PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nogueira has chosen Gimme Shelter as his entrance music. Aleksander Emelianenko had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Emelianenko
vs
Rodrigo Nogueira

190 cm
23
243 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
242 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Poweful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Red Light Clothing ►Amsterdam!
Red Light Clothing ►Amsterdam!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nogueira clinches with his opponent.
Emelianenko scores a nice knee to the body.
Emelianenko landing knees to the body.
Nogueira has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Emelianenko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nogueira tries to pull guard but Emelianenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Nogueira drops back down to his feet.
Emelianenko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Nogueira's defenses.

It looks like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has been cut.
Nogueira tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Emelianenko smiles and moves away.
Aleksander Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.
Emelianenko is struggling to control the position.
Nogueira is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nogueira's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nogueira can't get the takedown.
Nogueira pushes Emelianenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Emelianenko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nogueira backwards.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch.
Emelianenko swinging wilding here.
Emelianenko takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up
and Nogueira counters with a left and a right that stings Emelianenko.
Nogueira throws a nice looking combination but Emelianenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Nogueira closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nogueira lands in his opponent's guard.
Nogueira preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira stands and throws Emelianenko's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Nogueira working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Emelianenko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nogueira wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Emelianenko, who protects the arm well.
Emelianenko struggling a bit here.
Nogueira wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping him busy.
Nogueira tries to move to mount but Emelianenko blocks the move with his legs.

Nogueira thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Nogueira tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nogueira has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to control the position but Emelianenko is working away.
You can see the frustration on Emelianenko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Emelianenko is trying to improve his position.

Nogueira tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nogueira has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Emelianenko regains half guard.

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.

Nogueira seems to be looking for submissions.
Nogueira misses with a head shot. Emelianenko uses the momentum to regain guard.
Emelianenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nogueira is one step ahead there.
Emelianenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nogueira on the ground.

Emelianenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nogueira gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nogueira advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nogueira connects with a nice looking jab.

Nogueira darts in and clinches Emelianenko up against the cage.
Nogueira has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Emelianenko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nice elbow from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko stops a takedown attempt from Nogueira.

Emelianenko manages to break the clinch.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Emelianenko swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Nogueira counter with a right hand.
Emelianenko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nogueira backs up against the cage.
Emelianenko tries to clinch

and Nogueira counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko is trying to get back to half guard.
Nogueira trying to control the position but Emelianenko is working away.

Nogueira looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira trying to control the position but Emelianenko is working away.
Emelianenko tries to bench press Nogueira off him but Nogueira keeps the position.
Emelianenko struggling a bit here.
Emelianenko is trying to work for a sweep but Nogueira has mounted him!
Nogueira thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Emelianenko wants to control but Nogueira is having none of it.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Nogueira tries to control but Emelianenko wriggling away.
Emelianenko is in all sorts of trouble here.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine from mount but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Nogueira breaks from Emelianenko's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Nogueira looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Emelianenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is squirming around, avoiding Nogueira's attempts to control the action.

Emelianenko defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Nogueira.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.
Emelianenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Emelianenko bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Emelianenko preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nogueira is on top in guard.
Nogueira stopping the sweep attempt from Emelianenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.
Nogueira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.

Nogueira gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Nogueira moves away
and Nogueira counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nogueira changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Emelianenko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Emelianenko looking for a sweep but Nogueira has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Emelianenko wants to control but Nogueira is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nogueira drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nogueira is looking to take a break and control but Emelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Nogueira is trying to get an arm triangle but Emelianenko is defending well.
Emelianenko manages to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nogueira is working away from the top position though.
Nogueira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Emelianenko defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira wants to take a breather but Emelianenko is having none of it.

Nogueira wants to work for an arm triangle but Emelianenko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nogueira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Emelianenko punching from the bottom.
Emelianenko wants to improve his position but Nogueira is controlling well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emelianenko slips under a jab from Nogueira.
A punch combination from Emelianenko misses.
Emelianenko throws a sloppy head kick and Nogueira moves out of range easily.
Emelianenko throws a shot from downtown. Nogueira moves away and avoids it.

Nogueira gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nogueira goes for a takedown attempt but Emelianenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.
Emelianenko wants to clinch but Nogueira slips to the side
letting Nogueira counter with a right hand.
Emelianenko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nogueira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Emelianenko - that will leave a mark!
Nogueira slips under a jab.

Nogueira rushes Emelianenko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nogueira's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aleksander Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Nogueira circles away.
Emelianenko lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nogueira paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nogueira swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nogueira misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nogueira staying out of range there.

Emelianenko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nogueira, pushing him back against the cage.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko tries to clinch
and Nogueira counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nogueira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Emelianenko pinned against the cage. Emelianenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Aleksander Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Emelianenko closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nogueira counters with a series of strikes. Emelianenko will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nogueira connects with a nice looking jab.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nogueira slips under a jab from Emelianenko.
Aleksander Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nogueira swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nogueira scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nogueira shoots in for a double leg but Emelianenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Emelianenko misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Nogueira counters by moving into the clinch.
Nogueira goes for a takedown attempt but Emelianenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nogueira fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Emelianenko manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
I've got Nogueira winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira!