PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herbie Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitali Emeliananko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hawkins comes to the cage accompanied by My Sacrifice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hawkins
vs
Emeliananko

197 cm
23
213 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

187 cm
23
204 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Herbie Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitali Emeliananko!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emeliananko fails with a takedown attempt.

Hawkins looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Emeliananko working a defensive guard here.

Hawkins drops back looking for a leg! Emeliananko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emeliananko manages to kick Hawkins off! Hawkins jumps back into Emeliananko's guard.
Emeliananko keeping full guard, as Hawkins tries to pass.

Emeliananko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Hawkins drops back looking for a leg! Emeliananko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emeliananko manages to kick Hawkins off! Hawkins jumps back into Emeliananko's guard.

Emeliananko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emeliananko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawkins postures up.
Hawkins wants to control from the top but Emeliananko keeps moving.

Hawkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hawkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hawkins is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Emeliananko is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Emeliananko has escaped and now he's on top!
Hawkins looking to control.
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.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Emeliananko working some strikes from top position.
Emeliananko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hawkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Emeliananko is in close to Hawkins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Emeliananko slips nicely into half guard.
Emeliananko is trying to control the action in half guard but Hawkins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Emeliananko wants to work for an arm triangle but Hawkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Emeliananko is working for a kimura but Hawkins is defending it quite comfortably.
Emeliananko looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Emeliananko.
Emeliananko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hawkins tries to kick Emeliananko off but Emeliananko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Emeliananko wants to free his trapped foot but Hawkins is holding on for dear life with his legs.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Emeliananko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Emeliananko shoots and misses
and Hawkins counters with a stiff right hand.
A left lands for Hawkins.

Emeliananko gets caught flat footed, as Hawkins shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hawkins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hawkins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Emeliananko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hawkins has managed to get both his arms back between Emeliananko's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emeliananko wants to sweep but no luck.

Hawkins drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Emeliananko dives on top into guard.
Emeliananko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Emeliananko drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hawkins manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Emeliananko has Hawkins in his guard.

Hawkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hawkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hawkins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hawkins has gone for a leg lock! Emeliananko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hawkins's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitali Emeliananko dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Horrible takedown by Emeliananko or perhaps it was just good defense by Hawkins which made him look bad.
Hawkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emeliananko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawkins.
Hawkins lands a lovely overhand right.
Emeliananko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emeliananko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Emeliananko tries for a takedown but Hawkins circles away easily
and Hawkins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Emeliananko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hawkins to score with a decent uppercut.
Hawkins wants to clinch up but Emeliananko keeps it at a distance.
Emeliananko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Emeliananko tries for a takedown but Hawkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Herbie Hawkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitali Emeliananko.
Emeliananko is breathing heavily.
Emeliananko with a poor takedown
and Hawkins counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hawkins goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Hawkins.
Emeliananko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hawkins shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hawkins was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Hawkins looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Emeliananko tries to lock up and control but Hawkins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Hawkins is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Emeliananko to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Emeliananko shrugs it off.

Hawkins is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Emeliananko has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Emeliananko!
Emeliananko trying to control but Hawkins is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emeliananko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Emeliananko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Emeliananko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hawkins is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hawkins is looking to stand back up but Emeliananko counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Hawkins.
Hawkins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Emeliananko.

Emeliananko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emeliananko prevents Hawkins from standing back up.

Emeliananko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hawkins is just riding it out for now. Emeliananko eventually gives up the hold.
Emeliananko is looking to take a break and control but Hawkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Emeliananko tries to pass to full mount but Hawkins defends it.

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.
Hawkins is controlling Emeliananko's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Emeliananko is trying to work for a kimura but Hawkins is defending well.
Hawkins pushes Emeliananko off looking to stand but Emeliananko dives back in and keeps control.

Emeliananko is looking for a kimura but Hawkins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Emeliananko to get the leverage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emeliananko checks the leg kick.
Hawkins misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herbie Hawkins dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawkins bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Emeliananko's head backwards.
Emeliananko fails with the takedown
and Hawkins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Emeliananko shoots and misses

and Hawkins decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Emeliananko's guard.

Hawkins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hawkins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Emeliananko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hawkins advances position into side control!

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

Hawkins tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hawkins has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hawkins looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Emeliananko sneaks back into half guard.

Hawkins is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Emeliananko defends it well.

Emeliananko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hawkins seems to be working for a kimura but Emeliananko defends the submission attempt.

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.
Emeliananko manages to get to full guard.
Hawkins trying to control but Emeliananko is working from the bottom.
Hawkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Emeliananko is looking to sinch up a triangle. Hawkins throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Emeliananko's body to avoid the submission. Emeliananko has instead reached around Hawkins's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Emeliananko arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Vitali Emeliananko!