PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuyo Hayate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Volkov
vs
Hayate

176 cm
25
193 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

188 cm
30
233 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Revolution Fatigues

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nikolai Volkov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tatsuyo Hayate!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayate scores with a push kick.
Volkov takes a swing at Hayate's ribcage but misses.
A head kick misses from Hayate.
Hayate misses with an attempted mid kick.

Volkov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Volkov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hayate up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hayate drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Volkov gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov stalling.
Volkov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hayate's efforts to push away.
Volkov keeps control of Hayate as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Volkov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

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.
The referee calls for Hayate to work.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Volkov prevents the takedown attempt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayate wants to get back to striking at distance but Volkov won't allow it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Volkov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Volkov being controlled against the cage.

Hayate breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hayate slips a straight right by Volkov.
Volkov tries to clinch up.
Hayate fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Volkov checks it well.
Hayate misses with an uppercut.
Hayate tries a head kick but it misses.
Hayate ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.
Hayate throws a lazy head kick
and Volkov counters with a nice uppercut.
Hayate throws a half hearted mid kick.
Volkov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Volkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hayate counters with a nice body kick.
Hayate keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hayate thows a body shot but no joy.
Volkov throws out a loose jab but Hayate uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tatsuyo Hayate 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.

Hayate tries to score with a low kick but Volkov moves his leg out of the way.
Hayate fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Volkov manages to avoid it.
Hayate cracks Volkov with a good jab.
Hayate displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Volkov throws out the jab.
Hayate misses with an uppercut.
Volkov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hayate looks to score with a jab to the body but Volkov is just out of range.
Volkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Volkov takes a swing at Hayate's ribcage but misses.
Hayate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Volkov is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Hayate's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Hayate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hayate moves out of range of the strikes.
Hayate uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Volkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov misses with a body shot.
Good exchange - Volkov coming out on top.
Hayate lands with a cross.
Hayate misses with a body shot
and Volkov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hayate misses with a jab, cross combination.
Volkov scores with the left hand. Hayate knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice body punch from Volkov.
Hayate scores with a head kick.
Volkov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Volkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hayate.
Volkov avoids the head kick by Hayate.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Volkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Hayate is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayate pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hayate misses with a body kick.
Hayate avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hayate bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Volkov throws a lazy right hand but Hayate sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An inside leg kick from Volkov misses.
Volkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Volkov digs a good hook to Hayate's body.
Hayate looks for the body kick but Volkov saw that one coming.
Hayate throws a hook to the side of Volkov's head but Volkov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hayate.
Hayate avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hayate with a hook.
Hayate moves out of range as Volkov strikes.
Hayate throws a chopping leg kick but Volkov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hayate throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Hayate.
Volkov looks to land a left hand but Hayate moved out of range nicely.
Hayate throws a lazy right hand but Volkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hayate throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Volkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hayate pivots, looking for a leg kick but Volkov is out of range and Hayate settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayate throws a sloppy head kick and Volkov moves out of range easily.
Tatsuyo Hayate seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Volkov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hayate takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hayate is breathing heavily.
A jab from Volkov misses.
Hayate on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
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!
Volkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hayate moves away.
Volkov blocks a head kick by Hayate.
Hayate thows a body shot but no joy.
Volkov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hayate.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jab from Volkov.
Hayate tries a head kick but it misses.
Volkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Volkov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Volkov lands a nice shot that snaps Hayate's head back.
Volkov throws a poor cross that misses
and Hayate counters with a stiff right hand.
Volkov misses with a wild body shot.
Hayate lands with a shot to the body.
Volkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hayate slips a straight right by Volkov.
Volkov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hayate throws a jab when Volkov was well out of range.
Hayate misses with a body shot.
Hayate ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.
Hayate tries a head kick but it misses.
Volkov throws a hook but Hayate blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov thows a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Hayate.
Hayate throws a head kick but Volkov moves out of range.
Volkov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hayate on the side of the head.
Good exchange - Volkov coming out on top.
Volkov moves out of range as Hayate throws a body kick.
Volkov blocks a head kick by Hayate.
Volkov jabs at Hayate's body.

Volkov closes the distance and clinches.
Hayate is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hayate takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Volkov stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayate effectively controlling the action here.
Hayate tries to work over Volkov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Volkov'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 three minutes gone in the round.
Hayate tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Volkov stalls.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hayate wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nikolai Volkov.
Volkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Volkov digs a good hook to Hayate's body.
Volkov looks to throw the jab but Hayate is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Volkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Volkov 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Volkov!
Nikolai Volkov retains his super heavyweight title!
Nikolai Volkov was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.