PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Michael Murdock (ranked 1194 p4p, 131 weight class) and Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov (ranked 2115 p4p, 227 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murdock
vs
Vyacheslav Volkov

175 cm
27
164 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

175 cm
39
162 lbs
26 - 13 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

Dauntless

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murdock throws the kick towards the body but Volkov avoids it.
Murdock throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Volkov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Murdock thinking.
Volkov throws a leg kick which misses Murdock's front leg but catches the back leg as Murdock tries to avoid it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Murdock. Volkov shrugs it off though.
Murdock is looking to slow Volkov down with leg kicks.
Volkov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murdock.
Volkov blocks a head kick by Murdock.
Volkov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Volkov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Murdock.
Murdock lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Volkov throws a body punch but Murdock moves out of range.
Volkov connects with a body shot that sends Murdock's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock connects with an inside leg kick.
Murdock tries to land a front kick but Volkov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
It seemed like Volkov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Murdock throws a wild body kick that Volkov sees coming a mile off.
Volkov doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Murdock fakes the leg kick and cracks Volkov in the body.
Murdock throws a low kick but it's checked well by Volkov.
Volkov connects with a single shot there.
A bone on bone clash there as Volkov blocks the leg kick.
Murdock throws a sloppy head kick and Volkov moves out of range easily.
Volkov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Murdock misses with a body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Murdock blocks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock is looking to chop away at Volkov's legs.
Volkov throws a counter combo.
Murdock has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Volkov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murdock can pounce on him.
Murdock is looking to score with low kicks.
Volkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Volkov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Volkov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Murdock.
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!
Murdock shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Good work by Volkov as he checks the leg kick.
Volkov lands a two punch combo.
Murdock scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murdock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murdock throws a sloppy head kick
and Volkov counters with a head kick. That will keep Murdock thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Murdock lands a leg kick that knocks Volkov off balance momentarily.
Volkov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Murdock rather than just go for the knockout.
Volkov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Murdock takes one to the side of the head.
Murdock wants to slow Volkov down by chopping away at his legs.
Volkov scores with a body shot.
Murdock tries to work over Volkov's front leg with a kick but Volkov checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Volkov misses
and Murdock counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Murdock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Murdock is looking to counter punch.
A head kick misses from Murdock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Volkov. Murdock does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murdock feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Murdock tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Murdock misses with a straight left.
Murdock throws a leg kick but Volkov moved away.
A low kick from Murdock is predictable there
and Volkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murdock has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Murdock there as he acknowledges the shot.
Volkov tests Murdock's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Volkov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murdock manages to avoid it.
Volkov moves out of range of the body kick.
Volkov flicks out a counter leg kick but Murdock steps away.
Volkov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Murdock checks it well.
Murdock has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Murdock circles away quickly and effectively.
Volkov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A lazy body kick from Murdock
letting Volkov counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murdock scoring well with a low kick there.
Volkov avoids the head kick by Murdock.
Murdock throws a head kick but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov avoids the head kick by Murdock.
Murdock misses with a right hand
and Murdock takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Volkov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Murdock - the referee stops the clock and Volkov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Murdock. Volkov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Volkov misses with a straight left.
Murdock throws a quick counter kick to the body but Volkov avoids it.
Volkov takes a swing at Murdock's ribcage but misses.
Murdock throws a quick counter head kick but Volkov was just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Murdock.
Volkov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Volkov takes a swing at Murdock's ribcage but misses.
Murdock moves away from the strike by Volkov.
As Volkov backs away, Murdock returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Murdock throws a leg kick
and Volkov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Murdock's knee momentarily.
Murdock getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Murdock steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Volkov.
A low kick from Murdock misses
and Volkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Volkov. Murdock does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov lunges at Murdock with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Murdock's hand.
Murdock throws a head kick but Volkov moves out of range.
A big right from Volkov misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Volkov lands a really nice looking cross but Murdock seems unphased.
A head kick misses from Murdock.
Murdock tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Volkov is looking for the big counter here.
Murdock is looking to score with low kicks.
A countering left hand to the body from Volkov misses.
Murdock throws a leg kick that is checked
and Volkov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Volkov feints and then cracks Murdock's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Murdock down.
Volkov misses with a right hand
and Murdock makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Volkov really felt that one!
Volkov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murdock was well out of range. Poor timing from Volkov.
Murdock throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Volkov throws a sloppy head kick and Murdock moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov lands a slapping body shot.
Volkov has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Nice body kick there by Murdock.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A good leg kick by Murdock.
Volkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Murdock is just out of range.
Murdock takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Murdock fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Volkov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Volkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Volkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Murdock is just out of range.
Volkov has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Murdock.
Murdock lands a head kick. Volkov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov has been cut.
Volkov thuds a left hand into Murdock's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov.
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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov!
Maxim Vyacheslav Volkov took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.