PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pepper OKeefe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. 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
OKeefe

180 cm
20
212 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

210 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lucas Emelianenko !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pepper OKeefe!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - OKeefe circles away.
Emelianenko moves in looking to clinch but OKeefe pushes him off.
OKeefe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch.

OKeefe has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Emelianenko is trying to keep an underhook but OKeefe manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OKeefe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

OKeefe escapes and gets back to his feet.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up but OKeefe circles away and keeps his distance.
OKeefe shoots in for a double leg but Emelianenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
OKeefe throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Emelianenko moves in looking to clinch but OKeefe pushes him off.
Left hook, right uppercut from OKeefe.
OKeefe throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Emelianenko 's head.
Emelianenko tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling OKeefe to counter with a crisp jab.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
OKeefe circles away from the clinch attempt.
OKeefe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. OKeefe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A swing and a miss from OKeefe.
OKeefe misses with the combination.
OKeefe shoots in and drives through. Emelianenko sprawls well.
Lucas Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pepper OKeefe.
OKeefe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Emelianenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up but OKeefe circles away and keeps his distance.

OKeefe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

OKeefe thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
OKeefe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
OKeefe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
OKeefe looking to pass the guard.
OKeefe won't allow Emelianenko to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
OKeefe throwing strikes from guard but Emelianenko blocks nicely.

Emelianenko is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Emelianenko pulls OKeefe into guard.
OKeefe tries to free his leg and advance position but Emelianenko is retaining full guard.
OKeefe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Emelianenko wants to sweep here but OKeefe controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
OKeefe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko working the ground and pound effectively.
Emelianenko controlling the pace for now.
OKeefe wants to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko throws some wild stikes that OKeefe manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko punching from mount but OKeefe doing a good job of avoiding damage.
OKeefe is squirming around, avoiding Emelianenko 's attempts to control the action.
Emelianenko sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Emelianenko content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

OKeefe misses with a takedown attempt - Emelianenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Emelianenko forces OKeefe back against the cage and clinches.
Emelianenko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
OKeefe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
OKeefe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Emelianenko smiles and moves away.
Emelianenko 's jab looks to have found its range, popping OKeefe under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OKeefe shoots in looking for a takedown but Emelianenko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing OKeefe's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lucas Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pepper OKeefe.
Jab from OKeefe.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Emelianenko !
Emelianenko jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Emelianenko pushes OKeefe up against the cage in a clinch.
OKeefe wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko landing knees to the head.
OKeefe takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Pepper OKeefe has been cut.

Emelianenko manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Emelianenko wants to sweep but no luck.
OKeefe with a flurry of punches that miss.
OKeefe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
OKeefe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing OKeefe from controlling successfully.

Emelianenko scrambles and gets back to his feet.
OKeefe tries for a takedown but Emelianenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Emelianenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. OKeefe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Emelianenko misses with a wild combination.
OKeefe throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Emelianenko .
OKeefe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
OKeefe shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.

Emelianenko drives through and clinches with OKeefe against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Emelianenko .

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

Emelianenko rushes OKeefe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
OKeefe looking to stall.
Emelianenko stalling against the cage.
OKeefe is looking to break free of the clinch but Emelianenko has double underhooks.

Emelianenko manages to pull guard.
Emelianenko trying to control the position.

OKeefe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe is pushing down on Emelianenko 's leg trying to pass to half guard. Emelianenko is fighting to maintain full guard but OKeefe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Emelianenko moves into full guard.
Emelianenko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for OKeefe!
OKeefe in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Emelianenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pepper OKeefe's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Emelianenko clinches with his opponent.
Emelianenko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
OKeefe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
OKeefe changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Emelianenko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
OKeefe scores with a punch to the head.
OKeefe is looking to clinch but Emelianenko is avoiding it.
OKeefe circles away from the clinch attempt.
OKeefe is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Emelianenko .
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - OKeefe circles away.
OKeefe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Emelianenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up
and OKeefe counters with a two punch combo.
OKeefe lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Emelianenko backs up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
OKeefe shoots in but Emelianenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lucas Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pepper OKeefe.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lucas Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emelianenko landing knees to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Emelianenko gets control of OKeefe's arms and successfully pulls guard. Emelianenko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

OKeefe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and OKeefe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Emelianenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. OKeefe manages to get himself to full guard.
Emelianenko stopping the sweep attempt from OKeefe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OKeefe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Emelianenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
OKeefe working a defensive guard here.
OKeefe wants to stand up but Emelianenko is controlling him.

Emelianenko stands up and waves to OKeefe to follow him.
Emelianenko wants to clinch but OKeefe slips to the side

so OKeefe counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
OKeefe trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Emelianenko looking to control.
OKeefe won't allow Emelianenko to get back to his feet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from OKeefe.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position but OKeefe postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lucas Emelianenko .
Emelianenko darts in trying to clinch

and OKeefe counters with a single leg into guard. Emelianenko didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko pulls OKeefe in close to prevent any damage.
OKeefe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
OKeefe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
OKeefe trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
OKeefe is looking to stand up but Emelianenko won't let him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Emelianenko controls OKeefe momentarily but OKeefe frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pepper OKeefe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think OKeefe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pepper OKeefe!