PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Mstislav Volkov (ranked 2461 p4p, 208 weight class) and Shelby Foote (ranked 2285 p4p, 199 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Volkov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Riverdance. Ruslan Mstislav Volkov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Shelby Foote's chin.

Mstislav Volkov
vs
Foote

171 cm
39
160 lbs
27 - 10 - 1

167 cm
28
150 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Organic Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ruslan Mstislav Volkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shelby Foote!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foote takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Shelby Foote has been cut.
Volkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Foote tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Volkov darts in and clinches Foote up against the cage.
Foote misses with some punches.
Foote tries to work over Volkov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Foote throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Volkov looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
No luck for Volkov with that takedown attempt.
Foote bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Volkov's head.
Foote throws a hook but Volkov avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foote closes this distance looking for a takedown but Volkov circles away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Volkov. That's going to slow Foote down.
Foote slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Foote scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
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!
Foote ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Foote tries a head kick but it misses.
Volkov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov lands with a nice body kick.
Foote misses with a combination

and Volkov counters with a shoot takedown. Foote fights it but they end up in guard.
Foote being controlled here, momentarily.
Volkov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Volkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Volkov wants to stand but Foote is controlling his posture from full guard.

Foote is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Volkov defends well.
Volkov stopping the sweep attempt from Foote.
Volkov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foote keeping full guard, as Volkov tries to pass.
Foote is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Volkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Volkov controlling from the top position.
Foote seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Volkov preventing the sweep.

Foote is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Volkov defends well.

Foote is looking for a triangle but Volkov pushes his legs off easily.
Foote keeping moving, preventing Volkov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Foote is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Volkov is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Foote manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Volkov manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Foote sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Volkov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Foote pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Volkov is keeping the position for now.
Foote trying to control but Volkov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Foote controlling from the top position.
Volkov is pulling down on Foote's head to control his posture.
Volkov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Volkov is trying to keep Foote in close.
Foote throwing strikes from guard but Volkov blocks nicely.
Volkov trying to strike off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Volkov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Foote is trying to defend but Volkov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Volkov passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ruslan Mstislav Volkov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shelby Foote's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Foote moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Volkov keeps the fight on the outside.
Volkov tries to counter by clinching up but Foote breaks away and moves out of range.
Foote lands with a thumping leg kick.
Volkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shelby Foote seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice defenses there by Volkov.
Foote throws a series of punches but Volkov moves out of range.
Foote scores with a leg kick.
Foote throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Foote throws out a powerful jab.
Volkov shoots in for a takedown but Foote shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foote shoots in and drives through. Volkov sprawls well.

Foote shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Volkov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Volkov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Foote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Volkov keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkov can't do much from the bottom here.
Volkov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Foote wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Volkov regains half guard.
Volkov is trying to maintain the position but Foote is very close to passing his half guard.
Foote throwing shots but Volkov is blocking nicely.
Volkov is looking for a sweep. Foote is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Foote is looking to take a break and control but Volkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Foote throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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 tries to get to full guard but Foote has control of the leg.
Foote controlling the action here.
Foote not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Volkov is defending against the submission attempts here by Foote.
Volkov is concentrating on defense, preventing Foote from advancing position.
Foote is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Volkov tries to roll over but Foote keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foote passes to full mount!
Volkov is looking to improve his position but Foote isn't that keen on the idea.
Volkov is working hard here to advance position.
Volkov is trying to stand.
Foote working Volkov over with strikes here.
Volkov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Foote tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
You get the feeling that Volkov really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Foote misses with a head shot.
Foote scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Volkov?
Shelby Foote has got the better of the ground game so far.
A nice elbow there by Foote.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Foote scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Volkov?
Volkov is in all sorts of trouble here.

Foote working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Volkov is in a horrible position here. Foote smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Foote looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Foote tries to control but Volkov wriggling away.
Foote lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Volkov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Foote.
Foote raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Foote showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shelby Foote's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Volkov closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Foote.
Volkov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Foote's elbow.
Foote tries to land knees in the clinch but Volkov avoids the damage to the body.
Foote misses with a hook from the clinch.

Volkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Volkov is looking to clinch.
Foote wants to land a leg kick but Volkov is out of range.
Volkov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Foote moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Volkov tries to clinch up but Foote circles away and keeps his distance.

Volkov closes the distance and pushes Foote back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkov blocking some punches.
Foote lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Volkov backwards.

Volkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Foote throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Volkov.
Foote darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Foote shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Volkov as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foote pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Foote fails with the takedown.

Volkov closes the distance and pushes Foote back into the cage.
Volkov avoiding damage as Foote throws knees to the body.
Volkov is trying to pull guard but Foote has him pressed against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Volkov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Foote's brow.

Volkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Volkov swings for the body but Foote moves out of range.
Foote tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Foote throws a quick inside leg kick.
Foote tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Volkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Foote.
Foote throws a body kick that misses.
Foote works over Volkov's head and body with a nice combination.
Volkov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Foote manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foote tries to clinch but Volkov is having none of it.
Foote throws a low kick but Volkov moves out of range easily.
Foote avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Volkov fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Volkov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Mstislav Volkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Foote sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shelby Foote seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Foote scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Foote lands a nice short elbow.
Volkov wants to improve his position but Foote is controlling well.
Foote is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Volkov is defending against the submission attempts here by Foote.
Foote wants to control but Volkov is keeping him busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Foote in particular looking to stall.
Volkov tries to roll over but Foote keeps him under control.
Volkov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Foote.
Volkov pushes Foote off looking to stand but Foote dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Volkov missing with punches from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Foote there.
Volkov trying to control but Foote postures up.
Volkov is not content to let Foote control the position.
Foote takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Foote thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Foote lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Foote thows a huge punch but Volkov dodges it nicely.
Foote wants to free his trapped foot but Volkov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Foote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Volkov keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shelby Foote comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Foote has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shelby Foote!
Shelby Foote gave a mention to Organic Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).
The defeated Ruslan Mstislav Volkov had this to say: 'Feck it'.