PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Varava Semen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (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.

Semen
vs
Emelianenko

195 cm
20
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
229 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Varava Semen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko shoots in and drives through. Semen sprawls well.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Semen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Emelianenko gets a takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Emelianenko looks to land a strike but Semen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Semen working a defensive guard here.
Emelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Semen has wrist control.
Emelianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Emelianenko stopping the sweep attempt from Semen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Emelianenko won't allow Semen to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick misses from Semen.
Emelianenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Emelianenko takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Emelianenko looks gassed!
Semen thows a body kick. Emelianenko tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Semen thumps Emelianenko with a low kick.
Semen throws a sloppy head kick and Emelianenko moves out of range easily.
Semen tries a head kick but it misses.
Semen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Emelianenko's head.

It looks like Fedor Emelianenko has been cut.
Semen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semen lands a head kick. Emelianenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Semen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Varava Semen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.

Emelianenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Emelianenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Emelianenko throwing shots but Semen is blocking nicely.
Semen keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Emelianenko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Semen defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is nestled in close to Semen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Emelianenko throwing shots but Semen is blocking nicely.
Semen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Emelianenko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Semen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Emelianenko on the ground.
Semen wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Semen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Emelianenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Emelianenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Emelianenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Emelianenko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Emelianenko looks to land a strike but Semen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Varava Semen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emelianenko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick misses from Semen.
Varava Semen is winning the standup battle so far.
Emelianenko dives in and grabs Semen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Semen pushes down on Emelianenko's head and hops out.
Fedor Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Semen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Emelianenko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Emelianenko cracks Semen with a solid left hand.
Emelianenko throwing strikes from guard but Semen blocks nicely.
Semen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Emelianenko.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Semen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Emelianenko postures up in Semen's guard and throws a big left but Semen blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws and elbow that misses. Semen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Emelianenko's guard. Nice move by Semen!

Emelianenko is looking for a triangle but Semen pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Semen won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Semen misses with a head kick.

Emelianenko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Emelianenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Semen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Semen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Emelianenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emelianenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Emelianenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Emelianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Semen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Emelianenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Semen throws a head kick but Emelianenko moves out of range.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Semen has hold of Emelianenko's hands but Emelianenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Emelianenko is trying to work for a kimura but Semen is defending well.
Emelianenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Emelianenko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Semen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Emelianenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emelianenko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Semen defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emelianenko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Semen but Semen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick from Semen lands but Emelianenko takes it in his stride.
Semen tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelianenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Semen connects with a high kick.

Emelianenko has managed to clinch.
Emelianenko has Semen pressed against the cage, preventing Semen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
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 Semen walks away with a smile on his face. Emelianenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Varava Semen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown but Semen shows good takedown defense.
Semen throws a sloppy head kick and Emelianenko moves out of range easily.
Semen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Emelianenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Semen throws a head kick but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Semen misses with a low kick.

Emelianenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Semen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelianenko with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Emelianenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emelianenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Emelianenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Emelianenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Semen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Semen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Emelianenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Emelianenko won't allow Semen to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Emelianenko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Semen was covering up waiting for the punch and Emelianenko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Semen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Emelianenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Emelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Semen has wrist control.
Emelianenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Semen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Emelianenko postures up in Semen's guard and throws a big left but Semen blocks it.
Emelianenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Emelianenko scores with a takedown into Semen's guard.
Fedor Emelianenko has got the better of the ground game so far.

Emelianenko drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Semen dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semen trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Semen is looking to stand up but Emelianenko won't let him.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Semen tries to stand but Emelianenko is controlling from the bottom.
Semen preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Varava Semen.
I think Semen 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!