PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Soviet March kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Power
vs
Emelianenko

205 cm
19
218 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

199 cm
24
253 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
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, Paul Power!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Emelianenko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Power tries to close the distance and clinch up but Emelianenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Emelianenko has closed the distance and engaged Power in a clinch.
Power wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Power looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Emelianenko pulls guard effortlessly.
Emelianenko working a defensive guard here.
Emelianenko is pulling down on Power's head to control his posture.
Emelianenko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Emelianenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Power wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Emelianenko can do anything to dispel that myth.
Emelianenko will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko seems keen to control Power's posture.
Emelianenko wants to sweep but no luck.

Emelianenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Emelianenko has his feet on Power's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Power!
Emelianenko looks gassed!
Emelianenko dives in and grabs Power's left leg, looking for a takedown. Power pushes down on Emelianenko's head and hops out.
Power with a lazy takedown attempt

and Emelianenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Power wants a takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Emelianenko.
Come on Emelianenko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Emelianenko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Power prevents it.
Power tries to pull guard but Emelianenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Power drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Power. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Power escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Emelianenko stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko falls off balance throwing a combination

and Power counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Emelianenko's guard now.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Power from controlling successfully.
Power trying to stand up but can't free himself from Emelianenko's guard.
Power tries to free his leg and advance position but Emelianenko is retaining full guard.

Emelianenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Power wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Power works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Power is keen to just control but Emelianenko is a slippery customer.

Power is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Emelianenko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Emelianenko wants to control but Power is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Emelianenko wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko dodges the punch combination from Power.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Power misses the jab.

Power tries to keep at a distance but Emelianenko has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

Emelianenko moves into the clinch successfully.
Power is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Emelianenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Emelianenko gets control of Power's arms and successfully pulls guard. Emelianenko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Emelianenko pushes Power off and scrambles back to his feet.
Power tries to clinch but Emelianenko moves away

and Emelianenko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Power's guard now.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Power keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aleksander Emelianenko will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Emelianenko moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Power on the inside.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paul Power is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Power fails with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown. Power fights it but they end up in guard.
Emelianenko slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Emelianenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Emelianenko lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.
Emelianenko wants to get up but he can't break Power's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Emelianenko works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Emelianenko decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Emelianenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Power which made him look bad.
Emelianenko fails to land the takedown.
Power tries to clinch

and Emelianenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Power's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Emelianenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Power is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Emelianenko blocks an elbow strike from Power.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Power decides to pull guard.
Emelianenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Power wants to sweep here but Emelianenko controlling him for the moment.
Power is looking to sweep but instead, Emelianenko has passed into half guard.
Emelianenko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Aleksander Emelianenko has got the better of the ground game so far.

Emelianenko 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.

Emelianenko stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Power fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Paul Power has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Emelianenko.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Power fails with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko prevents Power from improving his position.
Power gets back to full guard.
Emelianenko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Emelianenko passes Power's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in half guard, Emelianenko seems content to control.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Emelianenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Emelianenko misses with a head kick.
Power fails with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown. Power fights it but they end up in guard.

Emelianenko gets to his feet. Power looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Emelianenko closes the distance and clinches up with Power, looking for a takedown. Emelianenko pushes Power against the cage but Power circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Power gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Emelianenko counters by clinching up.
Emelianenko pushes Power back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Emelianenko stalling in the clinch.
Emelianenko lands a knee to the head.

Emelianenko manages to pull guard.
Power prevents Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
Power tries to stand but Emelianenko is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko keeping full guard, as Power tries to pass.
Emelianenko lands a decent shot there.
Power throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Emelianenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Emelianenko, not yet.
Emelianenko pulls Power in to control the position.
Emelianenko throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Power tries to clinch up
and Emelianenko counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Power swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Emelianenko has closed the distance and engaged Power in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Power doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Emelianenko scores with a shot to the side of Power's head.
Emelianenko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Emelianenko manages to pull guard.
Emelianenko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Emelianenko is trying to keep Power in close.
Power won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Power won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.

Power gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Emelianenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Power, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Power. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Power stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a head kick but Power moves out of range.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Emelianenko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Power!
Emelianenko wants to take Power's back but he can't do it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Power is trying to escape the mount.
Power is in a horrible position here. Emelianenko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Emelianenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Emelianenko dominating with strikes here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Emelianenko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

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