PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Nove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Prince Volg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Nove has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nove
vs
Volg

175 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Nove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Prince Volg!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nove gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Volg to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Nove scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Volg cracks Nove with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nove displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Volg throws out the jab.
Nove half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Volg missing with a left hand there. Nove was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Volg fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Volg lands with a hook. Nove tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volg fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nove looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Volg tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nove was well out of range. Poor timing from Volg.
A big left from Volg misses.
Volg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nove.
Nove takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Volg, as that shot connected.
Volg lands with an uppercut that bounces Nove off the cage and back into range.
Nove slips under a jab.
Volg lands with an overhand left.
Volg looks to land a right hand but Nove moved out of range.

Nove clinches up with Volg and pushes him back against the cage.
Nove scores with a hook to the body.

Nove has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Volg uses from the top position.
Volg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nove works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volg throws a big elbow that misses.
Volg postures up in Nove's guard and throws a big left but Nove blocks it.
Volg is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nove trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Volg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nove is keeping the position for now.
Volg trying to control the position from guard on top but Nove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Volg bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Nove throws Volg to one side and escapes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nove moves into the clinch successfully.
Nove fails to pull guard.
Volg has had enough of the clinch but Nove keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nove pulls guard.
Nove doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Volg wants to control from the top but Nove keeps moving.
Volg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nove seems keen to control Volg's posture.
Volg cracks Nove with a solid left hand.
Volg trying to control but Nove is working from the bottom.

Nove is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volg wants to control from the top but Nove keeps moving.
Nove is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Volg landing with the ground and pound.
Volg is looking to work some ground and pound but Nove has wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Volg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Volg dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Volg defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nove.
Prince Volg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nove fails with a takedown attempt.
Volg misses with a wild combination.
Nove drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Volg feints a jab promting Nove to slip. Volg then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nove slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Volg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nove slips under a jab from Volg.
Volg tests Nove's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Nove moves into the clinch.
Volg tries to break the clinch but Nove is controlling the position.

Nove has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Volg clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Volg is in a bad position with Nove working for a choke. Volg manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volg with a flurry of punches that miss.
Volg looking to pass the guard.
Frank Nove overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Volg is stalling in the full guard.
Volg trying to control but Nove is working from the bottom.
Volg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Volg trying to control but Nove is working from the bottom.
Volg stops Nove from standing up.
Volg controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nove keeping moving, preventing Volg from controlling successfully.
Volg looking to sit in guard and control but Nove gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Volg pulls Nove in close to his closed guard and prevents Nove from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nove postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nove trying to control the position from guard on top but Volg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nove throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Volg dives in and grabs Nove's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nove pushes down on Volg's head and hops out.

Nove has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Volg's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Volg can't find room to land a body shot as Nove controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Volg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nove.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Nove. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nove lands an elbow just above Volg 's eye.

Nove's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nove throws a head kick that misses.
Volg looks to throw the jab but Nove is out of range.
Prince Volg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Volg scores with a hook to the body. Nove takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Nove shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nove showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volg is looking to improve his position.
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 Frank Nove will probably get the nod.
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!

A combination from Volg does no damage.
Nove fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nove doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Volg connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Frank Nove is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nove wants to clinch.

Nove clinches with his opponent.

Nove decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volg scoring with some ground and pound.
Volg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nove keeping moving, preventing Volg from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volg stands up over Nove, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nove is adopting a defensive guard.
Volg is in close to Nove's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Volg wants to pass the guard but Nove is keeping the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Volg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Volg wants to control from the top but Nove keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A left and a right from Volg both land. Nice combination.
Nove is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Volg looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volg jabs Nove to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Volg scores with a crisp jab that stopped Nove in his tracks.
A slow jab from Volg misses its intended target.
Volg might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Volg misses with a left hand

and Nove holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nove is trying to drag Volg to the mat but Volg just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nove misses with a hook to the ribs.
Volg misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nove is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Volg to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Nove. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nove decides to pull guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Volg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Volg throwing strikes but missing.
Nove looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nove looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Nove is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nove is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nove preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nove keeping moving, preventing Volg from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nove tries to score a power double leg takedown but Volg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nove somewhat.

Nove closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Volg misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Prince Volg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Volg has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Prince Volg!