PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Forest Tran (ranked 6202 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Volkov (ranked 6369 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tran
vs
Volkov

189 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Pit Bull Development

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Forest Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tran avoids it really well and circles away.
Tran changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Volkov lands a two punch combo.
Tran really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Volkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Volkov misses with a takedown attempt

and Tran counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Forest Tran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Volkov.
Tran missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov wants to get back to full guard but Tran has mounted him!
Tran lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tran with a couple of short strikes.
Volkov working to try and regain half guard.
Volkov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tran lands with some strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tran cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Volkov swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Tran raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran lands with some strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Volkov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Volkov doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Volkov is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Volkov just holding on.
Tran 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.
Volkov is desperately trying to improve his position but Tran has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tran unloads with some shots from mount but Volkov bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Tran landing strikes, looking to finish!
Volkov is looking to improve his position but Tran isn't that keen on the idea.
Tran throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Tran controlling the pace for now.
BOOM! Tran connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov tries to reverse the position but Tran maintains control.
Volkov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Volkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tran. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Volkov wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Tran raining down hammerfists from mount.
Tran misses with a head shot.
Tran throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Volkov because Tran loaded up on that one.
Volkov tries to hold on but Tran postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forest Tran dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tran takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Volkov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tran is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Volkov.
Tran throws a right hand that Volkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Volkov also avoids with ease.

Volkov moves into the clinch.
Volkov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov fails with a takedown attempt.
Forest Tran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Volkov.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Volkov is defended easily by Tran.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tran's calf.
Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Tran gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage.
Tran appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Volkov misses with a takedown attempt - Tran sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tran tries to counter with a takedown but Volkov is quick to defend against it.
Volkov goes for a double leg but Tran avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tran continues to drive forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Volkov misses with a head kick.
Volkov is breathing heavily.
Volkov fails to land the takedown.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tran!

Volkov gets caught napping as Tran dives in and scores a takedown. Volkov manages to retain guard.
Tran working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Volkov looking to control but Tran passes into half guard.
Tran is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Volkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Forest Tran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Volkov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tran throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Volkov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tran is working away from the top position though.
Tran working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Tran.
Volkov is trying to control but Tran manages to pass to mount!
Volkov is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkov tries to hold on but Tran postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forest Tran dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Volkov shoots in for a double leg but Tran sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aleksandr Volkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Volkov scores with a head kick.

It looks like Forest Tran has been cut.
Tran avoids the head kick by Volkov.
Tran seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Volkov clinches with his opponent.

Tran wants the takedown. Volkov is fighting it off but Tran persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Volkov's guard against the cage.
Tran throws a big right hand that misses.
Tran stopping the sweep attempt from Volkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran won't allow Volkov to get back to his feet.
Tran is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Volkov can do to turn this around?
Volkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Volkov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.
Volkov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Tran is now in half guard.
Tran lands strikes from half guard.
Volkov trying to control here.
Volkov is trying to stand up here but Tran is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tran throwing shots but Volkov is blocking nicely.
Ground and pound from Tran.
Tran scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tran is keen to just control but Volkov is a slippery customer.
Volkov wants to control the action here but instead Tran manages to pass to full mount!
Volkov wants to hold on but Tran pushes him away.
Volkov is desperately trying to improve his position but Tran has a good base and remains in mount.
Volkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tran raining down hammerfists from mount.
Tran landing shots from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Volkov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to hold on but Tran pushes him away.
Volkov is desperately trying to improve his position but Tran has a good base and remains in mount.
Tran with a couple of short strikes.
Volkov wants to control but Tran is having none of it.
Tran unloading with bombs!
Tran scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Volkov?
Tran postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Volkov looks a forlorn figure.
Volkov is squirming around, avoiding Tran's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran looking to finish with strikes here!
Tran with a couple of short strikes.
Volkov is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Forest Tran showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tran, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Forest Tran!