PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Turo Vatanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Pride Fc Theme Song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Emelianenko
vs
Vatanen

185 cm
24
240 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

198 cm
25
277 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

HGH Nutrients
SCP Fight Gear

MMA's Best Nutrition The PIT INC

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Turo Vatanen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emelianenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Vatanen looking for submissions off his back.
Well, if Emelianenko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Emelianenko decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A telegraphed right hand from Emelianenko misses the target.
Emelianenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vatanen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Emelianenko controls the position for a moment.
Emelianenko takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Vatanen throwing strikes but Emelianenko manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Vatanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vatanen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Emelianenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to pass to mount but Vatanen is defending the position.

Vatanen looking for submissions off his back.

Emelianenko gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Vatanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Emelianenko with a poor takedown

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Emelianenko is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Emelianenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Vatanen is controlling the position.
Vatanen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Vatanen is controlling him.
Vatanen wants a takedown but no success here.

Emelianenko gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Vatanen looking for a guillotine here but Emelianenko defends easily.
Emelianenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Vatanen keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko wants to stand but Vatanen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Vatanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vatanen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Emelianenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vatanen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Emelianenko is aware though and is defending well.

Vatanen is looking for a triangle here but Emelianenko uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Vatanen looks gassed!
Vatanen tries to buck Emelianenko off but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Vatanen misses with a strike from the bottom.

Emelianenko has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vatanen fails with the takedown
enabling Emelianenko to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Emelianenko swings for the body but Vatanen moves out of range.

It looks like Turo Vatanen has been cut.

Vatanen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Emelianenko is trying to defend but Vatanen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Emelianenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko manages to get to full guard.
Emelianenko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen postures up.
Vatanen trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Emelianenko pulls Vatanen in close to his closed guard and prevents Vatanen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Emelianenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Emelianenko wants to sweep here but Vatanen controlling him for the moment.
Vatanen trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Emelianenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vatanen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Emelianenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vatanen with a poor takedown
and Vatanen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vatanen has his takedown stuffed
and Emelianenko counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fedor Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turo Vatanen.
Vatanen is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Emelianenko throws out the jab.
Vatanen fails with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vatanen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Emelianenko gets to his feet - Vatanen follows without any prompting.
Emelianenko throws a leg kick

and Vatanen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelianenko is controlling Vatanen's trapped leg to prevent Vatanen from advancing to side control.
Emelianenko is looking to improve his position.

Vatanen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Emelianenko trying to control but Vatanen postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vatanen thows a huge punch but Emelianenko dodges it nicely.
Emelianenko gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Turo Vatanen's cut.
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!

Emelianenko missing with a left hand there. Vatanen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Vatanen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emelianenko pulls Vatanen in close to prevent any damage.
Vatanen stops Emelianenko from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vatanen 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!

Emelianenko decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Vatanen, up you get!
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Emelianenko here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Vatanen fails with the takedown
and Emelianenko finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Vatanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vatanen shoots and misses
and Emelianenko counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Emelianenko clobbers Vatanen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelianenko fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A telegraphed right hand from Emelianenko misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko misses with an uppercut. Vatanen saw that one coming.
Vatanen has his takedown stuffed
and Emelianenko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fedor Emelianenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fedor Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turo Vatanen.
Emelianenko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Vatanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Emelianenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Turo Vatanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emelianenko throws a body punch but Vatanen moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from Emelianenko misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Emelianenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Emelianenko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fedor Emelianenko!