PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Maples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrick Volkovv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Henrick Volkovv was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Maples
vs
Volkovv

195 cm
25
255 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Brute

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Maples!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henrick Volkovv!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maples slaps away a takedown attempt from Volkovv, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Volkovv misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maples closes the distance and clinches up with Volkovv, looking for a takedown. Maples pushes Volkovv against the cage but Volkovv circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Volkovv shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Maples's guard.
Volkovv pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maples is keeping the position for now.
Volkovv with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maples wants to stand and escape but Volkovv is having none of it.
Volkovv throwing strikes from guard but Maples blocks nicely.

Volkovv drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maples looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maples looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maples!
Maples scoring with punches from side control.
Volkovv really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maples. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Maples.
Maples 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.
Maples wants to stand but Volkovv is controlling his arm.
Volkovv tries to buck Maples off but Maples is having none of it.
The strikes coming from Maples are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maples is looking to take a break and control but Volkovv is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Volkovv avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Maples.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkovv is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Volkovv is looking for a sweep.
Volkovv is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Volkovv can do anything to dispel that myth.
Maples trying to control the action but Volkovv is working from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Maples.
What's Volkovv going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Volkovv is trying to buck Maples off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maples grinds an elbow into Volkovv's temple.
Maples content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Maples advances to full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maples unloads with some shots from mount but Volkovv bucks and avoids them well.
Volkovv is trying to stand up.
Volkovv tries to reverse the position but Maples maintains control.
Maples sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maples can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Volkovv is looking to escape.
Volkovv avoids a series of strikes thrown by Maples.
Maples looking to control but Volkovv is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Maples working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Volkovv manages to regain half guard. Good work.
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!
Volkovv avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maples.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maples thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Volkovv's head.
Maples throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maples thows a huge punch but Volkovv dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Maples dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maples lands a nice leg kick that just misses Volkovv's sensitive parts.
Volkovv looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
George Maples is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maples wants to clinch.
Volkovv is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maples sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Volkovv keeps the fight on the outside.
Maples tries to close the distance and clinch but Volkovv swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maples wants to clinch up but Volkovv keeps it at a distance.
Maples with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
No luck for Volkovv with that takedown attempt.
George Maples has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrick Volkovv.
Maples tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Volkovv is breathing heavily.
Maples tries to clinch up.
Volkovv avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maples tries to clinch there but Volkovv circles away.
Maples wants to clinch up but Volkovv keeps it at a distance.
Maples shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Volkovv shoots in and gets a takedown into Maples's guard.
Volkovv postures up in Maples's guard and throws a big left but Maples blocks it.
Maples is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Volkovv is controlling him.
Volkovv landing some decent shots from guard.
Volkovv throws a strike but Maples rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Volkovv wants to sweep but no luck.
Volkovv pulls Maples in close to prevent any damage.
Maples slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples moves into full mount! Volkovv won't be happy about that!

Maples goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Volkovv is on top in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Volkovv looking to sit in guard and control but Maples gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Volkovv keeping moving, preventing Maples from controlling successfully.
Maples loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maples slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Volkovv parries the strikes from Maples easily there. Maples is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Volkovv to escape.
Volkovv is trying to buck Maples off.
Volkovv avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Maples.
Maples working away.
Maples trying to control the action but Volkovv is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkovv keeping his opponent close.
Maples tries to score with some ground and pound. Volkovv controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Maples is looking to take a break and control but Volkovv is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Maples is trying to get an arm triangle but Volkovv is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maples working the ground and pound.
Maples cracks Volkovv with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maples moves in looking to clinch but Volkovv pushes him off.
Maples doesn't manage to clinch there - Volkovv circles away.

Maples clinches up against the cage.
Maples lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maples landing knees to the head.

It looks like Henrick Volkovv has been cut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Volkovv looking for a takedown.
Maples connects with a nasty looking knee right to Volkovv's face.
Maples works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Volkovv is looking to take this one to the mat.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maples.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maples prevents a takedown attempt there.
George Maples has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrick Volkovv.

Maples pulls guard effortlessly.
Maples 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.
Volkovv postures up.
Volkovv takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maples wants to stand and escape but Volkovv is having none of it.
George Maples overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Maples wants to control but Volkovv is keeping him busy.
Volkovv is trying to stand.
Volkovv is staying active underneath Maples, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Volkovv is looking to improve his position.
Maples wants to stand but Volkovv has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Volkovv is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples thows a huge punch but Volkovv dodges it nicely.
Volkovv tries to kick Maples off but Maples keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maples passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Volkovv!

Maples is working for a guillotine from mount but Volkovv frees his head quite easily.
Volkovv wants to control but Maples is having none of it.
Maples sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkovv is trying to escape the mount.
Maples scoring with strikes but Volkovv is staying in there.
Volkovv holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maples tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Maples throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Volkovv wants to hold on but Maples pushes him away.
Volkovv tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Volkovv tries to hold on but Maples postures up.
Maples prevents Volkovv from getting the reversal.
Maples trying to control but Volkovv is having none of it.
Maples throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Volkovv because Maples loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Maples there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Maples tries to control but Volkovv wriggling away.
Volkovv is working to get back to half guard.
Volkovv manages to control the position for a moment.
Henrick Volkovv has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maples has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Volkovv's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Maples showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maples 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Maples!
George Maples decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.