PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emperlianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Emperlianenko
vs
Griffin

183 cm
20
232 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emperlianenko!
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, Forrest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emperlianenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Griffin.

Emperlianenko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Emperlianenko prevents Griffin from improving his position.
Well, if Emperlianenko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Emperlianenko passes to full mount!
Emperlianenko landing strikes, looking to finish!
Griffin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Emperlianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Griffin is looking to escape.
Emperlianenko lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emperlianenko lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Griffin hang on?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffin is looking to get to half guard.
Emperlianenko trying to control but Griffin is having none of it.
Emperlianenko controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emperlianenko wants to control the pace but Griffin is squirming around nicely.
A nice elbow there by Emperlianenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Emperlianenko cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Griffin is looking to improve his position but Emperlianenko isn't that keen on the idea.
Emperlianenko controlling from mount.
Griffin working to try and regain half guard.
Emperlianenko controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emperlianenko tries to control but Griffin wriggling away.
Griffin wants to hold on but Emperlianenko pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Griffin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet.
Emperlianenko lands a big elbow.
Emperlianenko working Griffin over with strikes here.
Griffin tries to lock up and control but Emperlianenko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Emperlianenko could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
You get the feeling that Griffin really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Emperlianenko 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.
Emperlianenko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Emperlianenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Fedor Emperlianenko just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Emperlianenko tries to bum rush Griffin with a series of wild strikes but Griffin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Emperlianenko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Griffin tries to clinch but Emperlianenko is having none of it.
Emperlianenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Griffin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin shoots in for a double leg but Emperlianenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fedor Emperlianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Emperlianenko gets caught flat footed, as Griffin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Griffin looks gassed!
Emperlianenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Emperlianenko misses with a double jab.

Emperlianenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Griffin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Emperlianenko wants to control the pace but Griffin is squirming around nicely.
Griffin working to try and regain half guard.
Emperlianenko is landing with some decent strikes but Griffin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Griffin is in a horrible position here. Emperlianenko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Griffin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emperlianenko tries to control but Griffin wriggling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
BOOM! Emperlianenko connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Emperlianenko looking to secure an arm triangle but Griffin defends it well.
Fedor Emperlianenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Emperlianenko is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Griffin can't escape the position.
Emperlianenko looking to finish Griffin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Griffin!
Emperlianenko thowing shots but they're missing.
Emperlianenko connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emperlianenko prevents Griffin from getting the reversal.
Emperlianenko putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Emperlianenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Griffin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Emperlianenko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Griffin is squirming around, avoiding Emperlianenko's attempts to control the action.
Griffin is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Emperlianenko with shots to the head and body - Griffin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Emperlianenko unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin wants to hold on but Emperlianenko pushes him away.
Griffin is trying desperately to improve position.
Emperlianenko avoids the attempt from Griffin to control.
Griffin is looking to improve his position but Emperlianenko isn't that keen on the idea.
Griffin tries to lock up and control but Emperlianenko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Emperlianenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Emperlianenko lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
A nice elbow there by Emperlianenko.
Emperlianenko controlling his opponent.
Emperlianenko is landing with some decent strikes but Griffin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Emperlianenko lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Griffin hang on?
The referee warns Griffin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin is desperately trying to improve his position but Emperlianenko has a good base and remains in mount.
Emperlianenko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emperlianenko dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Griffin feints and as Emperlianenko raises his hands in defense, Griffin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emperlianenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Emperlianenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Griffin can do to turn this around?
Emperlianenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Griffin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Emperlianenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Emperlianenko wants to take a breather but Griffin is having none of it.
Emperlianenko moves nicely into side control.
Emperlianenko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Griffin wants to control but Emperlianenko postures up.
Griffin tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emperlianenko is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Griffin is surviving well by controlling Emperlianenko's body position as best he can.
Emperlianenko controlling his opponent.
Griffin is looking to improve his position but Emperlianenko isn't that keen on the idea.
Griffin wants to hold on but Emperlianenko pushes him away.
Griffin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Griffin tries to buck Emperlianenko off but he can't manage it.

That's two 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.
Griffin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Emperlianenko raining down shots from the mount!
Emperlianenko cracks Griffin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Emperlianenko looking to control but Griffin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Emperlianenko working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Emperlianenko connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emperlianenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Griffin tries to hold on but Emperlianenko postures up.
Griffin working to try and regain half guard.
Emperlianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Griffin is looking to escape.
Griffin tries to hold on but Emperlianenko postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Emperlianenko content just to control the position here.
Griffin tries to hold on but Emperlianenko postures up.
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Emperlianenko wants to control the pace but Griffin is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emperlianenko cracks Griffin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Emperlianenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Emperlianenko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26

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