PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Johnston
vs
Volkov

200 cm
24
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

186 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Santiago Johnston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Johnston 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 Volkov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Volkov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Volkov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Johnston!
Johnston is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Johnston on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Volkov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnston is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Volkov decides to stand back up.
Volkov throws a head kick that misses
and Volkov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sloppy strikes from Johnston. Those never looked like landing.

Volkov gets a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnston stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Volkov.
Johnston just leaning against Volkov, taking a breather.
Volkov blocks the elbow strike.

Johnston breaks from the clinch.

Volkov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnston, pushing him back against the cage.

Volkov gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Volkov is working for a submission of some sort.
Volkov content to control rather than advance.

Volkov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Johnston defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Volkov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Well, if Volkov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is looking to take a break and control but Johnston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Volkov is looking to advance position but Johnston won't allow it.
Volkov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Volkov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Alexander Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnston gets caught napping as Volkov dives in and scores a takedown. Johnston manages to retain guard.
Volkov trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnston is retaining full guard.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.
Johnston keeping full guard, as Volkov tries to pass.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Johnston keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Volkov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Johnston fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Volkov.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Volkov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
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 bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volkov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Santiago Johnston's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Volkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Volkov lands a nice short elbow.
Johnston is looking to escape.

Volkov decides to return to a standing position.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Johnston crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Volkov - the referee stops the clock and Johnston gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Volkov. Johnston manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Johnston really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Volkov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Volkov decides to pull guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnston throws a big elbow that misses.
Volkov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Volkov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Johnston uses it to pass to side control.
Volkov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Johnston looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Volkov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Johnston is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Volkov pulls his head out easily.
Alexander Volkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Volkov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Johnston to stand up.

Volkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Volkov is working for a kimura but Johnston is defending it quite comfortably.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnston wants to improve his position but Volkov is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov slips a nice elbow through Johnston's hands, connecting with Johnston's forehead.
Volkov is keen to just control but Johnston is a slippery customer.
Johnston won't allow Volkov to pass to mount.
Volkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Volkov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Volkov wants to work for an arm triangle but Johnston is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Volkov seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov slows the pace down in half guard.

Johnston makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Volkov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Volkov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnston is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnston is trying to escape the position but Volkov is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Santiago Johnston's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Johnston's jab looks to have found its range, popping Volkov under the eye.

Volkov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Volkov lands a couple of elbows.
Johnston being controlled here, momentarily.
Volkov trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.
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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexander Volkov.

Volkov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Volkov lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkov trying to control but Johnston is working from the bottom.

Johnston is looking for a triangle but Volkov pushes his legs off easily.
Volkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnston will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Volkov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to control from the top but Johnston keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexander Volkov.

Volkov looking to score a takedown here. Johnston is defending well but Volkov drives through and ends up in Johnston's guard.

Johnston working for a triangle but Volkov defends it easily.
Volkov pushing down on Johnston's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice 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!
Volkov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov escapes and gets back to his feet.

Volkov lands a left and a right that send Johnston crashing to the mat, dazed. Volkov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Johnston is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Volkov closes the distance and clinches.
Oh Johnston is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Johnston is fighting off a takedown attempt but Volkov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Johnston to the mat. Johnston regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Volkov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Volkov pushing down on Johnston's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Volkov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Volkov trying to control the action but Johnston is working from the bottom.
Volkov slips a nice elbow through Johnston's hands, connecting with Johnston's forehead.

Volkov decides to return to a standing position.

Volkov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnston, pushing him back against the cage.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Volkov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Johnston's guard.
Volkov passes Johnston's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Volkov is trying to work for a kimura but Johnston is defending well.

Volkov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Johnston is just riding it out for now. Volkov eventually gives up the hold.
Johnston on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Volkov is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Johnston is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alexander Volkov!