PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes into the arena with Enea Vollare Mezzo blaring out of the sound system. Alexander Emelianenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Emelianenko
vs
Valentine

185 cm
22
264 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
230 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko avoids the head kick by Valentine.

Emelianenko drives through and clinches with Valentine against the cage.
Valentine landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Valentine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Emelianenko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valentine stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Valentine lands a nice shot to the body.
A knee to the head by Valentine.

It looks like Alexander Emelianenko has been cut.
Emelianenko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valentine misses with an elbow over the top.

Emelianenko turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko wants to control but Valentine is keeping him busy.
Emelianenko staying calm.

Emelianenko stands up and beckons Valentine to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valentine has Emelianenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Valentine tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Emelianenko avoids it.
Emelianenko avoids the elbow strike from Valentine, against the cage.
Valentine is trying to maintain a safe position but Emelianenko gets an underhook and turns Valentine into the cage.
Valentine controlling the action here for a moment.

Emelianenko has clasped his hands together around Valentine's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Emelianenko is trying to get an arm triangle but Valentine is defending well.
Emelianenko prevents Valentine from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko working the ground and pound but Valentine is defending the strikes.
Emelianenko in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Emelianenko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The referee asks Emelianenko politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Emelianenko prefers to stall for the moment though.

Emelianenko decides to stand back up. Emelianenko steps back and let's Valentine get back to his feet.
Valentine with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Valentine counters with a head kick.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A lazy body kick from Emelianenko

and Valentine counters by clinching up.
Valentine stalling in the clinch.
Valentine putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Emelianenko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Valentine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine trying to land knees to the body.
Valentine tries to stall but Emelianenko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Emelianenko can't break the clinch.
Emelianenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Valentine lands a damaging elbow.
Valentine misses with a knee strike.
Valentine stalling in the clinch.
Valentine crunches a lovely knee into Emelianenko's ribcage.

Emelianenko successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Valentine makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Valentine decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Valentine is looking to clinch but Emelianenko is avoiding it.
Valentine tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Emelianenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emelianenko tries to clinch there but Valentine circles away.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valentine tries to clinch up but Emelianenko circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Valentine is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valentine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Emelianenko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Valentine avoids it really well and circles away.

Emelianenko darts in and clinches Valentine up against the cage.
Valentine lands an elbow inside that Emelianenko shrugs off.
Emelianenko fails to pull guard.
A frustrated look appears on Emelianenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Emelianenko is trying to break free.
Valentine tries to land a knee to the head but Emelianenko blocks with his arms.
Valentine comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Valentine takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Valentine stalling in the clinch but Emelianenko improves position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine prevents Emelianenko from breaking the clinch.
Emelianenko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Valentine is stalling here.
Valentine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Valentine scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Valentine dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Emelianenko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Emelianenko keeps the fight on the outside.

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Valentine just misses with a elbow thrown towards Emelianenko's brow.
Emelianenko with a knee to the head.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valentine throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt.

Valentine gets a clinch.
Valentine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Valentine has him pressed against the cage.
Valentine is trying to stall.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt
and Emelianenko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Justin Valentine has been cut.

Valentine instigates a clinch.
Emelianenko managing to block the knees to the body from Valentine.
Valentine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valentine is breathing heavily.

Emelianenko breaks from the clinch.
Valentine tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Emelianenko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Valentine won't be happy with that.
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.
Emelianenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valentine keeps working.

Emelianenko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Valentine, who protects the arm well.
Emelianenko controls the position.

Emelianenko stands up and beckons Valentine to his feet.

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.
Valentine closes the distance but Emelianenko moves to the side

and Emelianenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Emelianenko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Valentine just stands there and leans against the cage.
Valentine lands a nice knee to the body.
Emelianenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Valentine lands an elbow inside that Emelianenko shrugs off.
Valentine gets underhooks to prevent Emelianenko's takedown attempt.
Valentine lands a nice elbow.
Valentine misses with a knee strike.
Emelianenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Valentine has double underhooks.
Valentine will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Emelianenko up against the cage.
Emelianenko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko working hard to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Emelianenko as Valentine tries to tie him up.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Valentine has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Emelianenko can't break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko letting Valentine take a breather here.
Valentine tries to land a knee to the head but Emelianenko blocks with his arms.
Valentine prevents Emelianenko from breaking the clinch.
Valentine missing with knees to the body.
Emelianenko wants to get back to striking at distance but Valentine won't allow it.
Valentine lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Emelianenko lands a nice elbow.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valentine is trying to stall.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Valentine.
Valentine lands an elbow inside.
Emelianenko blocks an elbow strike.
Valentine is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Emelianenko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Valentine smiles and moves away.
Emelianenko throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.

Emelianenko has closed the distance and engaged Valentine in a clinch.
Justin Valentine seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Emelianenko avoids a wild elbow strike from Valentine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Valentine looking to throw knees to the head but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Emelianenko is working for takedown but Valentine is calmly controlling the position for now.
Emelianenko avoids the elbow strike from Valentine, against the cage.
Emelianenko stalling the fight.
Valentine lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Emelianenko pushes off an throws an elbow but Valentine leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emelianenko dives in and grabs Valentine's left leg, looking for a takedown. Valentine pushes down on Emelianenko's head and hops out.
Valentine is looking to clinch but Emelianenko is avoiding it.

Valentine takes the fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Valentine avoiding damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Emelianenko as Valentine tries to tie him up.
Valentine landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Valentine obliges.

Emelianenko jumps guard.
Valentine looking to sit in guard and control but Emelianenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Emelianenko dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Valentine keeps the fight on the outside.
Emelianenko misses with a head kick.
Valentine tries to clinch up

and Emelianenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Emelianenko.
Valentine pushes off an throws an elbow but Emelianenko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Emelianenko avoids a wild elbow strike from Valentine.
Valentine looking to slow down the pace here.
Valentine is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Emelianenko is defending well for now.
Valentine throws an elbow that misses.
Valentine scores with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch but Valentine keeps him there for the moment.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valentine lands a nice elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valentine utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Valentine looking to slow down the pace here.
Emelianenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Valentine tries to clinch but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Justin Valentine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Valentine holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Emelianenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Valentine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Emelianenko takes an elbow to the temple.
Emelianenko scores with a shot to the side of Valentine's head.
Emelianenko can't break the clinch.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Emelianenko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Emelianenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko is looking to stand up but Valentine won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Emelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Valentine has wrist control.
Emelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valentine is keeping the position for now.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is pushing down on Valentine's leg trying to pass to half guard. Valentine is fighting to maintain full guard but Emelianenko has managed to sneak the leg through.
Emelianenko works his foot free and advances to mount.
Emelianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Valentine is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Emelianenko lands a nice shot to the head.
Emelianenko controlling the pace for now.
Emelianenko throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Emelianenko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Emelianenko 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

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