PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hoban Washburne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Washburne
vs
Emelianenko

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Battle Bars Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hoban Washburne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrei Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Washburne drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Emelianenko is not content to let Washburne control the position.
Emelianenko seems a little lost for a moment, as Washburne dominates the positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko wants to control but Washburne postures up.

Washburne decides to stand back up. Washburne steps back and let's Emelianenko get back to his feet.
Washburne closes the distance and clinches up with Emelianenko, looking for a takedown. Washburne pushes Emelianenko against the cage but Emelianenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Washburne wants to clinch up but Emelianenko keeps it at a distance.
Emelianenko blocks a low kick nicely.
Washburne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Emelianenko digs a good hook to Washburne's body.
Emelianenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Emelianenko clinches.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Washburne looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Washburne is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control but Washburne postures up.
Emelianenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Washburne from controlling successfully.
Washburne is really struggling to control Emelianenko but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Emelianenko has control of Washburne's left arm, preventing Washburne from doing any damage.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.

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.
Washburne tries to pull guard but Emelianenko won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hoban Washburne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Washburne fails to pull guard.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch.

Washburne shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Washburne was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Emelianenko is trying to escape the mount.
You get the feeling that Emelianenko really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Washburne content just to control the position here.
Washburne trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Washburne tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Washburne has a good base and remains in mount.
Emelianenko blocking the ground and pound.
Emelianenko tries to hold on but Washburne postures up.
Washburne throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Emelianenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Washburne working for a guillotine from mount but Emelianenko is in no mood to give up.
Emelianenko sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Washburne 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko wants to control but Washburne is keeping busy.
Washburne is trying to control the action in half guard but Emelianenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Washburne works his way into side control.
Emelianenko tries to escape but Washburne is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoban Washburne dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Washburne misses with a low kick as Emelianenko jumps back.

Washburne scores with a takedown into Emelianenko's guard.
Emelianenko managing to control the position.
Washburne looking to sit in guard and control but Emelianenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Washburne wants to sweep here but Emelianenko controlling him for the moment.
Washburne wants to hit a switch here but Emelianenko passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Washburne there!
Washburne tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko controlling the position easily from mount.
Emelianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Washburne is looking to escape.
Washburne wants to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
Washburne bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Washburne drops back, looking for a kneebar! Emelianenko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Emelianenko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Emelianenko!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washburne is looking to reverse the position.
Washburne wants to control but Emelianenko postures up.
Washburne is not content to let Emelianenko control the position.

Emelianenko decides to stand back up. Emelianenko steps back and let's Washburne get back to his feet.
Emelianenko with a lazy takedown attempt

and Washburne counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Washburne trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Washburne slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hoban Washburne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Washburne looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Emelianenko is avoiding damage well.
Emelianenko wants to control but Washburne postures up.
Washburne lands a few punches from side control.
Washburne trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Washburne tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Washburne trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

Washburne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Emelianenko knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Emelianenko is trying to buck Washburne off.
The strikes coming from Washburne are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Washburne misses with the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Washburne drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Emelianenko is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Washburne dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hoban Washburne dominated that second round.
That's time! Washburne's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Emelianenko!
Emelianenko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Emelianenko closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Washburne has a takedown stuffed.
Emelianenko thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Washburne if he has to take too many more of those.

Washburne gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko can't do much from the bottom here.

Emelianenko explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
A left and a right from Emelianenko both land. Nice combination.
Emelianenko's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Emelianenko duly obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Washburne clinches but Emelianenko breaks the clinch
and Emelianenko counters with a right hand to the body.
Washburne throws a left and a right that both miss
and Emelianenko counters with a solid body kick.
Emelianenko lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Washburne misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Washburne swivels and escapes.
Emelianenko's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Emelianenko duly obliges.
Washburne on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Washburne thows a leg kick but Emelianenko checks it
and Emelianenko counters with a series of strikes. Washburne will be more careful next time no doubt.
Emelianenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Washburne tries to clinch up

and Emelianenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko is pressed up against the cage. Washburne has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Emelianenko down to the mat. Emelianenko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hoban Washburne. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Washburne looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Emelianenko!
Emelianenko is working to get back to half guard.
Washburne takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Emelianenko working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washburne trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Emelianenko tries to hold on but Washburne postures up.
Washburne throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Washburne thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Washburne is landing with some decent strikes but Emelianenko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Washburne looking to control but Emelianenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Emelianenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Washburne there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Washburne has a good base and remains in mount.
Washburne lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Emelianenko hang on?
Emelianenko can't escape the position.
Emelianenko wants to hold on but Washburne pushes him away.
Emelianenko avoids a series of strikes thrown by Washburne.
Washburne looking to ground and pound but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Emelianenko wants to hold on but Washburne pushes him away.
Washburne has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Washburne throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Emelianenko because Washburne loaded up on that one.
Emelianenko slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Washburne winds up and cracks Emelianenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Washburne missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washburne prevents Emelianenko from improving his position.
Washburne is tying to control. Emelianenko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Emelianenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emelianenko.
Washburne trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko trying to control the position.
Washburne is looking to work some ground and pound but Emelianenko has wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Washburne preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Washburne gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Emelianenko counters with a head kick. That will keep Washburne thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Washburne throws a nice looking combination but Emelianenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Washburne 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 James Ackerman scores the fight for Andrei Emelianenko!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Hoban Washburne!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Hoban Washburne!

Hoban Washburne wins by split decision!