PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwayne Harden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Emelianenko
vs
Harden

183 cm
25
210 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Can Moonwalk

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dwayne Harden!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harden shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Emelianenko eats them both and turns towards Harden to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Harden shoots in for a double leg but Emelianenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Harden takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Emelianenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Harden shoots in for a double leg but Emelianenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Harden misses with a takedown attempt - Emelianenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fedor Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwayne Harden.
Both fighters circling a little - Emelianenko finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Emelianenko lands a nice hook to Harden's body. Harden takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Harden looks winded!

Emelianenko gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emelianenko working the strikes but Harden uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Emelianenko sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Harden is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Emelianenko wants to stand up but Harden manages to regain full guard.

Harden is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Harden lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Harden is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harden trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Harden wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Harden won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.
Harden told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Emelianenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Emelianenko tries to get out of the position.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Harden from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dwayne Harden.
Harden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Harden tries to land a body kick
and Emelianenko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Emelianenko throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Harden.
Harden looks for a takedown but Emelianenko sprawls well.
Harden fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.

Emelianenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Harden to the mat! Harden manages to get full guard.
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!
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Harden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Harden is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Emelianenko is controlling him.
Emelianenko is looking to advance position but Harden has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Harden takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Emelianenko taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emelianenko wants to hold on but Harden pushes him away.
Harden connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Harden instigates a clinch.
Harden is trying to drag Emelianenko to the mat but Emelianenko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Harden is controlling the position.
Emelianenko looking to stall.
Emelianenko is trying to pull guard but Harden has him pressed against the cage.

Harden drags the fight down to the ground.
Harden keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Harden wants to stand up but Emelianenko is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Harden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harden wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Harden is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Emelianenko defends well.
Harden is breathing heavily.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Harden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Fedor Emelianenko just wasn't active enough.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Harden.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Harden manages to pull guard.
Harden is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Harden keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is really struggling to control Harden but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Emelianenko postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fedor Emelianenko wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Harden with a poor takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Harden pushes Emelianenko off looking to stand but Emelianenko dives back in and keeps control.
Emelianenko slows the pace down in half guard.
Emelianenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Harden on the ground.
Harden wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fedor Emelianenko wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Emelianenko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Harden is trying to defend but Emelianenko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko tries to pass to full mount but Harden defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Emelianenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Harden tries to sprawl out of it but Emelianenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harden swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Emelianenko counters with a single leg into guard. Harden didn't expect that.
Emelianenko stays in close to Harden's body and controls the position.
Harden working a defensive guard here.
Emelianenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Harden controlling Emelianenko's posture.
Harden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dwayne Harden has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Emelianenko avoids the body shot from Harden.
Harden throws a head kick but Emelianenko moves out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Emelianenko.

Harden pushes Emelianenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Harden prevents a takedown attempt there.
Emelianenko fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko misses with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Harden just stands there and leans against the cage.
Harden working hard to break the clinch.
Emelianenko jumps guard but Harden stands there with Emelianenko around his waist. Emelianenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelianenko avoids the head kick by Harden.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Harden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emelianenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harden circles away.
Harden fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Harden moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Harden scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harden trying to control the position but Emelianenko is working away.
Harden controlling from side mount.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Emelianenko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Harden is staying tight to Emelianenko's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harden passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Emelianenko!
Harden tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Harden is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Emelianenko has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Harden trying to control but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Dwayne Harden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Emelianenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Harden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Emelianenko 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fedor Emelianenko!
In defeat, Dwayne Harden stepped up to the mic, saying 'It difficult to lose, but live and learn....The only thing to do with a loss is to learn from it and get better'.