PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Saarinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Femto Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saarinen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Who's Your Daddy. Niko Saarinen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Saarinen
vs
Emelianenko

188 cm
22
275 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

184 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Nutrition King

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Niko Saarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Femto Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko keeps the fight on the outside.

Saarinen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saarinen is trying to maintain a safe position but Emelianenko gets an underhook and turns Saarinen into the ropes.
Emelianenko goes for a takedown attempt but Saarinen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Saarinen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Emelianenko pinned against the cage. Emelianenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Emelianenko moves in looking to clinch but Saarinen pushes him off.
Saarinen clinches but Emelianenko breaks the clinch

and Emelianenko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Saarinen's guard now.

Saarinen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Emelianenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Saarinen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Saarinen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Emelianenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Emelianenko lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Saarinen keeps moving.

Saarinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Saarinen is breathing heavily.
Saarinen has his hands on Emelianenko's head, controlling the position.
Emelianenko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Emelianenko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Emelianenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Saarinen keeps moving.
Saarinen controls Emelianenko momentarily but Emelianenko frees himself.

That's two 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 scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Saarinen keeping full guard, as Emelianenko tries to pass.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Saarinen keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Saarinen gets a clinch.

Saarinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saarinen misses with a head kick.
Saarinen tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Emelianenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Emelianenko avoids the elbow strike from Saarinen, against the ropes.

Saarinen ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Saarinen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saarinen is on top in guard.
Emelianenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saarinen manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throwing strikes but missing.
Emelianenko postures up.
Emelianenko postures up in Saarinen's guard and throws a big left but Saarinen blocks it.
Saarinen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Emelianenko!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Emelianenko is trying to reverse the position but instead Saarinen has taken his back - oops!
The referee is taking a good look at Emelianenko as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Saarinen!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Saarinen controlling the positon.
Emelianenko can't escape the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four 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 controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Emelianenko is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Emelianenko breaks Saarinen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Saarinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saarinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saarinen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Emelianenko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Emelianenko showed some decent athleticism there.
Emelianenko working over Saarinen with some ground and pound. Saarinen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen gets full guard.

Saarinen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saarinen wants to sweep but no luck.

Saarinen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Emelianenko is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Saarinen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Emelianenko's back instead.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Saarinen's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Saarinen throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Emelianenko!
Will Saarinen go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Saarinen is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Emelianenko up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Saarinen lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Saarinen working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Emelianenko is doing well to defend. Saarinen seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Emelianenko is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Niko Saarinen!