PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ibrahim Volkov (ranked 2424 p4p, 2675 weight class) and Longsun Zhao (ranked 322 p4p, 355 weight class). Longsun Zhao will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Volkov
vs
Zhao

170 cm
21
185
4 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
187
5 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Savage Fightwear

Iron Wolf Discount Supplements (Q159/$100, Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ibrahim Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Longsun Zhao!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Hemmingworth and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkov avoids the head kick by Zhao.
Volkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zhao.
Zhao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zhao slaps away a takedown attempt from Volkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Volkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zhao defends it nicely.
Zhao fakes the leg kick and cracks Volkov in the body.
A head kick misses from Zhao.
Horrible takedown attempt by Volkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Zhao, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ibrahim Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Volkov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zhao did well to prevent Volkov getting side control.
Zhao is staying active underneath Volkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zhao wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkov stalling away here and it's allowed Zhao to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Volkov trying to control but Zhao is working from the bottom.
Zhao wants to get back to his feet but Volkov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Volkov stays in close to Zhao's body and controls the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Volkov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Zhao has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Volkov is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zhao after a bit of a struggle.
Zhao is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Volkov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Zhao is defending well.
Volkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zhao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Volkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Zhao, which made it look bad.
Zhao lands with a straight right. Volkov didn't see that one coming.
Volkov slips under a jab from Zhao.
Zhao throws a sloppy head kick and Volkov moves out of range easily.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zhao keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Ibrahim Volkov has been cut.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zhao enables Volkov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zhao manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Zhao is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Volkov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants a takedown.
Zhao wants to break the clinch but can't.

Zhao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zhao throws a head kick that misses.
Zhao connects with a combination that backs up Volkov into the cage. Zhao lands a flurry of punches that gets past Volkov's guard. Volkov is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Zhao bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Longsun Zhao!