PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jensen Saint (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saint comes to the cage accompanied by Bad Company - Holy Water. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Saint
vs
Emelianenko

182 cm
34
205 lbs
26 - 15 - 0

180 cm
29
214 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jensen Saint!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lucas Emelianenko !
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko closes the distance but Saint moves to the side
and Saint counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Saint manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko wants to clinch but Saint slips to the side

and Saint counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saint.
Saint trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saint is looking to work some ground and pound but Emelianenko has wrist control.
Saint with a nice head shot there.
Saint loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saint lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saint loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Saint from controlling successfully.
Saint throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint throws a strike but Emelianenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Saint isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Emelianenko stacks Saint on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Emelianenko !
Saint is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.
Emelianenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Saint's efforts to push away.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the head but Saint blocks with his arms.
Saint is trying to force a seperation but Emelianenko has the dominant position.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Saint creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Emelianenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saint lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Saint pulls Emelianenko into guard.
Saint is trying to keep Emelianenko in close.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelianenko wants to get up but he can't break Saint's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint is looking for a triangle but Emelianenko pushes his legs off easily.
Saint looking to hit a scissor sweep but Emelianenko is one step ahead there.

Saint is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Emelianenko is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Saint thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Saint wants to sweep here but Emelianenko controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Emelianenko preventing the sweep.

Emelianenko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Saint has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Emelianenko has managed to get both his arms back between Saint's legs - danger averted.

Saint is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Emelianenko is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Saint working for a triangle but Emelianenko defends it easily.
Saint looking to control but Emelianenko passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jensen Saint dominated that round.
That's time! Saint's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A slow jab from Saint misses its intended target.
Saint swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Emelianenko . No joy for Saint on that attempt.
Saint ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Emelianenko moves away.
Saint fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Emelianenko .
Emelianenko tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Saint counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Saint throws out a leg kick but Emelianenko moves out of range and Saint only half commits.
Emelianenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Saint counters with an inside leg kick.
Emelianenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Saint.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko takes one to the side of the head.
Saint circles away from the clinch attempt

so Saint counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Saint postures up in Emelianenko 's guard and throws a big left but Emelianenko blocks it.
Saint has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saint.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saint is looking to work some ground and pound but Emelianenko has wrist control.
Saint trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

Emelianenko pushes Saint off and gets back to his feet.
Saint throws a leg kick but Emelianenko moved away.
Saint misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to clinch up but Saint keeps it at a distance.
Saint misses with an attempted mid kick.
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Saint.
Emelianenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch successfully.
Emelianenko connects with a knee to the head.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saint misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Emelianenko looks to throw the jab but Saint is out of range.
Emelianenko looks to clinch
and Saint counters with a low kick, right behind Emelianenko 's knee.
Emelianenko looks to clinch
and Saint counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Emelianenko darts in trying to clinch
and Saint counters with a good low kick that Emelianenko was not able to check.

Emelianenko closes the distance and pushes Saint back into the cage.
Saint managing to block the knees to the body from Emelianenko .
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Saint has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Saint avoids the damage to the body.

Saint breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lucas Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelianenko blocks a head kick by Saint.
Saint lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saint paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lucas Emelianenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saint throws a chopping leg kick but Emelianenko manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Emelianenko rushes Saint and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saint is trying to pull guard but Emelianenko has him pressed against the cage.
Saint is trying to break free.
Emelianenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saint has Emelianenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Emelianenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jensen Saint. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Saint breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emelianenko throws a right and a left that Saint avoids nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Saint.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch.

Saint escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saint moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a right and a left that Saint avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Emelianenko clinches.
Emelianenko tries a knee to the head but Saint blocks it.

Saint has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Emelianenko is trying to keep an underhook but Saint manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Saint wants to work for an arm triangle but Emelianenko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Saint throws a strike but Emelianenko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Saint throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saint prevents Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Saint throwing strikes but missing.
Saint is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jensen Saint dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Saint swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saint avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saint paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emelianenko connects with a body shot.
Saint keeps the fight on the outside.
A slapping leg kick lands for Saint.
Saint scores with a spinning back kick!
Emelianenko wants to clinch up but Saint keeps it at a distance.
Saint throws a head kick that misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by Saint!
Saint throws a jab when Emelianenko was well out of range.
Saint looks to throw the jab but Emelianenko is out of range.
Saint feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Emelianenko 's calf.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Saint circles away.
Emelianenko wants to clinch up but Saint keeps it at a distance.

Saint scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emelianenko tries to kick Saint off but Saint keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Saint works his foot free and advances to mount.
Emelianenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint looking to finish with strikes here!
Emelianenko is squirming around, avoiding Saint's attempts to control the action.
Saint thowing shots but they're missing.
Saint tries to control but Emelianenko wriggling away.
Saint throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Saint cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Saint has control of Emelianenko 's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Emelianenko regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Saint looking to finish with strikes here!
Saint raining down shots from the mount!
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!

Saint goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Emelianenko turns into him and now he's in Saint's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Emelianenko passes into side control.
Lucas Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jensen Saint is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saint tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
You can see the frustration on Saint's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Saint tries to bench press Emelianenko off him but Emelianenko keeps the position.
Emelianenko looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Saint is avoiding damage well.
You can see the frustration on Saint's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saint manages to work his way to half guard, despite Emelianenko 's best efforts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jensen Saint showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saint, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jensen Saint!
In his post fight interview, Jensen Saint gave a big smile as he said 'Ooooh the second coming is imminent! The second coming of Saint, that is! Here's some Holy Water for you, amen!'.