PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilya Mstislav Volkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, frenzal rhomb - Mum changed the locks. Ilya Mstislav Volkov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Smith
vs
Mstislav Volkov

186 cm
26
199 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
184 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilya Mstislav Volkov!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov checks a low kick from Smith.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Volkov.
Smith looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Volkov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Volkov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A slow jab from Volkov misses its intended target.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Volkov defends it nicely.
Volkov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Volkov sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Volkov wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Volkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands with a cross.
Smith with a nice cross.
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Volkov throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Volkov only half commits.
It looked like Smith wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Volkov connects with a crisp jab.
Volkov throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Volkov looks to throw a body kick
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Volkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Volkov as Smith shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov is looking to clinch.
Smith looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smith keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Smith takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
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!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Volkov.
Volkov throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Volkov.
Decent striking displayed by Smith there.
Volkov misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith checks a low kick from Volkov.
Volkov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smith momentarily.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Volkov is just out of range.
Volkov throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Volkov swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Volkov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Volkov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Volkov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Volkov connects with a body shot.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.
Volkov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Smith walks into a straight right hand from Volkov.
Volkov has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat.
Smith lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A jab lands there for Smith.
Volkov stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Volkov lands a jab to the head.
Smith walks into a jab.
Volkov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Smith had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Smith throws the left hand but Volkov avoids the punch easily.
Volkov keeps Smith at a distance using the push kick.
Volkov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Volkov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Volkov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Smith takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Volkov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Volkov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Volkov misses with a body kick.
Volkov cracks the inside of Smith's front leg.
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 keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Volkov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Volkov bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Volkov throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a right hand
and Volkov counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Volkov looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Volkov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little feinted left hand from Smith on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Volkov tries to land a body kick
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Volkov has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
Volkov scores with a shot to the side of Smith's head.
A short uppercut from Volkov.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
Smith goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Volkov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Smith has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Volkov.
Volkov moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith jabs Volkov right on the nose. Volkov blinks but takes it well.
Volkov moves out of range as Smith strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Mstislav 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.

Volkov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith's jab looks to have found its range, popping Volkov under the eye.
Smith checks a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Smith misses the target.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Volkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Volkov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Smith swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A chopping leg kick lands by Volkov.
Smith lands a really nice looking cross but Volkov seems unphased.
Volkov connects with a solid leg kick.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Volkov lands a nice uppercut.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Volkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Smith throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Volkov.
An inside leg kick from Volkov misses.
Ilya Mstislav Volkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Volkov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Volkov is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Volkov moves away from the strike by Smith.
Volkov throws a leg kick which misses Smith's front leg but catches the back leg as Smith tries to avoid it.
Volkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Smith throws out the jab.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Volkov.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Smith checks a leg kick.

Smith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Volkov!
Volkov regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov gets full guard.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
Volkov keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Volkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Volkov, not yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith wants to control from the top but Volkov keeps moving.
Volkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Volkov, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.
Volkov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Volkov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Volkov trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Volkov working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Volkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith is pressing down on Volkov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith lands an overhand right.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Volkov in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Volkov throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith is looking to counter punch.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Volkov.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Volkov ducks down to avoid it.
Volkov tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith cracks Volkov with an open hand slap.
Smith moves out of range of the body kick.
Volkov slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Volkov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ilya Mstislav Volkov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Volkov digs a good hook to Smith's body.
A left and a right from Volkov both land. Nice combination.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A chopping leg kick lands by Volkov.
Volkov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Volkov is trying to counter with his kicks.
An inside leg kick from Volkov misses.
Smith walks forward, straight into a front kick from Volkov.
Smith lands a lovely overhand right.
Volkov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Volkov thows a body kick. Smith tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Smith takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volkov connects with a solid leg kick.
Volkov connects with an inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith is looking to land body kicks.
Volkov throws out a counter right but Smith avoids it with no problem.
Volkov lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but Volkov moves away
and Volkov counters with a solid body kick.
Volkov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Volkov throws out a powerful jab.
Nice body punch from Smith.
Volkov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice uppercut lands for Volkov. That snapped Smith's head back.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Volkov saw that one coming.
Volkov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Volkov.
A swing and a miss from Smith.
Smith will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Smith misses with a hook.
Smith misses with a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Volkov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An inside leg kick lands from Volkov.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Volkov.
Volkov looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov misses with a body kick.
Volkov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Smith jabs Volkov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smith connects with a crisp jab.
Volkov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Volkov scores with a decent looking hook.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Volkov.
Volkov swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Volkov breaks the clinch.
Smith misses with a leg kick.
Smith's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Volkov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Volkov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Volkov misses with a head shot. Smith uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to keep Volkov in close.
Volkov distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Volkov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.
Volkov is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Volkov is pulling down on Smith's head. It's preventing any offense from Smith, at least for the moment.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith won't allow Volkov to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Mstislav Volkov really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Volkov looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Ilya Mstislav Volkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab lands there for Smith.

Volkov moves into the clinch.
Volkov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Volkov tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Volkov back against the cage.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Volkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
Volkov cracks Smith with a nice body shot.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Volkov.
Volkov lands with a kick to the temple. Smith shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Volkov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Smith is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volkov throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Volkov cracks Smith with a hook to the temple - Smith is on wobbly legs here! Volkov swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Smith falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Volkov wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ilya Mstislav Volkov!
Ilya Mstislav Volkov is the new middleweight champion!
Ilya Mstislav Volkov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Joe Smith was interviewed post fight and said 'I wanted to finish this fight tonight to prove i belong on the top step. I just wasn't good enough tonight. I will come back better and stronger'.