PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnathon Ray (ranked 7066 p4p, 579 weight class) and Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 7454 p4p, 591 weight class). Volkanovski has chosen 2pac - Hail Mary as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Ray
vs
Volkanovski

185 cm
19
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
19
218 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnathon Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksandar Volkanovski!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volkanovski rushes Ray and presses him up against the cage.
Volkanovski prevents a body shot from Ray.
Ray definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ray tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Volkanovski's elbow.
Volkanovski can't find room to land a body shot as Ray controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Volkanovski creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ray up against the cage.
Volkanovski is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Still in the clinch, Volkanovski scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ray or not.
Volkanovski cracks Ray with a nice body shot.
Ray misses with a hook to the ribs.
Volkanovski's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rays head.
Nice body punch from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ray backwards.
Ray misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski lands an uppercut.
Volkanovski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rays head.
Volkanovski lands a body punch in the clinch.
Volkanovski stalls.
Ray misses with some punches.
Volkanovski lands with a light punch inside.
Ray has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ray working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ray tries a body shot but Volkanovski blocks it.
Volkanovski lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ray backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Volkanovski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Volkanovski lands with a light punch inside.
Volkanovski scores with a nice hook to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Volkanovski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Volkanovski scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ray or not.
A right hand to the body from Volkanovski.
Nice body punch from Volkanovski.
Ray wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Volkanovski has him pressed against the cage.
Volkanovski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Volkanovski prevents Ray from breaking the clinch.
Ray wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Volkanovski has him pressed against the cage.
Ray wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski taking a breather.
A nice left hand lands by Volkanovski.
Volkanovski is working Ray over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Volkanovski lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ray is breathing heavily.
Ray wants to break free but Volkanovski has control.
Volkanovski lands a body shot in the clinch.
Volkanovski digs a right hand into Ray's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ray's gas tank.
Volkanovski lands with a light punch inside.
Ray lands a left hand that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Volkanovski content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ray stalling in the clinch but Volkanovski improves position.
Volkanovski avoiding damage.
Ray working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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!
Volkanovski content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ray throws a sloppy body shot

and Volkanovski counters with a crisp one two that drops Ray! Volkanovski thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Ray to his feet! Ray is in big trouble!
Volkanovski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ray.

Volkanovski clinches with his opponent.
Volkanovski lands a shoulder strike.
Volkanovski throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Volkanovski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Volkanovski pushes Ray back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Volkanovski cracks Ray with a nice body shot.
Volkanovski content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Volkanovski.

Ray is rocked!
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!
A frustrated look appears on Ray's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Oh Ray is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Volkanovski holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ray seems to have got his legs back now.
Volkanovski content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on Volkanovski's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Volkanovski managing to block the knees to the body from Ray.
Volkanovski just leaning against Ray, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski scores with a shot to the side of Ray's head.
Volkanovski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ray has a couple of punches blocked by Volkanovski.
A right hook to the body lands for Volkanovski.
Volkanovski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A right handed body shot lands from Volkanovski.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Volkanovski cracks Ray with a nice body shot.
Volkanovski lands with a light punch inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski just leaning against Ray, taking a breather.
Volkanovski effectively controlling the action here.
A shot in the inside from Volkanovski.
A short right from Volkanovski on the inside.
Ray misses with a short punch on the inside.
Volkanovski scores with a shoulder strike.
Aleksandar Volkanovski seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ray backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Volkanovski is working Ray over against the cage.
Volkanovski taking a breather.
Volkanovski lands a body shot in the clinch.
Volkanovski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Volkanovski is struggling to control the position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Volkanovski creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Volkanovski is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A short left from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski digs a right hand into Ray's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ray's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski lands with a left to the head.
Volkanovski is leaning against Ray and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A body shot lands from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski stalling the fight.
Volkanovski lands a body shot in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Volkanovski.
Volkanovski lands a right hand.
Good body shot from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ray.

Volkanovski drags the fight down to the ground.

Volkanovski is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Come on Volkanovski - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Volkanovski pushes Ray back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Volkanovski lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Volkanovski lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski controlling the action here for a moment.
Volkanovski taking a breather.
A nice right hand lands inside from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandar Volkanovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ray throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnathon Ray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volkanovski thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ray if he has to take too many more of those.
Ray swings for the body but Volkanovski moves out of range.

Volkanovski clinches up against the cage.
Volkanovski blocks a body shot from Ray.
A nice right hand lands inside from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski is working Ray over against the cage.
Volkanovski lands a nice uppercut.
Volkanovski works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A right handed body shot lands from Volkanovski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski lands a hook that snaps the head of Ray backwards.
Volkanovski is leaning against Ray and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Volkanovski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rays head.
Volkanovski lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ray or not.
Volkanovski pushes Ray back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Volkanovski.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Volkanovski.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stalling in the clinch from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski digs a right hand into Ray's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ray's gas tank.
Volkanovski lands a body shot in the clinch.
Volkanovski lands a body shot.
Volkanovski dips a shoulder and cracks Ray with a mighty uppercut! Ray falls back against the cage and Volkanovski unloads with a barrage of strikes! Ray is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Volkanovski screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aleksandar Volkanovski!
Aleksandar Volkanovski gave a mention to Urban Fighter in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).