PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tif Da Cat (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
Da Cat

197 cm
18
229 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

169 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tif Da Cat!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko throws a combination. Da Cat tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Tif Da Cat has been cut.
Da Cat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Emelianenko but Emelianenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Da Cat takes the fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Da Cat walks away with a smile on his face. Emelianenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Emelianenko misses with a low kick.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Ivan Emelianenko has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A solid leg kick lands there for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Da Cat has eaten all the pies!
Da Cat shoots in but no luck this time.
Da Cat avoids the head kick by Emelianenko.

Da Cat shoots in and bounces Emelianenko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Cat won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.

Emelianenko has his foot on Da Cat's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Da Cat works his way back into a safe position though.
Emelianenko is trying to keep Da Cat in close.
Emelianenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Emelianenko, not yet.
Emelianenko is trying to keep Da Cat in close.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Emelianenko being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Da Cat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko throws a combination. Da Cat tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Emelianenko throws the left hand but Da Cat avoids the punch easily.
Emelianenko takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Cat takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Da Cat has Emelianenko up against the cage in a clinch.

Da Cat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ivan Emelianenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Da Cat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Emelianenko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko is letting Da Cat control him for a moment.
Da Cat working away.
Da Cat takes a little break here. Emelianenko wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep.

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.
Da Cat just content to control the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tif Da Cat just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Da Cat tries to clinch up but Emelianenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Da Cat avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Da Cat tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A good leg kick by Emelianenko.
Some wild striking there from Da Cat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Cat lands with a slapping head kick.
Da Cat is looking to land body kicks.
A combination from Emelianenko does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tif Da Cat will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Emelianenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Da Cat is just out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Da Cat looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Da Cat checks the leg kick.
Ivan Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelianenko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Da Cat pivots, looking for a leg kick but Emelianenko is out of range and Da Cat settles back down.
Emelianenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Da Cat.
Da Cat throws the kick towards the body but Emelianenko avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Emelianenko.
Da Cat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Emelianenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Emelianenko lands a jab to Da Cat's midsection.
Emelianenko lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Emelianenko misses with the combination.
Emelianenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Emelianenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Da Cat checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Cat tries to clinch up but Emelianenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Da Cat pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Emelianenko misses with a two punch combination.
Ivan Emelianenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Da Cat slips a jab and a cross from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Da Cat counters with a good low kick that Emelianenko was not able to check.
Emelianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Da Cat.
Emelianenko throws a nice head kick!
Emelianenko feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Da Cat's calf.
Emelianenko misses with a double jab
and Emelianenko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Emelianenko lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Emelianenko.
Da Cat shoots for a double leg takedown but Emelianenko sprawls well. He's pushed Da Cat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Da Cat looks to land a combination but Emelianenko avoids it well.
Da Cat tries to clinch but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko misses with a combination

and Da Cat counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Emelianenko landing small, sideways elbows.
Da Cat 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.
Da Cat looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Emelianenko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Da Cat thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Emelianenko's head.
Da Cat with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Da Cat is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Emelianenko is just riding it out for now. Da Cat eventually gives up the hold.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Da Cat connects with a nice short shot to Emelianenko's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to get to full guard but Da Cat has control of the leg.
Emelianenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Da Cat is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko tries to get to full guard but Da Cat has control of the leg.
Still in half guard, Da Cat seems content to control.

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.
Da Cat wants to lay and pray for a moment but Emelianenko keeps working.
Emelianenko wants to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Da Cat checks the leg kick nicely there.
Da Cat tries to clinch up.
Emelianenko lands with a good body shot.
Da Cat misses with a few strikes there.
Emelianenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Da Cat was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko stalks Da Cat and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Da Cat's face. Da Cat staggers backwards, shaken.
Emelianenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Emelianenko tries a head kick but it misses.
A right-left combo lands from Da Cat.
Da Cat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Emelianenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Da Cat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tif Da Cat will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Emelianenko.
A head kick misses from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko just misses with a punch to the body.
Emelianenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Da Cat's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Da Cat duly obliges.

Da Cat forces Emelianenko back against the cage and clinches.
Da Cat is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Emelianenko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Da Cat wants a takedown but no success here.
Da Cat jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Emelianenko walks away with a smile on his face. Da Cat gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ivan Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tif Da Cat.
A head kick from Emelianenko lands but Da Cat takes it in his stride.
Da Cat throws a series of punches but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Da Cat misses with a wild combination.
Da Cat misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a sloppy head kick and Da Cat moves out of range easily.
Emelianenko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Da Cat is out of range.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Da Cat showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a right hand that Da Cat ducks under and follows up with a left that Da Cat also avoids with ease.
Emelianenko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Da Cat throws a head kick that misses
and Emelianenko counters with a good low kick that Da Cat was not able to check.
A low kick from Da Cat misses
and Emelianenko counters with a head kick. That will keep Da Cat thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Emelianenko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Emelianenko throws a left and a right that both miss

and Da Cat counters by clinching up.
Da Cat tries to score a body lock takedown but Emelianenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Emelianenko is pressed up against the cage. Da Cat 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.
Emelianenko wants to land a leg kick but Da Cat is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Cat is looking to chop away at Emelianenko's legs.
Da Cat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Emelianenko is looking to wear down Da Cat with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Emelianenko throws a nice looking combination but Da Cat bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ivan Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Danga de danga de dang - Da Cat scores with a four punch combination!
Emelianenko falls off balance throwing a combination

and Da Cat counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Da Cat is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Da Cat wants to take a breather but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Emelianenko tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Da Cat has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Da Cat sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to escape the mount.
Emelianenko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Emelianenko is trying desperately to improve position.

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 working hard here to advance position.
A nice elbow there by Da Cat.
Da Cat tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Emelianenko is trying desperately to improve position.
Ivan Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Da Cat controlling from mount.
Da Cat's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tif Da Cat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Da Cat 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tif Da Cat!