PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branko Bananko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Fedor Emelianenko looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Emelianenko
vs
Bananko

183 cm
18
256 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fedor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Branko Bananko!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko throws a series of punches but Bananko avoids them all with ease.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.

Bananko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Emelianenko did well to prevent Bananko getting side control.
Emelianenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Emelianenko tries to get out of the position.
Bananko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Emelianenko!
Bananko content just to control the position here.
Bananko lands with some strikes.
Bananko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bananko raining down shots from the mount!

Bananko is working for a guillotine from mount but Emelianenko frees his head quite easily.
Bananko controlling from mount.

Bananko has control of Emelianenko's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Emelianenko regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bananko landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bananko controlling from the full mount.
Emelianenko is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bananko cracks Emelianenko with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bananko working Emelianenko over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bananko with shots to the head and body - Emelianenko looks very uncomfortable down there.
A nice elbow there by Bananko.
Bananko wants to control the pace but Emelianenko is squirming around nicely.
Emelianenko is trying to stand up.
Bananko controlling the pace for now.
Emelianenko is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Bananko controlling the pace for now.
Bananko punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bananko controlling the pace for now.
Bananko forces the positional change into back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Bananko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Despite being in the dominant position, Branko Bananko just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Bananko.
Emelianenko lands with a hook. Bananko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Bananko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bananko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bananko drops an elbow to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bananko frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bananko tries to control but Emelianenko wriggling away.
Bananko with the ground and pound from mount.
Emelianenko really is a fat lump.
Emelianenko is trying to stand.
Bananko controlling the position easily from mount.
Emelianenko tries to buck Bananko off but he can't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bananko controlling his opponent.
Bananko connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branko Bananko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bananko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bananko is defending well for now.
Bananko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Bananko has clasped his hands together around Emelianenko's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bananko controlling the position.
Emelianenko pushes Bananko away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bananko gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bananko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Emelianenko is trying to escape the position but Bananko is controlling the position.
Bananko is chipping away with strikes.
Bananko moves into full mount!
Bananko lands a nice shot to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bananko content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bananko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Bananko is working for a guillotine from mount but Emelianenko frees his head quite easily.
Bananko trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Bananko is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Emelianenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Emelianenko is squirming around, avoiding Bananko's attempts to control the action.
Bananko controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
You get the feeling that Emelianenko really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Emelianenko trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Bananko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Bananko controlling his opponent.
Bananko lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bananko misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Emelianenko really wants to buck Bananko off and get back to his feet.
Emelianenko has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Bananko loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Emelianenko hold on?
Emelianenko is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Bananko is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Emelianenko controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Bananko is looking to control Emelianenko but Emelianenko is wriggling around and keeping busy.

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.
Emelianenko is trying to stand back up.
Bananko gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Bananko scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Emelianenko is looking for a way out.
Emelianenko covers up after that shot from Bananko.

Bananko patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Emelianenko controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Bananko controls the position.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branko Bananko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Emelianenko misses.

Bananko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Emelianenko to the mat! Emelianenko manages to get full guard.
Bananko stands and throws Emelianenko's legs to the side, diving into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Bananko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Emelianenko keeps working.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Bananko is working Emelianenko over with some ground and pound from side control.

Bananko stands up.
Bananko tries to clinch but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Emelianenko misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bananko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Emelianenko's guard.

Bananko stands and steps away. Emelianenko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Bananko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bananko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko is trying to stand but he's just given Bananko his back.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.
Bananko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is keeping busy.
Emelianenko looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Emelianenko looking very determined here, making life difficult for Bananko.
Emelianenko looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Bananko has Emelianenko flattened out and is raining down punches.
Fedor Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emelianenko is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Bananko keeps control of the position easily here as Emelianenko tries to buck him off.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to his feet but Bananko has full control of the position and if anything, Emelianenko has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Bananko has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bananko is looking to control Emelianenko but Emelianenko is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Emelianenko holding both Bananko 's hands and preventing any damage.
Bananko lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Emelianenko is trying to stand back up.
Branko Bananko has got the better of the ground game so far.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Bananko is working for a rear naked choke. Emelianenko is not defending it well and Bananko has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Emelianenko refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Emelianenko's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Branko Bananko!