PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kerry King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Volken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

King
vs
Volken

200 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kerry King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darren Volken!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King doesn't manage to clinch there - Volken circles away.
Volken looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Volken circles away from the clinch attempt.
Volken should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Volken tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.

King clinches with his opponent.
King misses with a knee strike.
King looking for a takedown.
Volken looking for a takedown.
King goes for a takedown in the clinch but Volken prevents it.

King has clasped his hands together around Volken's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
King cracks Volken with a big elbow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

King working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
King is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Volken's shoulder. That is not cool.
Volken is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
King lands a nice forearm strike.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
King tries to clinch but Volken moves away

and Volken decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in King's guard.

Volken avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volken stops King from standing up.
King is controlling Volken's posture.
King will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Volken missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
King wants to stand up but Volken is controlling him.
Volken working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Volken in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
King goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

King has Volken up against the cage in a clinch.
Volken is looking for a takedown up against the cage. King gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
King with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

King has clasped his hands together around Volken's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
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!
King scores with punches from side control.
King lands a nice forearm strike.
Volken is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Volken throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
King landing strikes.
Volken is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Volken's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Volken taking a bit of punishment here - King scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Volken looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? King is fending him off so far but Volken persists. Nope, King circles away and we're back to standing.
Kerry King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Volken.

Volken gets the takedown into side control.
Volken lands a few punches from side control.
King has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Volken wants to lay and pray for a moment but King keeps working.
Volken misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
King is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Volken's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Volken stops King from getting back to his feet.
Volken thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Volken thows a huge punch but King dodges it nicely.
Volken is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
King tries to clinch but Volken is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King has closed the distance and engaged Volken in a clinch.
King lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, King scores with a nice short uppercut.

King gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Volken trying to hold on to King's head to control him but King postures up.
King works his foot free and advances to mount.
King lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King unloading with bombs!
King prevents Volken from getting the reversal.
King working the ground and pound effectively.
King looking to control but Volken is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kerry King dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

King fails with an attempt to clinch.

King has closed the distance and engaged Volken in a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by King.
King throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

King has clasped his hands together around Volken's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Volken gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Volken is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
King postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Volken looks a forlorn figure.
King controlling the position easily from mount.
Volken tries to hold on but King postures up.
King has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Volken's face.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volken tries to lock up and control but King gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by King.
King breaks from Volken's wrist control and lands an elbow.
King looking to finish Volken with some ground and pound. This is bad for Volken!
King landing strikes from the mount and Volken is in trouble!
The referee warns Volken that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
King landing shots from mount.
King looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
King dominating with strikes here.
King in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Volken is looking to get to half guard.
Volken is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Volken swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King looking to finish Volken with some ground and pound. This is bad for Volken!
King avoids the attempt from Volken to control.
King unloading with bombs!
Volken taking shots to the head.
Volken is looking to get to half guard.
King working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Volken sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
King is trying to control the action in half guard but Volken is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from King there.
Volken is trying to control but can't.
King blocks the strikes from Volken.
King slips a nice elbow through Volken's hands, connecting with Volken's forehead.
King thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Volken's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King drops an elbow to the side of Volken's head.
Volken is trying to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Volken fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Volken jabbing away but nothing is landing.
King tries to clinch but Volken moves out of range.
Volken circles away from the clinch attempt.
King scores with a decent looking hook.
Kerry King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Volken shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says King as he avoids it easily.
Volken avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Volken pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.

King jumps into guard, dragging Volken to the mat.

King looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Volken trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King manages to escape and get back to his feet.

King clinches with his opponent.
King throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
King lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Volken backwards.
Volken wants a takedown but no success here.
Kerry King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Volken.
Volken can't get the takedown.

King pulls guard.
Volken looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Volken wants to get up but he can't break King's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Volken postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kerry King dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

King closes the distance and pushes Volken back into the cage.

King has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Volken is trying to keep an underhook but King manages to get the takedown into half guard.
King seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
King takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Volken is refusing to be controlled, as King sits in half guard.
King working the head and body with strikes.
Volken is trying to control but can't.

King decides to stand up.
King fails with the takedown

and Volken holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

King gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Volken regains guard.
Volken keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volken throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Volken working for a triangle but King defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
King throws a big right hand that misses.
King scoring with some ground and pound.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but Volken is retaining full guard.
Volken tries to strike from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
King tries to clinch but Volken moves away

and Volken counters by clinching up.
With the fighters up against the cage, King throws an elbow but misses.

King ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. King no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Volken trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Volken works over King with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two 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.
Volken trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

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

Volken got a little sloppy there for a moment and King has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Volken has managed to get both his arms back between King's legs - danger averted.
Volken is working King over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
King trying to control the position.
Volken stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. King swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
King with a lazy takedown attempt

and Volken holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
King tries a knee to the head but Volken blocks it.
Volken lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volken breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Volken counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kerry King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King working a defensive guard here.

Volken gets to his feet. King looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
King doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Volken counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Volken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
King controls Volken momentarily but Volken frees himself.
Volken tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.

King looking for a guillotine here but Volken defends easily.
King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volken throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as King works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

King has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Volken can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Volken working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of King's head.
Volken stops King from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

King clinches up against the cage.
King is trying to drag Volken to the mat but Volken just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King looking to throw knees to the head but Volken is blocking nicely.
Darren Volken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kerry King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

King gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Volken regains guard.

King got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volken has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, King has managed to get both his arms back between Volken's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Darren Volken.
Well King has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kerry King!