PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Geraldo Whitley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Volchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Volchenko has chosen Roar of the Lion as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Whitley
vs
Volchenko

175 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Geraldo Whitley!
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, Ivan Volchenko!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volchenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whitley was well out of range. Poor timing from Volchenko.
Volchenko misses with a few strikes there.
Whitley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Volchenko.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Whitley breaks from the clinch.

Whitley shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Volchenko keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Volchenko kicks Whitley off and gets back to his feet.
Whitley tries to clinch there but Volchenko circles away.
No joy there for Volchenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitley shoots in but Volchenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Whitley looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Whitley drops an elbow to the side of Volchenko's head.
Whitley keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Volchenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Volchenko is trying to stand.
Volchenko keeping control of the position.
Whitley perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitley is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Volchenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Whitley.
Whitley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Volchenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Volchenko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Whitley is controlling him.
Whitley engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Whitley closes the distance and clinches.

Whitley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Volchenko feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Whitley sprawling to the canvas! Whitley rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Volchenko finish him?!

It looks like Geraldo Whitley has been cut.
Volchenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Volchenko unleashes a big counter combination but Whitley bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Volchenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Whitley counters with a nice double leg into side control. Volchenko won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Volchenko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ground and pound from Whitley seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volchenko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Whitley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Volchenko is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Volchenko tries to improve position but can't.
Whitley wants to control but Volchenko is keeping him busy.
Volchenko tries to buck Whitley off but Whitley is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Volchenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Geraldo Whitley's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Whitley looks for a takedown but Volchenko sprawls well.

Volchenko forces Whitley back against the cage and clinches.

Whitley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Volchenko darts in and clinches Whitley up against the cage.
Volchenko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Whitley is trying to stall.
Whitley tries to score a body lock takedown but Volchenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Volchenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Whitley is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Volchenko is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Geraldo Whitley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitley tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Volchenko avoids it.
Whitley avoids a wild elbow strike from Volchenko.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Volchenko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Volchenko. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Whitley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volchenko scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short body shot lands from Volchenko as the two fighters clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Volchenko creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Volchenko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Volchenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Volchenko stuns Whitley with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Volchenko moves into the clinch successfully.
Volchenko lands a body punch.
Volchenko has Whitley pressed against the cage.
Volchenko is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volchenko leaning against his opponent.
Whitley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Volchenko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Whitley or not.

Volchenko successfully pulls guard.
Volchenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Volchenko managing to control the position.
Whitley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volchenko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Whitley with a flurry of punches that miss.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Volchenko pushes Whitley up against the cage in a clinch.

Whitley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Volchenko closes the distance and clinches.
Volchenko throws an elbow that misses.

Whitley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Whitley gets caught napping as Volchenko dives in and scores a takedown. Whitley manages to retain guard.
Whitley looking for a sweep. Not yet Whitley, not yet.
Volchenko advances position into side control!
Whitley gets back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volchenko working the head and body with strikes.
Volchenko winds up and cracks Whitley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Volchenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Geraldo Whitley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Whitley tries to score a power double leg takedown but Volchenko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whitley somewhat.
Volchenko misses with a head kick.
Volchenko connects with a picture perfect right hand that knocks Whitley out cold! This one is over in a flash!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ivan Volchenko!
Ivan Volchenko opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.