PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lick Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hard has chosen Let Your Backbone Slide as his entrance music. 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
Hard

199 cm
32
255 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

191 cm
35
260 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!
160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Aleksander Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lick Hard!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko misses with a left hand
and Hard counters with a head kick.
Hard throws a sloppy head kick and Emelianenko moves out of range easily.
Hard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Emelianenko feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hards jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hard closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Emelianenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko seems keen to control Hard's posture.
Emelianenko is trying to keep Hard in close.
Hard is fighting to break Emelianenko's control of his arms but Emelianenko is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hard wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Emelianenko wants to stand up but Hard is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hard preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aleksander Emelianenko just wasn't active enough.
Emelianenko with a nice cross.
No joy there for Emelianenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Emelianenko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hard.
Hard misses with a two punch combination.

Hard drives through with a takedown into Emelianenko's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hard stopping the sweep attempt from Emelianenko.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hard drops back looking for a leg! Emelianenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emelianenko manages to kick Hard off! Hard jumps back into Emelianenko's guard.
Emelianenko has his hands on Hard's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Emelianenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Emelianenko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hard is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Aleksander Emelianenko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Emelianenko lands with a good body shot.
Hard fails with a takedown attempt.
Hard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Emelianenko is fending him off so far but Hard persists. Nope, Emelianenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Aleksander Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lick Hard.
Emelianenko checks a leg kick.
Hard throws a one two combo.
Hard lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hard takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hard looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hard misses with a takedown attempt - Emelianenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Emelianenko.
Hard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Emelianenko. No joy for Hard on that attempt.
Hard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Emelianenko swivels and escapes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko lands a jab to Hard's midsection.
Emelianenko scores with a nice right hand.
Hard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Emelianenko throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Emelianenko tries to bum rush Hard with a series of wild strikes but Hard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Emelianenko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Emelianenko with a jab.
Hard looks to clinch
and Emelianenko counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Emelianenko listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Emelianenko throws out a loose jab but Hard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hard swings for the body but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Nice cross by Emelianenko.
Hard throws a wild body kick that Emelianenko sees coming a mile off.
Hard misses with a series of wild punches.
Hard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Emelianenko defends it nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Emelianenko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Emelianenko thuds his right hand into Hard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hard takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Emelianenko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hard shoots in looking for a takedown but Emelianenko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hard. Emelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelianenko lands an overhand right.

Emelianenko lands a big uppercut and Hard crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Hard looks OK. Emelianenko waves Hard back to his feet!

Hard is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emelianenko drops a shoulder and throws a monster hook that connects perfectly to the side of Hard's head, knocking him out cold! Emelianenko is extatic as he celebrates with his cornermen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Aleksander Emelianenko!