PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikita Volkov (ranked 6740 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matty Arnold (ranked 5407 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikita Volkov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Volkov
vs
Arnold

178 cm
21
168 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Kimura Klothing
HELLBENT

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikita Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matty Arnold!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arnold thuds his shin into the meat of Volkov's side.
Arnold connects with a solid leg kick.
Matty Arnold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice inside leg kick there by Arnold. That's going to slow Volkov down.
Arnold throws a wild body kick that Volkov sees coming a mile off.
Arnold works the jab nicely.

Volkov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Arnold tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Volkov is in Arnold's guard.
Volkov stays in close to Arnold's body and controls the position.

Volkov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Volkov manages to avoid it.
A quick step to the side and Volkov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Volkov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Arnold looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Arnold bucks up and tries to throw Volkov off but instead Volkov has got his back!

Volkov is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Arnold has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
You can see the frustration on Arnold's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov controlling from the back.
Volkov controlling well, preventing Arnold from escaping the position.
Volkov biding his time, looking for the opening.
Arnold is trying to stand back up.
What can Arnold do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Volkov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Good control from Volkov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Arnold manages to reverse the position and now he's in Volkov's guard. Nice work there by Arnold.
Volkov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Arnold gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arnold misses with a head kick.
Arnold bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matty Arnold will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Arnold misses with a head kick.
Arnold scores with a nice right hand.

Volkov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Arnold to the mat! Arnold manages to get full guard.
Volkov is standing up over Arnold. Arnold looks to escape but Volkov dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Volkov controlling the position from side mount.
Nikita Volkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Volkov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold connects with a body shot that sends Volkov's belly button to the back.
Arnold checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Volkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Arnold looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Arnold throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Arnold.
Arnold lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A head kick misses from Arnold.
Volkov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Volkov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Arnold pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Volkov shoots in and gets a takedown into Arnold's guard.
Arnold is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov content to stall in guard here.
Arnold wants to sweep here but Volkov controlling him for the moment.
Arnold keeping full guard, as Volkov tries to pass.
Volkov stands and throws Arnold's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Volkov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Arnold gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage.
Arnold punishes Volkov's body with a nice straight punch.

Volkov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Volkov connects with a couple of short punches.

Volkov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Volkov gets a double leg takedown into Arnold's guard.
Arnold being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov postures up.
Volkov controlling from the top position.
Arnold wants to get back to his feet but Volkov passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Volkov in particular looking to stall.
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 Nikita Volkov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Volkov blocks a head kick by Arnold.
Arnold tries a head kick but it misses.
Arnold lands with an overhand left.
Arnold cracks the inside of Volkov's front leg.
Arnold throws a sloppy head kick
and Volkov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Arnold ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Volkov moves away.
Volkov has a takedown stuffed.
Arnold is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Volkov rather than just go for the knockout.
Volkov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Arnold does no damage.

Volkov shoots in and gets a takedown into Arnold's guard.

Arnold uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arnold connects with a leg kick. Volkov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Arnold defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Volkov.
Volkov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Arnold.
Arnold with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Arnold looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As Arnold looks to move away, Volkov throws a big counter combo but Arnold just gets out of the way.
Arnold throws a combination that misses
and Volkov counters with a left and a right that stings Arnold.
Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Arnold gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikita Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arnold throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Volkov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Volkov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Arnold is looking to stand back up but Volkov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Arnold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Volkov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Volkov winds up and cracks Arnold with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Volkov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Arnold for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Volkov passes to side control.
Volkov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Arnold gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Volkov controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matty Arnold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Arnold 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matty Arnold!
After the fight, Matty Arnold was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.