PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenichi Misahawa (ranked 1576 p4p, 2764 weight class) and Maxim Volkov (ranked 217 p4p, 345 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Misahawa
vs
Volkov

183 cm
30
210
10 - 11 - 1

180 cm
21
220
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Kenichi Misahawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxim Volkov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Misahawa scores with a hook to the body. Volkov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Misahawa misses with the combination.
Misahawa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Volkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Misahawa.
Misahawa moves away from the strike by Volkov.
Volkov lands a slapping body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov throws a hook but Misahawa avoids it easily.
Volkov throws a shot from downtown. Misahawa moves away and avoids it.

Volkov drives through with a takedown into Misahawa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misahawa wants to stand up but Volkov is controlling him.
Volkov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Misahawa is looking to stand up but Volkov isn't so interested in that idea.
Misahawa trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Volkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Volkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Misahawa's head.
Misahawa is trying to keep Volkov in close.
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.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Volkov connects with a couple of short punches.
Volkov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Misahawa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Volkov stops Misahawa from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Volkov misses the jab.
Misahawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Volkov moves away.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Misahawa sprawls well. Misahawa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Volkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Misahawa tries to bum rush Volkov with a series of wild strikes but Volkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa throws a nice looking combination but Volkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Volkov connects with a body shot.
Volkov fails with the takedown

and Misahawa moves into the clinch.
Misahawa lands a knee to the head.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Volkov avoids it.
Misahawa with a knee to the head.
Volkov is trying to maintain a safe position but Misahawa gets an underhook and turns Volkov into the cage.

Misahawa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Volkov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa ducks under a wild hook from Volkov.
Volkov thuds his right hand into Misahawa's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A punch combination from Misahawa misses.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Misahawa sprawls well. Misahawa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Volkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Kenichi Misahawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxim Volkov.
Volkov darts in looking for a takedown but Misahawa gets double underhooks and turns Volkov into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Misahawa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Volkov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kenichi Misahawa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Misahawa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Misahawa moves away from the strike by Volkov.
Misahawa throws a right and a left that Volkov avoids nicely.
Misahawa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Misahawa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Volkov misses with a left hand

and Misahawa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A head punch on the inside from Misahawa fails to land.
Misahawa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Volkov's face.
Our sources have told us that Misahawa has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov managing to block the knees to the body from Misahawa.
Misahawa tries a knee to the head but Volkov blocks it.
Misahawa misses with a knee to the head.
Misahawa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Misahawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov is trying to break free.
Misahawa connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Maxim Volkov has been cut.
Misahawa landing knees to the head.
Volkov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Misahawa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Volkov backwards.
Volkov can't break the clinch.
Misahawa misses with a knee strike.
Misahawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misahawa misses with a knee strike.
Misahawa lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkov managing to block the knees to the body from Misahawa.
Kenichi Misahawa has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Misahawa manages to break the clinch.
Volkov shoots in and drives through. Misahawa sprawls well.
Volkov misses the shot to the body.
Misahawa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Volkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Misahawa pinned against the cage. Misahawa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Misahawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa staying out of range there.
Misahawa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Volkov.
Kenichi Misahawa is winning the standup battle so far.
Misahawa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Volkov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Misahawa.

Volkov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Misahawa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Volkov is in Misahawa's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Volkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Misahawa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Volkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Volkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Misahawa keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.
Volkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Misahawa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Volkov is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Misahawa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Misahawa tries to get out of the position.
Volkov lands a couple of elbows.
Misahawa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Volkov.
Volkov chips away with some ground and pound.
Misahawa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Volkov can do to turn this around?
Misahawa controls Volkov momentarily but Volkov frees himself.
Misahawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Volkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Volkov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Misahawa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Volkov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Volkov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenichi Misahawa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Maxim Volkov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Misahawa lands a nice hook to Volkov's body. Volkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Misahawa throws a series of punches but Volkov moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Misahawa. Those never looked like landing.
Misahawa throws a series of punches but Volkov avoids them all with ease.
Misahawa misses with a series of wild punches.
Kenichi Misahawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Misahawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Volkov circles away.
Volkov misses with a hook. Misahawa ducked under it nicely.
As Volkov tries to get set, Misahawa tries to push him back and clinch up but Volkov manages to avoid the attempt.
Misahawa defending well as Volkov loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Volkov misses.
Misahawa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Volkov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Misahawa circles away.
As Volkov tries to get set, Misahawa tries to push him back and clinch up but Volkov manages to avoid the attempt.
Misahawa throws a series of punches but Volkov avoids them all with ease.
Volkov feints the counter takedown.
Misahawa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Volkov throws out the jab.
Misahawa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kenichi Misahawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Volkov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Volkov throws a big shot that misses.

Misahawa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Misahawa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Volkov is trying to force a seperation but Misahawa has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Volkov blocks it with crossed arms.
Misahawa misses with a punch on the inside.
Volkov can't break the clinch.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Volkov blocks it with crossed arms.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but Volkov blocks with his arms.
Misahawa lands a knee to the head.
Misahawa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Misahawa lands with a left to the head.
Misahawa tries a knee to the head but Volkov blocks it.
Misahawa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Misahawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Misahawa has him pressed against the cage.
Misahawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Volkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Misahawa lands with a left to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Misahawa.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Volkov blocks it with crossed arms.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but Volkov blocks with his arms.
Misahawa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Misahawa.
Misahawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volkov wants to break free but Misahawa has control.
Volkov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Volkov tries to break the clinch but Misahawa is controlling the position.
Misahawa stalling in the clinch but Volkov improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Volkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Volkov managing to block the knees to the body from Misahawa.
A bit of stalling here from Volkov.
Misahawa misses with a knee to the head.
Volkov wants to break free but Misahawa has control.
Misahawa keeps control of Volkov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Volkov is trying to break the clinch but Misahawa has him pressed against the cage.
Volkov blocks a body shot from Misahawa.
Volkov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Misahawa seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Volkov can turn it around.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Volkov blocks it with crossed arms.
Misahawa has Volkov pressed against the cage, preventing Volkov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Volkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Misahawa misses with a knee to the head.
Maxim Volkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenichi Misahawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Volkov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenichi Misahawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Misahawa, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenichi Misahawa!
Kenichi Misahawa bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.