PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois Desjardins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Emelianenko
vs
Desjardins

185 cm
18
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Tianada's Nutrition Superstore

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lyoto Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Francois Desjardins!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Desjardins takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Emelianenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Desjardins manages to avoid it.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Desjardins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emelianenko misses with a wild combination.
Emelianenko fails to land the takedown.
A left and a right from Desjardins both land. Nice combination.
Emelianenko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Desjardins wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Desjardins lands with a shot to the body.
Desjardins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Desjardins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Emelianenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Desjardins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Desjardins closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Desjardins lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Desjardins advances position into side control!
Desjardins throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Desjardins wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Emelianenko, who protects the arm well.
Desjardins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Emelianenko keeps working.
Desjardins misses with the ground and pound.
Emelianenko is trying to control Desjardins's posture but Desjardins avoids it.
Emelianenko tries to buck Desjardins off but Desjardins is having none of it.
Emelianenko avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Desjardins.
Desjardins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Emelianenko dodges the ground and pound from Desjardins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to half guard.
Desjardins is looking to take a break and control but Emelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Desjardins working the ground and pound.

Desjardins tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Desjardins working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Desjardins postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Desjardins scoring with punches and elbows.
Desjardins is looking to take a break and control but Emelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Desjardins tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Desjardins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Desjardins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Emelianenko manages to work his way to half guard, despite Desjardins's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Desjardins is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Emelianenko manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Desjardins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Desjardins wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Emelianenko trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois Desjardins dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Desjardins ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Desjardins throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lyoto Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Emelianenko misses with a series of wild punches.

Desjardins feints and as Emelianenko raises his hands in defense, Desjardins changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Desjardins won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.
Emelianenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Desjardins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Desjardins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.
Emelianenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Desjardins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desjardins pushes down on Emelianenko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Desjardins trying to mount his opponent but Emelianenko defends it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Desjardins scores with a nice head shot.
Desjardins comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Desjardins digs a good hook to Emelianenko's body.
Emelianenko closes the distance and clinches up with Desjardins, looking for a takedown. Emelianenko pushes Desjardins against the cage but Desjardins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Desjardins falls off balance throwing a combination
and Emelianenko counters with a series of strikes. Desjardins will be more careful next time no doubt.
Desjardins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Emelianenko circles away quickly and effectively.
Emelianenko walks into a stiff left hand from Desjardins.
Desjardins lands a nice hook to Emelianenko's body. Emelianenko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Desjardins scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Emelianenko doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Francois Desjardins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Desjardins cracks Emelianenko with an open hand slap.
Desjardins jabs at Emelianenko's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Emelianenko takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Desjardins is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Emelianenko rather than just go for the knockout.

Desjardins is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Emelianenko's half guard.

Desjardins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Emelianenko trying to hold on to Desjardins's head to control him but Desjardins postures up.
Desjardins lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Desjardins trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Desjardins trying to pass the guard but Emelianenko defending well.
Well, if Desjardins 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 is trying to get back to full guard.
Desjardins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Desjardins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Emelianenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Desjardins works his way into side control.
Desjardins controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Desjardins scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Emelianenko to see if he's OK.
Desjardins looks up at the clock and then as Emelianenko takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Desjardins smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Desjardins scoring with punches and elbows.

Desjardins working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Desjardins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Emelianenko keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Desjardins is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francois Desjardins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Emelianenko tries to clinch but Desjardins is having none of it.
Desjardins scores with a hook to the body. Emelianenko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Desjardins clobbers Emelianenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice sprawl there from Emelianenko as Desjardins shoots in.
Desjardins lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Desjardins is having none of it.
Emelianenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Desjardins.
Desjardins lands with a nice body punch.
Desjardins lands with a nice body punch.
Emelianenko misses with a hook. Desjardins ducked under it nicely.
Desjardins lands with a nice body punch.
Desjardins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Emelianenko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Desjardins somewhat.

Desjardins scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Desjardins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Desjardins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Desjardins lands a few punches from side control.
Desjardins working the head and body with strikes.
Desjardins landing a few strikes.
Desjardins trying to control the position but Emelianenko is working away.
Desjardins looks up at the clock and then as Emelianenko takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Desjardins smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Desjardins scoring with punches and elbows.

Desjardins thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko trying to control but Desjardins flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Desjardins throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Emelianenko!
Desjardins throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Emelianenko!
Emelianenko rolls, trying to escape but Desjardins keeps control of the position.
Emelianenko is taking damage to the body and head.
Desjardins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Desjardins scores with punches from the back.
Francois Desjardins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Desjardins cracks Emelianenko with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Emelianenko from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

Desjardins working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Emelianenko is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Desjardins has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Emelianenko taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Francois Desjardins!