PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Volkov (ranked 1147 p4p, 1254 weight class) and Daniel Sainty (ranked 147 p4p, 158 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Volkov
vs
Sainty

175 cm
29
154
10 - 9 - 0

189 cm
38
150
25 - 29 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Sainty!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov throws a poor cross that misses
and Sainty counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Volkov throws a combination that misses
and Volkov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sainty has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Volkov closes the distance and pushes Sainty back into the cage.
Volkov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sainty blocks a body shot from Volkov.
Volkov misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sainty pulls guard successfully.

Sainty working for a triangle but Volkov defends it easily.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Sainty keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Volkov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Volkov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sainty working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volkov.

Sainty looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Volkov cracks Sainty with a solid left hand.
Volkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sainty is keeping the position for now.
Volkov trying to control but Sainty is working from the bottom.

Sainty has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Volkov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sainty.

Volkov swings around for an armbar but Sainty sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Volkov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sainty stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Volkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Volkov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Volkov looking for subs off his back but Sainty has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sainty works his way into side control.
Sainty trying to control the action but Volkov is working from the bottom.
Sainty content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov holding on.
Volkov is trying to work for a sweep but Sainty has mounted him!
Sainty looking to control but Volkov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Volkov is working to get back to half guard.
Volkov wants to hold on but Sainty pushes him away.
Volkov is looking to improve his position but Sainty isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is working hard here to advance position.
Sainty controlling from the full mount.
Volkov is working to get back to half guard.
Volkov tries to hold on but Sainty pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Volkov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Volkov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Sainty is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Volkov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sainty.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Sainty dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Volkov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sainty on his heels. He'll look to pass Sainty's guard now, I'm sure.
Daniel Sainty has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sainty preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Volkov slips nicely into half guard.
Sainty is pressing down on Volkov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sainty is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Volkov postures up and lands a big shot to Sainty's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sainty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkov lands a couple of elbows.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Sainty keeps moving.

Volkov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Volkov scoring with some ground and pound.
We've been hearing that Volkov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Volkov landing with the ground and pound.

Sainty is looking for a triangle but Volkov pushes his legs off easily.
Volkov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Sainty has his foot on Volkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Volkov works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Volkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Sainty throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Volkov postures up and lands a big shot to Sainty's brow.

Sainty has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Volkov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Volkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sainty's head.

Sainty is looking for a triangle but Volkov pushes his legs off easily.
Volkov lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sainty is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Volkov defends well.
Volkov trying to control but Sainty is working from the bottom.

Sainty has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Volkov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sainty isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Volkov stacks Sainty on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Volkov!

Volkov is trying to get an arm triangle but Sainty is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sainty tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Volkov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Volkov wants to control but Sainty is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sainty tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Volkov lands a nice forearm strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Volkov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sainty gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Sainty is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Volkov defends well.
Volkov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Volkov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Volkov is in close to Sainty's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov trying to control but Sainty is working from the bottom.
Volkov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Volkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sainty has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Volkov has managed to get both his arms back between Sainty's legs - danger averted.
Volkov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sainty is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Volkov wants to pass the guard but Sainty is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Sainty keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Volkov is in close to Sainty's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Sainty is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Volkov distracts Sainty with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Volkov is in close to Sainty's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Volkov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Sainty had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Volkov defends it easily.

Sainty is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Volkov postures up and lands a big shot to Sainty's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sainty escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Volkov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Sainty keeps moving.
Sainty can't keep his opponent in guard - Volkov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Volkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Volkov is looking for a kimura but Sainty is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Volkov to get the leverage.
Volkov is just content to waste time from the top position. Sainty takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sainty has momentary wrist control but Volkov slips an elbow through the middle.
Volkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sainty can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sainty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Volkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Sainty throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Volkov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sainty keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sainty has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Volkov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Volkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Volkov 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Volkov!
After winning the bout, Ivan Volkov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.