PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grisha Blozhenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grisha Blozhenko could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Fedor Emelianenko's chin.

Blozhenko
vs
Emelianenko

186 cm
23
204 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grisha Blozhenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blozhenko is fending him off so far but Emelianenko persists. Nope, Blozhenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Emelianenko shoots in but no luck this time.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch successfully.
Emelianenko letting Blozhenko take a breather here.
Emelianenko has Blozhenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blozhenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Grisha Blozhenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Emelianenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blozhenko walks away with a smile on his face. Emelianenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Emelianenko closes the distance and clinches.

Emelianenko pulls guard.
Blozhenko looking to pass the guard.
Blozhenko preventing the sweep.

Blozhenko is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Emelianenko is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Emelianenko has escaped and now he's on top!

Blozhenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Blozhenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emelianenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Emelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Blozhenko has wrist control.
Emelianenko wants to stand but Blozhenko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Blozhenko has control of Emelianenko's left arm, preventing Emelianenko from doing any damage.
Blozhenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are battling for position here. Emelianenko manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Emelianenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Emelianenko looks gassed!

Blozhenko gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Emelianenko shoots for a double leg takedown but Blozhenko sprawls well. He's pushed Emelianenko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A cross from Blozhenko lands.
Emelianenko misses with a double jab.

Blozhenko scores a takedown into full mount!

Blozhenko is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Emelianenko misses with a takedown

and Blozhenko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Emelianenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Blozhenko gets to his feet - Emelianenko follows without any prompting.
Emelianenko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blozhenko.
Blozhenko throws a hook to the side of Emelianenko's head but Emelianenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Emelianenko throws a nice outside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Emelianenko.
Blozhenko misses with a takedown attempt
and Blozhenko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is working for takedown but Blozhenko is calmly controlling the position for now.
Blozhenko tries to pull guard but Emelianenko won't allow it.

Blozhenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blozhenko shoots in and drives through. Emelianenko sprawls well.
Blozhenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Blozhenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Emelianenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Blozhenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Blozhenko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep. Blozhenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emelianenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Blozhenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Emelianenko makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grisha Blozhenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Emelianenko tries to clinch up but Blozhenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Emelianenko misses with a takedown attempt

and Blozhenko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Emelianenko!
Emelianenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Blozhenko gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Blozhenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Blozhenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blozhenko landing strikes.
Emelianenko looking for a sweep but Blozhenko has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blozhenko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Emelianenko looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to hold on but Blozhenko pushes him away.
Emelianenko slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Emelianenko keeping hold of Blozhenko's head, controlling as best he can.
Grisha Blozhenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.

Blozhenko is trying to work for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending well.
Blozhenko wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Emelianenko trying to hold on to Blozhenko's head to control him but Blozhenko postures up.
Blozhenko controlling the action here.
Blozhenko trying to control from half guard but Emelianenko is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Emelianenko can do anything to dispel that myth.

Emelianenko is defending against the submission attempts here by Blozhenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to kick Blozhenko off but Blozhenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Emelianenko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blozhenko as he jumps to the side.
Grisha Blozhenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.
Blozhenko wants to clinch but Emelianenko slips to the side

and Emelianenko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Blozhenko!
Blozhenko tries to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
Blozhenko regains half guard.
Blozhenko is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blozhenko wants to get back to his feet.
Blozhenko tries to get to full guard but Emelianenko has control of the leg.
Blozhenko is working hard here to advance position.
Emelianenko tries to stand but can't do so whilst Blozhenko controls his leg.
Emelianenko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Blozhenko is not content to let Emelianenko control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grisha Blozhenko dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Blozhenko.
Blozhenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Emelianenko but Emelianenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Emelianenko has taken the fight to the clinch.

Emelianenko manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Blozhenko prevents Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
Emelianenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Emelianenko pushes Blozhenko off and gets back to his feet.

Emelianenko closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko goes for a takedown attempt but Blozhenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Emelianenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Blozhenko tries to sprawl out of it but Emelianenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blozhenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Emelianenko moves into the clinch.
Blozhenko has had enough of the clinch but Emelianenko keeps him there for the moment.

Emelianenko gets control of Blozhenko's arms and successfully pulls guard. Emelianenko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Emelianenko working for a triangle but Blozhenko defends it easily.
Emelianenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blozhenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blozhenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.

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.
Emelianenko is trying to keep Blozhenko in close.
Blozhenko wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.

Emelianenko working for a triangle but Blozhenko defends it easily.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blozhenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Emelianenko. No joy for Blozhenko on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grisha Blozhenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Emelianenko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Emelianenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Emelianenko preventing the sweep.
Blozhenko keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Blozhenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Blozhenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blozhenko had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Emelianenko is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Blozhenko Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Emelianenko's back instead.
Blozhenko trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Blozhenko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grisha Blozhenko!