Jacob Volkmann vs. Bobby Green
Round 1
Kim Winslow is the referee for this bout. Green takes the center of the cage and works some inside leg kicks, sticking out his hand to keep Volkmann at range and being warned by the ref to mind his fingers. Sixty seconds in, Volkmann shoots a double-leg; at first, Green is able to rebuff the attempt, but the second effort from Volkmann puts the Strikeforce import on the canvas. Volkmann leans from left to right on Green, who is barely keeping Volkmann’s left leg trapped. Green tries to buck out but Volkmann is all over him. Volkmann stands and stacks Green up, controlling the legs and dropping punches from the top. Green tries to escape and Volkmann uses the opportunity to attach himself to his opponent’s back. With one minute left, Volkmann works for the rear-naked choke but can’t get underneath Green’s chin. Volkmann peppers Green with left hands to close out the round.
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Volkmann
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Volkmann
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Volkmann
Round 2
Green turns away two takedown attempts and puts Volkmann on the fence with underhooks. He lets the wrestler go and Volkmann immediately shoots again. This time, Volkmann spins to guard and Green follows him down to the mat. Volkmann keeps his guard open as Green hits him with punches to the body, then some short, grinding elbows to the face. Green gets head-and-arm control and inches up to drop some harder elbows to the face. With two minutes left in the round, referee Kim Winslow issues a baffling stand-up order, much to the displeasure of Green and the Las Vegas crowd. Green dances in front of Volkmann for a moment until “Christmas” hits a takedown and quickly attaches himself to Green’s back. Volkmann cinches up a body triangle and threatens with a rear-naked choke but doesn’t do much else before the horn.
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Green
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Green
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Green
Round 3
Green lands a hard hook to the body and sprawls on a shot before taking a kick in the cup. He takes a moment to recover and the lightweights resume with 4:20 left in the fight. Green lands a leg kick and denies another takedown attempt. A good body kick from Green causes Volkmann to shoot from a mile out. Green sprawls on it and uses the failed shot to take top position, then north-south. Volkmann puts him back in half-guard, tries to drive forward and take the top, but Green escapes to his feet. Half the round to go now and Green sprawls all over another shot. Volkmann gets a single leg, sweeps Green’s other leg and gets him down, but Green immediately reverses it and gets to his feet. Volkmann stays with him and takes Green’s back standing, then drags him to the ground. Volkmann has no hooks and Green is able to twist around and reverse into full mount. A torrent of nasty right hands from Green have Volkmann dazed. Volkmann gives up his back after some hard elbows and, with 40 seconds left, Green gets his arm underneath Volkmann’s chin. The rear-naked choke is in deep, and Volkmann is forced to tap out at 4:25 of round three.