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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lane Craig (ranked 5563 p4p, 489 weight class) and Viktor Volkov (ranked 6037 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!
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| 175 cm
25
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
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180 cm
25
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart |
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Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident |
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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
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lane Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Craig shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Volkov eats them both and turns towards Craig to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A solid body kick from Craig.
Nice jab there from Craig.
Craig misses the body punch
enabling Volkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Craig falls off balance throwing a combination
and Volkov counters with a single leg into guard. Craig didn't expect that.
Craig pushes Volkov off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Volkov lands with an overhand left.
Craig throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Volkov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Craig won't be happy with that.
Craig manages to work his way to half guard, despite Volkov's best efforts.
Craig taking some punishment here, with Volkov in his half guard.
Craig wants to control but Volkov is keeping busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov lands with a punch from half guard.
Craig moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Craig looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Craig not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Volkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkov trying to control but Craig is working from the bottom.
Volkov throws a strike but Craig rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to stand up but Craig is controlling him.
Craig stopping the sweep attempt from Volkov.
Volkov is trying to control the position but Craig postures up.
Craig prevents Volkov from getting back to his feet.
Volkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Craig throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volkov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craig looks to land a combination but Volkov avoids it well.
Craig throws a left and a right that both miss
and Volkov counters with a single leg into guard. Craig didn't expect that.
Volkov won't allow Craig to sweep him here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Craig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Volkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Craig works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Craig keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Volkov looking to sit in guard and control but Craig gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Volkov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Craig trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Volkov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Volkov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Volkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Craig defending well though.
Volkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Volkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Volkov working the head and body with strikes.
Volkov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Craig defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Lane Craig will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Volkov shoots in and bounces Craig off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Volkov throws a strike but Craig rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Craig trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkov manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Volkov is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Craig breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Volkov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A punch combination from Volkov misses.
A jab from Volkov finds it's way through Craig's defenses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Volkov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Craig!
Craig throws Volkov to one side and escapes!
Volkov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Volkov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Craig throws a series of punches but Volkov avoids them all with ease.
Craig shoots in for a takedown but Volkov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Craig closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Craig manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Volkov throws an elbow that misses. Craig uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Volkov's guard. Nice move by Craig!
Volkov wants to stand but Craig is controlling the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig preventing the sweep.
Craig wants to control from the top but Volkov keeps moving.
Volkov has his hands on Craig's head, controlling the position.
Craig preventing the sweep.
Volkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Craig. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Volkov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Craig's guard.
Volkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Craig is trying to keep Volkov in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Volkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
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.
Volkov trying to control but Craig is working from the bottom.
Volkov throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Volkov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Craig wants to clinch.
Craig throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown but Craig shows good takedown defense.
Craig tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Volkov defends well and Craig ends up having to push Volkov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Volkov scores with a jab to the body.
Viktor Volkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Volkov shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Volkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Craig, which made it look bad.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Volkov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Craig was well out of range. Poor timing from Volkov.
Volkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Craig scores with a head kick.
It looks like Viktor Volkov has been cut.
Craig displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Volkov.
Craig moves into the clinch successfully.
Craig drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Volkov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov wants to break free but Craig has control.
Volkov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Volkov prevents the takedown attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Craig.
Volkov is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Craig breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Craig stuffs the takedown.
Craig looks to land a left hand but Volkov moved out of range nicely.
No luck for Volkov with that takedown attempt.
Lane Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Volkov.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Volkov.
Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Craig gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage.
Craig on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Craig shoots for a double leg takedown but Volkov sprawls well. He's pushed Craig's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Volkov works over Craig's head and body with a nice combination.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov connects with a body shot.
Volkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It seemed like Volkov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice shot by Volkov.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Craig but Craig pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Craig misses with a few strikes there.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Craig as he jumps to the side.
Volkov tries for a takedown but Craig sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It looked like Craig was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Craig looks to land a combination. Volkov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Craig falls off balance throwing a combination
and Volkov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lane Craig seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Craig sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Volkov somewhat.
Craig swings for the body but Volkov moves out of range.
Craig defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Volkov.
Volkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Craig is just out of range.
Craig misses with a body punch
and Volkov counters with a takedown into side control.
Craig throws Volkov to one side and escapes!
Lane Craig is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Volkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Craig misses with a wild combination.
Volkov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Craig quickly recovers to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Volkov slips a nice elbow through Craig's hands, connecting with Craig's forehead.
Volkov is just content to waste time from the top position. Craig takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Volkov throws a big elbow that misses.
Volkov scoring with some ground and pound.
Craig has momentary wrist control but Volkov slips an elbow through the middle.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Craig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that's the end of the fight!
Lane Craig showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Craig has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lane Craig!
During a confident post fight interview, Lane Craig thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
52% |
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