PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ko Van Den Born (ranked 2205 p4p, 4256 weight class) and Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 312 p4p, 490 weight class). Volkanovski has chosen 2pac - Hail Mary as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Van Den Born
vs
Volkanovski

190 cm
36
190
23 - 18 - 0

193 cm
35
217
13 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

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 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ko Van Den Born!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aleksandar Volkanovski!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Winston Howard and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Den Born throws a nice looking combination but Volkanovski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Volkanovski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ko Van Den Born seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volkanovski with a hook.

It looks like Ko Van Den Born has been cut.
Volkanovski looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Den Born connects with a nice looking jab.
Van Den Born misses with a left hand
and Volkanovski counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Van Den Born takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Decent striking displayed by Volkanovski there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Den Born slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Den Born. Volkanovski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Volkanovski steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Van Den Born displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Volkanovski throws out the jab.
Volkanovski works Van Den Born's body with a nice hook.
Van Den Born misses with a series of wild punches.
Volkanovski now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Volkanovski throws a head kick but Van Den Born moves out of range.
Volkanovski lands with a slapping head kick.

Van Den Born clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Den Born tries a body shot but Volkanovski blocks it.
Van Den Born lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Volkanovski manages to break the clinch.
Van Den Born throws a big shot that misses.
Volkanovski appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Volkanovski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Den Born.
Van Den Born sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Volkanovski thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Van Den Born if he has to take too many more of those.
Volkanovski lands a nice looking kick to the body. Van Den Born takes a step back to recover.
Volkanovski takes a swing at Van Den Born's ribcage but misses.
Van Den Born looks to land a right hand but Volkanovski moved out of range.
Van Den Born tries to clinch up.
Van Den Born misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Volkanovski finds it's way through Van Den Born's defenses.
Volkanovski falls off balance throwing a combination
and Van Den Born counters with a straight right hand.
Volkanovski staying out of range there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Volkanovski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Den Born.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Den Born slips a jab and a cross from Volkanovski.
Van Den Born is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Volkanovski.
Van Den Born tests Volkanovski's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Volkanovski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Volkanovski bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Volkanovski ducks under a wild hook from Van Den Born.

Volkanovski takes the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Volkanovski scores with a nice short uppercut.
Van Den Born lands a nice uppercut.

Volkanovski breaks the clinch.
Volkanovski misses with a head kick.
Ko Van Den Born is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Den Born misses with a hook.
Good standup being displayed there by Van Den Born as he connects with a hook.
Volkanovski jabs Van Den Born to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Volkanovski defending well as Van Den Born loads up on a big left hand.
Van Den Born is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Volkanovski takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski thows a body kick. Van Den Born tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Van Den Born misses with a hook.
Van Den Born throws a looping overhand right but Volkanovski ducks down to avoid it.
Van Den Born swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Volkanovski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Den Born keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van Den Born avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Volkanovski connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Volkanovski throws a body punch but Van Den Born moves out of range.
Volkanovski moves out of range as Van Den Born strikes.
Volkanovski misses with a wild combination.
Nice defenses there by Volkanovski.
Volkanovski is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Van Den Born rather than just go for the knockout.
Volkanovski fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Volkanovski uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Den Born.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski moves out of range as Van Den Born strikes.
Van Den Born throws a hook but Volkanovski avoids it easily.
Volkanovski swings away with a body shot that misses

and Van Den Born holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Den Born is looking to control Volkanovski's arms but Volkanovski gets an underhook and turns him. Now Van Den Born has his back to the cage.
Volkanovski is looking to control Van Den Born's arms but Van Den Born gets an underhook and turns him. Now Volkanovski has his back to the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Van Den Born fails to land.
Van Den Born works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Volkanovski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Den Born smiles and moves away.
Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses.
A slow jab from Van Den Born misses its intended target.
Volkanovski walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Van Den Born fails to land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Volkanovski, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Den Born scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Volkanovski doesn't seem bothered though.
Van Den Born scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Volkanovski misses with a head kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ko Van Den Born will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ko Van Den Born's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Volkanovski has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Volkanovski there as he acknowledges the shot.
Van Den Born closes the distance looking to clinch
and Volkanovski counters with a straight right hand.
Volkanovski lands with a hook. Van Den Born tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Volkanovski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A big left from Van Den Born misses.
Volkanovski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd cheers as Volkanovski lands an impressive looking overhand right. Van Den Born doesn't seem phased though.
Aleksandar Volkanovski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Den Born throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Den Born swings widly with a right hand
and Volkanovski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Volkanovski tries to clinch but Van Den Born is having none of it.
Van Den Born takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses.
Volkanovski has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Volkanovski there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Den Born looks to land a combination but Volkanovski avoids it well.
Aleksandar Volkanovski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Den Born throws a sloppy body shot
and Volkanovski counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Van Den Born looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Den Born circles away from the clinch attempt.
Volkanovski shoots in looking for a takedown. Van Den Born tries to sprawl out of it but Volkanovski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Van Den Born manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Volkanovski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Den Born throws out the jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Volkanovski lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Van Den Born has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Van Den Born and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Volkanovski dodges the punch combination from Van Den Born.
A slow jab from Van Den Born misses its intended target.
Van Den Born connects with the punch.
Volkanovski looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Van Den Born lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Den Born tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Volkanovski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Volkanovski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Den Born.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Volkanovski has closed the distance and engaged Van Den Born in a clinch.
Volkanovski with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Den Born.
Van Den Born works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Van Den Born swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Den Born creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Volkanovski as Van Den Born tries to tie him up.
Van Den Born swings wildly with an uppercut but Volkanovski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Den Born stalling in the clinch but Volkanovski improves position.
Volkanovski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Van Den Born fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Volkanovski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Den Born moves away.
Van Den Born throws a series of punches but Volkanovski avoids them all with ease.
Volkanovski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Van Den Born.
Volkanovski slips under a jab.
Van Den Born throws a poor cross that misses
and Volkanovski counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Volkanovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Volkanovski throws a sloppy head kick and Van Den Born moves out of range easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Volkanovski. That's going to slow Van Den Born down.
Van Den Born blocks a jab.
Volkanovski doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Den Born circles away.
Volkanovski staying out of range there.
Volkanovski fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Van Den Born moves away from the strike by Volkanovski.
Van Den Born throws a shot from downtown. Volkanovski moves away and avoids it.
Volkanovski lands a nice looking kick to the body. Van Den Born takes a step back to recover.
Van Den Born cracks Volkanovski with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Den Born connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Volkanovski's hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Volkanovski dips to his left and cracks Van Den Born with an uppercut!
Volkanovski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Den Born.
Van Den Born swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Volkanovski.
Van Den Born throws a right hand that Volkanovski ducks under and follows up with a left that Volkanovski also avoids with ease.
Volkanovski looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Van Den Born slips under a jab.
Van Den Born swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Van Den Born throws a right hand that Volkanovski ducks under and follows up with a left that Volkanovski also avoids with ease.
A head kick by Volkanovski misses
enabling Van Den Born to counter with a crisp jab.
Van Den Born tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Den Born takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Van Den Born with a jab.
Volkanovski swings for the body but Van Den Born moves out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Volkanovski.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ko Van Den Born will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ko Van Den Born's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Good leg kick by Volkanovski.
Van Den Born will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Volkanovski throws a head kick that misses.
Van Den Born throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Van Den Born throws a hook to the side of Volkanovski's head but Volkanovski sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van Den Born ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Volkanovski moves away.
Nice body kick from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski needs to keep his hands up - Van Den Born had a free shot at his head there.

Volkanovski clinches up with Van Den Born and pushes him back against the cage.
Van Den Born working aggressively here.
Van Den Born misses with a hook from the clinch.
Van Den Born lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Den Born has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Den Born is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Van Den Born lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ko Van Den Born has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Van Den Born prevents Volkanovski from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Den Born lands a right hand that snaps the head of Volkanovski backwards.
Volkanovski tries to break free but Van Den Born pushes him back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Van Den Born takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Volkanovski jumps guard.
Volkanovski has his hands on Van Den Born's head, controlling the position.
Van Den Born controlling from the top position.
Van Den Born throws a big elbow that misses.
Van Den Born tries to stand but Volkanovski is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkanovski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Van Den Born doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Van Den Born manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Volkanovski looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Van Den Born has picked Volkanovski up and slammed him! Volkanovski can't keep hold of the triangle and Van Den Born manages to pass to side control!
Volkanovski wants to control but Van Den Born postures up.
Volkanovski is looking for a sweep.
Van Den Born lands a nice forearm strike.
Van Den Born wants to control but Volkanovski is keeping him busy.
Volkanovski takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Volkanovski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Den Born is trying to move to mount but Volkanovski reverses beautifully and ends up in Van Den Born's guard.
Volkanovski pushing down on Van Den Born's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Volkanovski wants to get back to his feet.
Aleksandar Volkanovski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Den Born is pressing down on Volkanovski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Volkanovski trying to move into half guard but instead Van Den Born has managed to sweep!

Van Den Born engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Den Born'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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ko Van Den Born showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van Den Born, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Aleksandar Volkanovski!
Aleksandar Volkanovski seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.