PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexi Takala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladislav Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladislav Volkov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Takala
vs
Volkov

182 cm
35
164 lbs
7 - 20 - 1

175 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexi Takala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vladislav Volkov!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov misses with a few strikes there.

Volkov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Volkov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Volkov is pressing down on Takala's thigh, looking to free his foot. Takala is holding on for now.
Volkov controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov wants to free his trapped foot but Takala is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Volkov trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov slips a nice elbow through Takala's hands, connecting with Takala's forehead.
Takala trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Volkov manages to pass to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkov content just to control the position here.
Takala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Takala wants to control but Volkov is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throwing strikes here but Takala is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Volkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Let's hope that Volkov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Takala is wriggling around trying to escape.

Volkov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Takala can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Volkov lands a big elbow.
Takala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Volkov on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Volkov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Takala holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Volkov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Volkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Takala in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov controlling his opponent.
Volkov thowing shots but they're missing.
Volkov controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladislav Volkov 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.

That kick from Takala tenderised Volkov's leg. Volkov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Volkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Takala as Volkov shoots in.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Takala was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vladislav Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Volkov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Takala is trying to get back to full guard.
Volkov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Volkov looking to ground and pound but Takala is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Volkov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Takala because Volkov loaded up on that one.
Takala keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Volkov controlling the pace for now.
Takala is trying to escape the mount.

Volkov stands up from mount. Strange move.
Volkov shoots in but Takala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alexi Takala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladislav Volkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is looking to slow Takala down with leg kicks.
Volkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takala pinned against the cage. Takala gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Takala throwing a counter right hand but Volkov manages to avoid it.
Volkov misses with a wild combination.
Volkov shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Takala as Volkov shoots in.
Volkov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Takala is looking to counter punch.
Volkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takala as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Volkov is breathing heavily.
Volkov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Takala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Volkov fails with the takedown.
Volkov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Takala cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Volkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takala pinned against the cage. Takala gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Takala rushes Volkov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov looking for a takedown.

Volkov manages to pull guard.
Takala trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.

Takala drops back, looking for a kneebar! Volkov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Volkov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Volkov!

Takala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov 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 Takala's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladislav Volkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Takala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Volkov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Takala is trying to defend but Volkov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Volkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Takala keeps working.
Volkov prevents Takala from standing back up.
Takala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Volkov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Takala sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takala wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala is staying active underneath Volkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Volkov slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Volkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Volkov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Takala counters with a stiff right hand.
Takala slaps away a takedown attempt from Volkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Takala seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Takala is looking to clinch but Volkov is avoiding it.
Volkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Takala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.
Alexi Takala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladislav Volkov.
Takala tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Takala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And Volkov tries to counter it with a takedown but Takala pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takala as he avoids it easily.
It looked like Takala was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Volkov.
Takala scores with a body shot.
Takala is looking to clinch.
Volkov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown but Takala shows good takedown defense.
Volkov looks for a takedown but Takala sprawls well.
Takala seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Vladislav Volkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Volkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Volkov moves in looking to clinch but Takala pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala tries to clinch up but Volkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Takala shoots in for a takedown but Volkov shows good takedown defense.
Volkov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Takala counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Volkov slips under a jab.
Volkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Volkov is defended easily by Takala.
Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Takala gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage.
Volkov shoots in for a double leg but Takala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alexi Takala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takala rushes Volkov and presses him up against the cage.
Takala throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Volkovs head.
Volkov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Takala to keep the fight standing.
Volkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Takala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Volkov tries to pull guard but Takala won't allow it.
Takala has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Volkov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Volkov keeps control of Takala as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Volkov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Volkov managing to block the knees to the body from Takala.
Vladislav Volkov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Volkov prevents a body shot from Takala.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexi Takala showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Volkov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladislav Volkov!