PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Pupkoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Aleksander Emelianenko was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Pupkoff
vs
Emelianenko

185 cm
25
225 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
253 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Pupkoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pupkoff.
Emelianenko blocks a head kick by Pupkoff.
Emelianenko lands a nice hook to Pupkoff's body. Pupkoff takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Pupkoff drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep.
Pupkoff creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Emelianenko sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Check out the look on Pupkoff's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pupkoff wants to control for a moment but Emelianenko uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Pupkoff not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelianenko gets full guard.

Emelianenko is looking for a triangle but Pupkoff pushes his legs off easily.

Emelianenko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pupkoff is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Pupkoff won't allow Emelianenko to get back to his feet.
Pupkoff wants to stand and escape but instead Emelianenko has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Emelianenko postures up in Pupkoff's guard and throws a big left but Pupkoff blocks it.
Pupkoff has Emelianenko pulled in close to control his posture.
Emelianenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Emelianenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pupkoff manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Emelianenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pupkoff's head.
Pupkoff has momentary wrist control but Emelianenko slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pupkoff is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Emelianenko is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Emelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pupkoff is keeping the position for now.
Emelianenko throws a strike but Pupkoff rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko looking to control.
Emelianenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pupkoff manages to get himself to full guard.
Pupkoff wants to stand and escape but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Emelianenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pupkoff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Emelianenko wants to get up but he can't break Pupkoff's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pupkoff is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Emelianenko dives into side control.
Emelianenko has knee on belly momentarily but Pupkoff bucks him off and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pupkoff tries to kick Emelianenko off in order to stand up. Emelianenko Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Pupkoff is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emelianenko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pupkoff wants to clinch.
Pupkoff keeps the fight on the outside.
Emelianenko blocks a leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Pupkoff. Those never looked like landing.
Pupkoff moves to clinch but Emelianenko breaks away
and Emelianenko counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Emelianenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Emelianenko slips under a jab from Pupkoff.
Emelianenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pupkoff moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
Pupkoff looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pupkoff paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Pupkoff tenderised Emelianenko's leg. Emelianenko is trying to keep his angry face on.
Emelianenko scores with the left hand. Pupkoff knows he should have avoided that one.
Pupkoff wants to clinch up but Emelianenko keeps it at a distance.
Pupkoff looks to land a right hand but Emelianenko moved out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pupkoff.
Emelianenko is looking to land body kicks.
Pupkoff lands with a nice body kick.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Pupkoff misses with a body kick.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Pupkoff moves out of range.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Pupkoff shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Emelianenko defends it nicely.
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ivan Pupkoff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pupkoff swats away the attempt to clinch by Emelianenko.
Pupkoff throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pupkoff throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Pupkoff looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Emelianenko misses with a body kick.
Pupkoff throws a sloppy head kick and Emelianenko moves out of range easily.
Emelianenko misses with a head kick.
Pupkoff scores with a push kick.
Pupkoff defending well as Emelianenko loads up on a big left hand.
Emelianenko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pupkoff avoids it really well and circles away.
Pupkoff looks for the body kick but Emelianenko saw that one coming.
Pupkoff takes a swing at Emelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Pupkoff circles away.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Pupkoff is avoiding it.
Pupkoff connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pupkoff looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pupkoff throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pupkoff is defended easily by Emelianenko.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pupkoff pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pupkoff throws a wild body kick that Emelianenko sees coming a mile off.
Pupkoff throws a body kick that misses.
Pupkoff keeps Emelianenko at a distance using the push kick.
Pupkoff lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pupkoff lands a nice looking kick to the body. Emelianenko takes a step back to recover.
Pupkoff thows a body kick. Emelianenko tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Pupkoff misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pupkoff rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Emelianenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pupkoff throws a push kick but Emelianenko slaps the foot to one side.
Pupkoff tries to land a front kick but Emelianenko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A looping hook to the body misses from Emelianenko. Pupkoff does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pupkoff fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Pupkoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pupkoff tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Emelianenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Emelianenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Pupkoff breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Ivan Pupkoff has been cut.
Pupkoff throws a half hearted mid kick.
Emelianenko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Emelianenko crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Pupkoff - the referee stops the clock and Emelianenko gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Pupkoff. Emelianenko manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pupkoff scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pupkoff is looking to clinch.
Pupkoff throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Aleksander Emelianenko has been cut.

Emelianenko tries to keep at a distance but Pupkoff has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Pupkoff dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Pupkoff throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Pupkoff takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pupkoff but Pupkoff pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pupkoff thows a body kick. Emelianenko tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Pupkoff closes the distance and clinches.

Pupkoff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelianenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pupkoff circles away quickly and effectively.
Pupkoff scores with a nice body kick.
Pupkoff looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pupkoff bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Emelianenko moves out of range of the body kick from Pupkoff.
Pupkoff will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Emelianenko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pupkoff throws a body kick that misses.

Pupkoff has closed the distance and engaged Emelianenko in a clinch.

Pupkoff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Pupkoff moves out of range.
Emelianenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pupkoff throws a head kick that Emelianenko semi-blocks.

Pupkoff forces Emelianenko back against the cage and clinches.

Pupkoff breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pupkoff.
Pupkoff throws a half hearted mid kick.
Emelianenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pupkoff.

Pupkoff clinches up with Emelianenko and pushes him back against the cage.
Pupkoff utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pupkoff tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pupkoff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelianenko takes a kick to the side of the head.
Emelianenko avoids the head kick by Pupkoff.
Emelianenko misses with a leg kick.
Nice body kick from Pupkoff.

Pupkoff has taken the fight to the clinch.

Pupkoff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pupkoff swings for the body but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Pupkoff scores with a head kick. Emelianenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ivan Pupkoff is winning the standup battle so far.

Emelianenko closes the distance and pushes Pupkoff back into the cage.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pupkoff avoids it.
Emelianenko managing to block the knees to the body from Pupkoff.
Pupkoff blocks a body shot from Emelianenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pupkoff managing to block the knees to the body from Emelianenko.

Pupkoff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Emelianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Pupkoff.
Pupkoff moves in looking to clinch but Emelianenko pushes him off.
Emelianenko tries to score with a low kick but Pupkoff moves his leg out of the way.
Pupkoff is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Emelianenko.
Pupkoff tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pupkoff scores with a leg kick.
Emelianenko thows a body shot but no joy.
A left and a right from Emelianenko both land. Nice combination.
Pupkoff tries to clinch there but Emelianenko circles away.
Pupkoff lands a head kick. Emelianenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pupkoff plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Emelianenko avoids the head kick by Pupkoff.
Pupkoff throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Emelianenko uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Pupkoff moves out of range.
Emelianenko shoots in looking for a takedown but Pupkoff manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Emelianenko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ivan Pupkoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Emelianenko.
Pupkoff scores with a kick to the midsection.
Pupkoff looks to land a body kick but Emelianenko moved away.

Pupkoff moves into the clinch.

Pupkoff breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pupkoff.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Emelianenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pupkoff's guard.
Emelianenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Pupkoff showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pupkoff has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Pupkoff!