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cobb drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cobb looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Volkov is fending him off so far but Cobb persists. Nope, Volkov circles away and we're back to standing.
Volkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Volkov shoots for a double leg takedown but Cobb sprawls well. He's pushed Volkov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kurt Cobb is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cobb darts in looking for a takedown but Volkov gets double underhooks and turns Cobb into the cage.
Volkov jumps guard but Cobb turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Volkov tries to pull guard but Cobb won't allow it.
Volkov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cobb's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cobb has Volkov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Volkov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Volkov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cobb smiles and moves away.
Cobb lands with a good body shot.
Cobb tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Volkov swivels and escapes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Volkov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cobb sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Volkov somewhat.
Cobb shoots in looking for a takedown. Volkov tries to sprawl out of it but Cobb keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Volkov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

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