PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Voltof (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Noham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noham is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Chase The Devil. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Voltof
vs
Noham

179 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vlad Voltof!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thomas Noham!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Voltof shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Noham as he avoids it easily.

Noham clinches up against the cage.

Noham pulls guard.
Noham trying to control the position here.
Noham looking to control.
Voltof trying to control the position from guard on top but Noham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voltof stopping the sweep attempt from Noham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voltof tries to stand but Noham is controlling from the bottom.
Voltof slips nicely into half guard.
Noham is staying active underneath Voltof, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Noham is defending against the submission attempts here by Voltof.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Voltof is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Noham reverses the position - he's now on top in Voltof's guard.
Noham controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voltof not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Voltof keeping moving, preventing Noham from controlling successfully.
Voltof is trying to control the position but Noham postures up.
Voltof really is a fat lump.
Noham seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Voltof might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Noham trying to control the position from guard on top but Voltof is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Noham stays in close to Voltof's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thomas Noham.
Voltof with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Voltof avoids a kick to the body.

Noham shoots in and bounces Voltof off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Voltof working for a triangle but Noham defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Voltof tries for a takedown but Noham circles away easily

and Noham counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Voltof looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Voltof looking for submissions off his back.
Noham is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Noham landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noham is looking to stall here but Voltof recovers full guard.
Voltof keeping moving, preventing Noham from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Noham landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Noham distracts Voltof with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Voltof preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Noham trying to control but Voltof is working from the bottom.
Noham stays in close to Voltof's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thomas Noham.
Noham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Voltof fails with the takedown

and Noham counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Noham trying to control but Voltof is working from the bottom.
Noham postures up.
Noham content to stall in guard here.
Let's hope that Noham 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noham trying to control but Voltof is working from the bottom.
Noham controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thomas Noham.

Voltof gets caught flat footed, as Noham shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Noham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Noham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Noham drives through and clinches with Voltof against the cage.
Noham is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Voltof gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Noham drops down looking for an ankle pick but Voltof pulls his leg out and moves away.
Voltof misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Noham. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Noham clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noham drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vlad Voltof has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Noham.
Noham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Voltof pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Noham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Voltof pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Noham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Voltof wants a takedown but no success here.
Noham misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noham gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Voltof works his way to full guard. Good work.
Voltof manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Noham manages to get himself to full guard.
Noham is trying to keep Voltof in close.
Voltof preventing the sweep.
Voltof stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Noham swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voltof is working hard here to advance position.
Noham throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Voltof preventing the sweep.
Voltof looking to pass the guard.
Thomas Noham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Voltof trying to control the position from guard on top but Noham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Noham gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Voltof counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Voltof.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Voltof postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Noham is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Voltof, into his guard.
Noham controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Voltof seems keen to control Noham's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Voltof throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Noham content to stall in guard here.

Voltof throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Voltof showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Noham 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Noham!