PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Efremov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Volkov has chosen Love the way you hate me. as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Mikhail Efremov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Efremov
vs
Volkov

168 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Efremov!
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, Viktor Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Volkov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Volkov.
Efremov fails with the takedown.
Efremov tries for a takedown but Volkov circles away easily
and Volkov counters with a nice body shot.
Efremov fails with the takedown
and Volkov counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Efremov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov lands with a nice combination. Efremov backs away looking to recover.
Efremov shoots in looking for a takedown but Volkov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Efremov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Volkov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Volkov lands a two punch combo.
Efremov tries for a takedown but Volkov circles away easily
and Volkov counters with a two punch combo.
Efremov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Volkov counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov stalks Efremov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Efremov's face. Efremov staggers backwards, shaken.
Volkov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Efremov.
Volkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Efremov.
Efremov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Volkov but Volkov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Efremov is breathing heavily.
Volkov lands with an overhand left.
Volkov connects with a solid leg kick.
Efremov misses with a takedown
and Volkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Volkov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Volkov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A nice combination there by Volkov.

Volkov clinches up with Efremov and pushes him back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Volkov.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Volkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Efremov shoots for a double leg takedown but Volkov sprawls well. He's pushed Efremov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Efremov misses with a takedown

and Volkov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Volkov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Efremov working hard to break the clinch.
Volkov is pressed up against the cage. Efremov 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 closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Efremov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Volkov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Efremov is looking to reverse the position.
An elbow from Volkov crashes against the mat.
Volkov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to control but Efremov is keeping him busy.
Efremov tries to bench press Volkov off him but Volkov keeps the position.
Volkov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Volkov trying to control the position but Efremov is working away.
Efremov taking a bit of punishment here - Volkov scoring with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Volkov controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Volkov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Volkov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Volkov scores with a nice body kick.
Efremov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Volkov.
Efremov tries for a takedown but Volkov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Volkov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Volkov breaks from the clinch.
Efremov shoots and misses
and Volkov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Efremov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Volkov is trying to defend but Efremov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Efremov prevents Volkov from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Efremov is thwarting Volkov's attempts to control the position.
Efremov not doing much here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Volkov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Efremov prevents Volkov from standing back up.

That's two 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.
Efremov trying to control the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Mikhail Efremov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Volkov gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Efremov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Efremov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Efremov.
Efremov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wanted to stand there but Efremov had control of the position.
Efremov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Efremov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Viktor Volkov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Efremov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Volkov counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Efremov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Efremov tries for a takedown but Volkov circles away easily
and Volkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Volkov throws a series of strikes that have Efremov backpedaling.
Volkov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Volkov!
Volkov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Efremov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Volkov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Viktor Volkov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Volkov gets a clinch.
Efremov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Volkov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Volkov lands a nice shot to the body.
Efremov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Volkov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Volkov has Efremov pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Volkov.
Volkov connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Mikhail Efremov has been cut.
Volkov lands a body punch.
Volkov prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Efremov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Volkov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Volkov stalling the fight.
Efremov tries to break the clinch but Volkov is controlling the position.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Efremov fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Efremov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Volkov counters with a three punch combo that has Efremov backing up. Efremov nods at Volkov to acknowledge the strikes.
Efremov looks for a takedown but Volkov sprawls well.
Efremov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Volkov.
Volkov closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Volkov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Efremov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Efremov with a poor takedown
and Volkov counters with a nice body shot.

Volkov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Efremov was covering up waiting for the punch and Volkov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Volkov throws a big right hand that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Efremov keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to stand but Efremov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Volkov throws a big elbow that misses.
Volkov looking to sit in guard and control but Efremov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Efremov wants to control from the top but Volkov keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov trying to keep a closed guard but Efremov is proving a slippery customer.
Viktor Volkov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Efremov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Volkov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Volkov!
In his post fight interview, Viktor Volkov gave a big smile as he said 'I want to thank all my coaches and training partners for helping me train for fight. They make this possible..'.