PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandar Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kozlov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eye of the Tiger. Emelianenko has chosen Soviet March as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kozlov
vs
Emelianenko

190 cm
23
243 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

199 cm
23
253 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandar Kozlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emelianenko drives through and clinches with Kozlov against the cage.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kozlov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.

Emelianenko pushes Kozlov up against the cage in a clinch.
Kozlov working hard to break the clinch.
Emelianenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Emelianenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kozlov tries to circle away but Emelianenko has him pinned against the cage.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kozlov throws a series of punches but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Kozlov throws a head kick but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko misses with a body kick.
Emelianenko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kozlov misses with a takedown attempt - Emelianenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kozlov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Emelianenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Emelianenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko is working for takedown but Kozlov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Aleksandar Kozlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Emelianenko.
Kozlov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Emelianenko prevents it.

Emelianenko drags the fight down to the ground.
Kozlov is looking to stand up but Emelianenko won't let him.

Emelianenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Emelianenko looking to control.
Emelianenko is pulling down on Kozlov's head. It's preventing any offense from Kozlov, at least for the moment.
Emelianenko looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Emelianenko wants to sweep here but Kozlov controlling him for the moment.
Kozlov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Emelianenko on the ground.
Emelianenko working a defensive guard here.
Emelianenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kozlov wants to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kozlov is looking to escape.
Kozlov trying desperately to get to his feet.

Emelianenko looking to secure an arm triangle but Kozlov defends it well.
A nice elbow there by Emelianenko.
Kozlov is trying to escape the mount.
Kozlov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Emelianenko controlling from mount.
The referee warns Kozlov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov tries to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.

Emelianenko goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kozlov turns into him and now he's in Emelianenko's guard.

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 drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kozlov is trying to force a seperation but Emelianenko has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Emelianenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Emelianenko dodges the punch combination from Kozlov.
Kozlov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kozlov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kozlov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Emelianenko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kozlov's guard.
Emelianenko controlling from the top position.
Kozlov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kozlov tries to get out of the position.
Kozlov wants to control but Emelianenko passes easily into half guard.
Emelianenko stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kozlov's head.
Emelianenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kozlov keeps working.

Despite being in the dominant position, Aleksander Emelianenko just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kozlov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Aleksandar Kozlov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Emelianenko pushes Kozlov up against the cage in a clinch.

Emelianenko manages to break the clinch.
Kozlov throws a right and a left that Emelianenko avoids nicely.
Kozlov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kozlov looks to land a body kick but Emelianenko moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Kozlov is avoiding it.
Emelianenko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown.
Kozlov shoots in but Emelianenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Emelianenko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Emelianenko showed some decent athleticism there.
Kozlov taking some punishment here, with Emelianenko in his half guard.
Emelianenko works his way into full mount!
Kozlov is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov tries to buck Emelianenko off but he can't manage it.
Kozlov is in a horrible position here. Emelianenko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Emelianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kozlov is looking to escape.

Emelianenko gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kozlov as he avoids it easily.
Kozlov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Emelianenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Emelianenko slowing the pace effectively.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kozlov wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Aleksandar Kozlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Emelianenko.
Kozlov is trying to break free.
Emelianenko scores with a shot to the side of Kozlov's head.
Emelianenko slows down the pace here.
Emelianenko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kozlov smiles and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kozlov throws a body punch but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kozlov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Emelianenko closes the distance and clinches.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kozlov throws a sloppy head kick

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown. Kozlov fights it but they end up in guard.
Kozlov looking for a sweep. Not yet Kozlov, not yet.
Aleksander Emelianenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kozlov pulls Emelianenko in to control the position.
Emelianenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Kozlov keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Kozlov wants to sweep but no luck.

Kozlov is working an open guard so Emelianenko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kozlov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kozlov stuffs the takedown attempt from Emelianenko. Emelianenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Emelianenko clinches up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Emelianenko manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kozlov is wriggling around trying to escape.

Emelianenko has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Kozlov is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Aleksander Emelianenko!