PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Murdock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Emelianenko
vs
Murdock

184 cm
27
169 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

180 cm
29
166 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

[CLOSED] Xtreme Laundry

xXx - Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fedor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matthew Murdock!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murdock ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Emelianenko moves away.
Emelianenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Murdock sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Emelianenko somewhat.
Emelianenko lands with a cross.
Emelianenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Emelianenko walks forward, straight into a front kick from Murdock.
Emelianenko tests Murdock's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Emelianenko 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.
Murdock wants to clinch.
Emelianenko misses with a straight left.
Murdock throws the kick towards the body but Emelianenko avoids it.
Murdock throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Murdock throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko misses with a body shot.
Emelianenko needs to keep his hands up - Murdock had a free shot at his head there.
Jab by Murdock.
Murdock misses with a straight right.
Murdock misses with an uppercut. Emelianenko saw that one coming.
Murdock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Emelianenko throws a hook but Murdock avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Murdock.
Matthew Murdock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murdock defending well as Emelianenko loads up on a big left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Emelianenko misses the target.
Murdock throws a body kick that misses.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses.
Emelianenko moves out of range as Murdock strikes.
Murdock doesn't manage to clinch there - Emelianenko circles away.
Emelianenko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Murdock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murdock lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Murdock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Emelianenko.

Murdock gets tackled into the cage by Emelianenko. Emelianenko maintains the clinch.
Murdock misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Murdock to keep the fight standing.
Murdock unloads a knee to the mid-section. Emelianenko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Emelianenko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Murdock uses from the top position.

Murdock stands up from Emelianenko's guard - Murdock perhaps looking for a knockout.
Murdock takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Murdock feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Emelianenko's calf.
Fedor Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Murdock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Murdock misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Murdock.
Emelianenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murdock.
Emelianenko takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Murdock throws the kick towards the body but Emelianenko avoids it.
A big left from Emelianenko misses.
Murdock lands with a thumping leg kick.
A good leg kick by Murdock.
Emelianenko throws a nice looking combination but Murdock bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Murdock is looking to clinch.
Murdock feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Emelianenko's calf.
Emelianenko blocks a low kick nicely.
Emelianenko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Murdock as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body kick there by Murdock.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murdock lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Emelianenko throws a jab when Murdock was well out of range.
Emelianenko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Emelianenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Murdock tries to keep at a distance but Emelianenko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko tries to pull guard but Murdock won't allow it.
Emelianenko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Murdock or not.
Murdock connects with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murdock just stands there and leans against the cage.
Murdock tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Murdock with a knee to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Murdock stalling the fight.
Murdock tries a knee to the head but Emelianenko blocks it.
The referee calls for Murdock to work.
Emelianenko takes a knee to the side of the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Murdock dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Murdock scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch.
Emelianenko managing to block the knees to the body from Murdock.
Emelianenko looking for a takedown.
Murdock taking a breather.

Emelianenko decides to pull guard.

Murdock drops back looking for a leg! Emelianenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emelianenko manages to kick Murdock off! Murdock jumps back into Emelianenko's guard.

Emelianenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murdock can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Murdock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Emelianenko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murdock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murdock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Murdock thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Emelianenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Emelianenko has his foot on Murdock's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Murdock works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murdock wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is keeping the position.

Emelianenko working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Murdock has passed into half guard!

Emelianenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Murdock pulls his head out easily.

Murdock is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Murdock wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock is looking to take a break and control but Emelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Murdock gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Murdock swings for the body but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Murdock. Murdock obviously looking to wear him down.
Murdock stuffs the takedown attempt from Emelianenko. Emelianenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Murdock throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Murdock has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Murdock.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Murdock looks to score with a jab to the body but Emelianenko is just out of range.
Emelianenko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Emelianenko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Murdock clinches with his opponent.
Murdock is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Murdock lands a good knee to the midsection. Emelianenko won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Murdock.
Murdock lands a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knees to the body from Murdock.
Murdock lands a nice knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Murdock.
Murdock lands a body punch in the clinch.
Murdock wants to stall.
Murdock throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelianenkos head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock stalling in the clinch but Emelianenko improves position.
Murdock connects with a knee to the head.
Murdock lands a nice uppercut.
Murdock using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Murdock putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Emelianenko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Murdock landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Emelianenko tries to pull guard but Murdock won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murdock scores with a hook to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Murdock.
Murdock is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Emelianenko scores with a hook to the body.
Emelianenko is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Murdock stalls.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Murdock has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Murdock tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Murdock showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Murdock chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Murdock.
Murdock moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Murdock moves away from the strike by Emelianenko.
Murdock throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Emelianenko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Emelianenko dodges the punch combination from Murdock.
Emelianenko takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Murdock loads up on a big right hand but Emelianenko slips the punch.
Emelianenko avoids the head kick by Murdock.

Murdock moves into range and clinches up with Emelianenko.
Murdock takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Emelianenko pulls guard effortlessly.

Murdock has gone for a leg lock! Emelianenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Murdock's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Murdock looking for a guillotine here but Emelianenko defends easily.

Murdock working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Emelianenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Emelianenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Murdock is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Emelianenko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Emelianenko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Fedor Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko lands a couple of elbows.
Emelianenko advances position into side control!
Murdock is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Emelianenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Murdock regains full guard. Nicely done.

Emelianenko drops back looking for a leg! Murdock is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Murdock manages to kick Emelianenko off! Emelianenko jumps back into Murdock's guard.

Emelianenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Murdock is trying to keep Emelianenko in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murdock seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Murdock is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Emelianenko defends well.

Emelianenko is posturing up here but Murdock has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Emelianenko tries to roll out but it's too tight and Emelianenko has to tap! Slick submission there by Murdock!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matthew Murdock!