Bellator 120 live blog: Alexander Volkov vs. Blagoi Ivanov

This is the Bellator 120 live blog for Alexander Volkov vs. Blagoi Ivanov, a heavyweight bout at Saturday night's Bellator event at the Landers Center in Southaven, Miss.

Volkov, who has won four of his past five fights, will face Ivanov, who is 11-0 (with one no-contest) in his career, on the main card.

Check out the Bellator 120 live blog below.

Round 1: Heavyweight bout between former champion Volkov and the Bulgarian fighter Ivanov (who cheated death in 2012 after being stabbed in Bulgaria). The referee for this bout is John Dixson. Volkov with the reach, and he takes center. Big left hand from Ivanov, and that backed Volkov up. He follows up with another, then goes for a single leg, driving Volkov back into the fence. The Russian fending off Ivanov's hands, bending his wrists. Ivanov still pressure there, and throwing the odd knee. Now he shoots in for the other leg, but can't snatch it. Still, he has Volkov on the fence. Volkov with a knee that lands inside, while the referee looks in at the possible stalemate. Now Volkov throws a series of inside knees, and then glance off of Ivanov's forearms. They separate enough for an exchange, and Ivanov comes over top with a right hand. Body lock from Volkov, and he waltzed the Bulgarian to fence. Big right hand from Ivanov! That hurt, but Volkov shakes it off and they tie-up again, with Ivanov going low for the single-leg. Finally Volkov circles away, and we have separation i nthe middle. Ivanov moves forward throwing punches, and the right hand lands. A couple of nice counters from Volkov land, and he then follows with crisp combo. Some blood on Volkov's ear. Right hand from Ivanov, but it missed. He looks a little tired. They end at center. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Volkov, 10-9.

Round 2: Volkov right to center, and they plant and swing there, neither landing much. Jab by Volkov lands, and some blood begins to spill from the eye of Ivanov. The Bulgarian gets Volkov to the fence, ties him up and throws him down. But he gets reversed immediately, and goes for a rear naked choke! He has it tight. And there's the tap! Volkov able to capitalize on a mistake from Ivanov, and he chokes him out in the second round. Talk about a change of fortune. Volkov able to turn a body-lock trip into a scramble, and he stepped over Ivanov's back, got the hook in, and it was academic from there. Ivanov didn't last long when the choke was applied. He'll now get a rematch with Vitaly Minakov.

Bellator 120 official results: Alexander Volkov def. Blagoy Ivanov via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:08 or R2.