PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Soloman van der Vaart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko's entrance music is You are the best around. A fine choice. van der Vaart has chosen Nah Mean as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Emelianenko
vs
van der Vaart

180 cm
25
183 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

183 cm
22
178 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing
MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andrei Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Soloman van der Vaart!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko tries to score with a low kick but van der Vaart moves his leg out of the way.
Emelianenko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Emelianenko delivers a nice body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from van der Vaart. Emelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from van der Vaart misses the target.
van der Vaart throws a hook but Emelianenko avoids it easily.

Emelianenko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. van der Vaart tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Emelianenko is in van der Vaart's guard.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but van der Vaart keeps moving.
van der Vaart is controlling Emelianenko's posture.
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.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but van der Vaart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
van der Vaart seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emelianenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Emelianenko can pounce on him.
van der Vaart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
van der Vaart throws a looping overhand right but Emelianenko ducks down to avoid it.

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.
Emelianenko staying out of range there.
van der Vaart bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
van der Vaart checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Emelianenko lands a leg kick that knocks van der Vaart off balance momentarily.
van der Vaart misses with a hook. Emelianenko ducked under it nicely.
van der Vaart on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Emelianenko moves out of range as van der Vaart strikes.
Emelianenko throws a right hand that van der Vaart ducks under and follows up with a left that van der Vaart also avoids with ease.
Emelianenko is looking to land body kicks.
van der Vaart blocks the body kick.
Emelianenko throws a right hand that van der Vaart ducks under and follows up with a left that van der Vaart also avoids with ease.
van der Vaart takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Emelianenko fails with a takedown attempt.
van der Vaart tries to clinch there but Emelianenko circles away.
A big left from van der Vaart misses.
Emelianenko lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Emelianenko does it's job there.
Emelianenko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
van der Vaart waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Emelianenko.
Emelianenko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van der Vaart scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
van der Vaart moves out of range as Emelianenko throws a body kick.
van der Vaart walks into a stiff left hand from Emelianenko.
van der Vaart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice uppercut lands for van der Vaart. That snapped Emelianenko's head back.

It looks like Andrei Emelianenko has been cut.
van der Vaart looks to land a right hand but Emelianenko moved out of range.
van der Vaart throws a lazy right hand but Emelianenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Soloman van der Vaart is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Emelianenko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko trying to control the position but van der Vaart is working away.
Emelianenko is putting a hurting on van der Vaart here, landing some big shots from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Emelianenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andrei Emelianenko's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Emelianenko lands a leg kick that knocks van der Vaart off balance momentarily.
Emelianenko scores with a punch to the head.
Emelianenko connects with a nice looking jab.
Emelianenko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Andrei Emelianenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Emelianenko scores with a spinning back kick!
van der Vaart checks a low kick from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Emelianenko swings for the body but van der Vaart moves out of range.
Emelianenko misses with a wild body shot.
Emelianenko is looking to wear down van der Vaart with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Emelianenko lands with a nice body kick.

Emelianenko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Emelianenko throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Emelianenko scores with punches from side control.
A lull in the action here.
van der Vaart struggling a bit here.
Emelianenko trying to control the position but van der Vaart is working away.

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.
van der Vaart taking a bit of punishment here - Emelianenko scoring with strikes.
Emelianenko working the strikes but van der Vaart uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
van der Vaart avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko wants to take a breather but van der Vaart is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if van der Vaart can do anything to dispel that myth.
Emelianenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Emelianenko wants to take a breather but van der Vaart is having none of it.
Emelianenko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
van der Vaart keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Emelianenko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Emelianenko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but van der Vaart sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
van der Vaart won't allow Emelianenko to pass to mount.
Emelianenko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Emelianenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Emelianenko is working for a submission of some sort.
Emelianenko throwing shots but van der Vaart is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Emelianenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Andrei Emelianenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Emelianenko throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Emelianenko throws a big shot that misses.
A combination from van der Vaart does no damage.
van der Vaart throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Emelianenko scoring well with a low kick there.
van der Vaart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Emelianenko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
van der Vaart checks a leg kick.
Emelianenko throws a head kick but van der Vaart moves out of range.
Emelianenko scores with a jab.
van der Vaart walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko swings away with a leg kick that misses.
van der Vaart fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Emelianenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
van der Vaart's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Emelianenko is looking to land body kicks.
Jab, jab by van der Vaart - just one landing.
van der Vaart slips under a jab.
Emelianenko blocks a jab.
van der Vaart slips under a jab.
Emelianenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but van der Vaart circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
van der Vaart throws a jab but it's blocked by Emelianenko.
van der Vaart might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Emelianenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from van der Vaart.
van der Vaart throws a sloppy body shot

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Soloman van der Vaart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to mount his opponent but van der Vaart defends it.
Emelianenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
van der Vaart is trying to maintain the position but Emelianenko is very close to passing his half guard.

Emelianenko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. van der Vaart doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throwing shots but van der Vaart is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Emelianenko is stalling here. van der Vaart is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Emelianenko seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and van der Vaart has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
van der Vaart wants to stand but Emelianenko has his arm trapped.
van der Vaart creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Emelianenko sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
van der Vaart wants to stand but Emelianenko is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
van der Vaart landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Emelianenko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
van der Vaart wants to stand up but Emelianenko is controlling the position.

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back.
Andrei Emelianenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Emelianenko moves into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Soloman van der Vaart.
Well Emelianenko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

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