PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Felton Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Volodja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Felton Simpson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Simpson
vs
Volodja

225 cm
25
279 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Felton Simpson!
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, Ivan Volodja!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson fails with a takedown attempt.

Volodja moves into the clinch.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Volodja won't allow it.
Simpson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Volodja avoids it.
Volodja is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felton Simpson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volodja prevents the takedown attempt.
Simpson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Volodja smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volodja shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Volodja darts in and clinches Simpson up against the cage.
Simpson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Simpson pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson working a defensive guard here.
Volodja looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Volodja tries to free his leg and advance position but Simpson is retaining full guard.

Simpson has an active guard here but Volodja has managed to pass into half guard.
Simpson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Simpson wants to control but Volodja is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volodja not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Volodja is working away from the top position though.

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.
Simpson wants to improve his position but Volodja is controlling well.
Volodja perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Volodja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Simpson wants to get back to full guard but Volodja has mounted him!
Volodja controlling the pace for now.
Simpson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Simpson is working hard here to advance position.
Volodja controlling his opponent.
Volodja looking to ground and pound but Simpson is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volodja is working for a guillotine from mount but Simpson frees his head quite easily.

Volodja with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Volodja throws some wild stikes that Simpson manages to avoid easily.
Volodja unloads with some shots from mount but Simpson bucks and avoids them well.
Volodja thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Simpson is desperately trying to improve his position but Volodja has a good base and remains in mount.
Simpson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Simpson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Volodja controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson trying desperately to get to his feet.
Simpson is looking to improve his position but Volodja isn't that keen on the idea.
Volodja avoids the attempt from Simpson to control.
Volodja looking to ground and pound but Simpson is blocking nicely.

Volodja is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Simpson is surviving well by controlling Volodja's body position as best he can.
Volodja tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simpson is working to get back to half guard.
Simpson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Volodja dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Volodja has Simpson up against the cage in a clinch.
Simpson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Volodja.

Volodja pulls guard.
Volodja is pulling down on Simpson's head. It's preventing any offense from Simpson, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Simpson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volodja has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Simpson has managed to get both his arms back between Volodja's legs - danger averted.

Volodja working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Simpson has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Volodja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Volodja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Volodja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Simpson is thwarting Volodja's attempts to control the position.
Volodja is trying to stand back up but Simpson is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Volodja is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Volodja has a hand on Simpson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Simpson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Volodja can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Simpson.
Volodja tries to reverse the position but Simpson maintains control.
Volodja is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volodja keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Simpson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ivan Volodja has got the better of the ground game so far.
Simpson trying to control but Volodja is having none of it.
Volodja slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Volodja is trying to stand.
Volodja makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Volodja.

Volodja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Simpson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Volodja pulls Simpson in close to prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simpson throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Felton Simpson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Simpson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Volodja tries to land a leg kick but Simpson saw it coming and moves away.

Oooooh!!! Volodja has knocked Simpson down with a huge combo! Volodja steps away and waves a wobbly Simpson back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Simpson is rocked!

It looks like Felton Simpson has been cut.
Volodja shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Oh Simpson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Volodja closes the distance and clinches.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Volodja holds him up against the cage and eventually Simpson drops back down to his feet.
Volodja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Simpson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Volodja is trying to force a seperation but Simpson has the dominant position.
Simpson seems to have got his legs back now.
Volodja creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Volodja can't get the takedown.
Volodja can't break the clinch.

Simpson drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Simpson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Simpson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Simpson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Volodja is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Simpson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Volodja drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Volodja jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Volodja is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Simpson tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Volodja gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Simpson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Volodja to keep the fight standing.

Volodja pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Volodja has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Simpson has passed into side control.
Volodja tries to buck Simpson off but Simpson is having none of it.
Volodja parries the strikes from Simpson easily there. Simpson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Volodja to escape.
Volodja tries to improve position but can't.
Volodja wants to get back to his feet.
Simpson trying to control the action but Volodja is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volodja misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Simpson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Volodja is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Simpson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Simpson wants to take a breather but Volodja is having none of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Volodja is looking to get back to full guard here but Simpson has managed to pass to side control instead.
Volodja looking for a sweep but Simpson has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Volodja bucks Simpson off and manages to get back to his feet!

Volodja instigates a clinch.
Simpson lands a body shot.
Simpson is trying to pull guard but Volodja turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felton Simpson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Volodja.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volodja just leaning against Simpson, taking a breather.
Simpson prevents the takedown attempt.
Volodja wants a takedown but no success here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Volodja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Volodja has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Volodja!