PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Holeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holeman comes to the cage accompanied by LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out. Fedor Emelianenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holeman
vs
Emelianenko

195 cm
18
285 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ronnie Holeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Holeman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Emelianenko circles away.
Holeman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Emelianenko defends well and Holeman ends up having to push Emelianenko into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Emelianenko works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Emelianenko works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Emelianenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Emelianenko is thwarting Holeman's attempts to control the position.
Emelianenko wants to free his trapped foot but Holeman is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Emelianenko seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Holeman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Emelianenko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Holeman has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've been hearing good reports from Holeman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holeman is in trouble now - Emelianenko has advanced to mount!
Emelianenko controlling his opponent.
Emelianenko prevents Holeman from getting the reversal.
Holeman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Emelianenko has control of Holeman's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Holeman regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holeman is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Emelianenko has taken his back.
Holeman is in bad spot here.

Emelianenko looking to break Holeman's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Holeman remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Emelianenko will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Holeman rolls, trying to escape but Emelianenko keeps control of the position.

Holeman preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Emelianenko.
You can see the frustration on Holeman's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holeman is working hard here to advance position.
Emelianenko has good solid back control here.
Emelianenko controlling well, preventing Holeman from escaping the position.
Holeman is breathing heavily.

Emelianenko is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Holeman defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Emelianenko throwing sloppy strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holeman tries to escape but Emelianenko has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Emelianenko tightening his grip on Holeman, looking for the choke.
Holeman just trying to survive but Emelianenko is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Holeman's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Emelianenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Emelianenko lands in his opponent's guard.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Holeman keeps moving.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Holeman is retaining full guard.
Emelianenko stays in close to Holeman's body and controls the position.
Emelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Holeman has wrist control.

Emelianenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Holeman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holeman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Emelianenko controls the pace.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Emelianenko controlling from the top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fedor Emelianenko wasn't active enough on the ground.
Emelianenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Holeman, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holeman tries to clinch up.
Holeman avoids the head kick by Emelianenko.

Holeman gets caught napping as Emelianenko dives in and scores a takedown. Holeman manages to retain guard.
Holeman trying to control the position here.
Emelianenko advances to half guard.
Emelianenko tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Emelianenko is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

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

Holeman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Emelianenko is aware though and is defending well.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Holeman holds on and takes a little breather.
Holeman trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control but Holeman is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Holeman lands a nice shot to the body.
Holeman fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circling - Holeman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Holeman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Emelianenko, pushing him back against the cage.
Holeman trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Holeman fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Emelianenko to the ground. Holeman is now in Emelianenko's guard.
Emelianenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fedor Emelianenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Emelianenko throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Holeman won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.
Emelianenko wants to stand up but Holeman is controlling him.
Holeman trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Emelianenko pulls Holeman in close to his closed guard and prevents Holeman from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emelianenko throws a series of punches but Holeman avoids them all with ease.
Emelianenko throws a right hand that Holeman ducks under and follows up with a left that Holeman also avoids with ease.
Holeman tries to clinch up but Emelianenko circles away and keeps his distance.

Emelianenko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Holeman to the ground. Emelianenko is now in Holeman's guard.
Emelianenko trying to control but Holeman is working from the bottom.
Holeman trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holeman looking to control.

Holeman is looking for a triangle but Emelianenko pushes his legs off easily.
Holeman keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fedor Emelianenko wasn't active enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Holeman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holeman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Emelianenko as he jumps to the side.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.

Holeman clinches with his opponent.
Emelianenko gets underhooks to prevent Holeman's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronnie Holeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holeman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Emelianenko to keep the fight standing.
Emelianenko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Emelianenko is pushing Holeman up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holeman breaks the clinch.

Emelianenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Holeman's guard.
Holeman trying to control the position.
Emelianenko tries to stand but Holeman is controlling from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Holeman keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fedor Emelianenko.
I've got Emelianenko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fedor Emelianenko!