PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodef Canmelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sakuraba might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Clubfoot. Canmelianenko is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Emperor - The Loss And Curse Of Reverence. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sakuraba
vs
Canmelianenko

190 cm
23
240 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

189 cm
19
226 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Sakuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodef Canmelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canmelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuraba circles away.

Canmelianenko drives through with a takedown into guard.

Canmelianenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Canmelianenko controlling him for the moment.
Canmelianenko postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.
Canmelianenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Canmelianenko passes into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Canmelianenko.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Canmelianenko grinds an elbow into Sakuraba's temple.
Sakuraba is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sakuraba tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakuraba takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Canmelianenko connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sakuraba some visible discomfort.
Canmelianenko is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sakuraba is looking to regain half guard here but Canmelianenko keeps moving and retains side control.
Sakuraba is not content to let Canmelianenko control the position.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuraba manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Canmelianenko connects with a nice short shot to Sakuraba's temple.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.
Canmelianenko scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba gets full guard.
Canmelianenko wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Canmelianenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Canmelianenko won't allow Sakuraba to sweep him here.
Canmelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Canmelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakuraba has wrist control.
Canmelianenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Canmelianenko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Canmelianenko is in close to Sakuraba's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Canmelianenko connects with a couple of short punches.

Sakuraba had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Canmelianenko is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sakuraba Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Canmelianenko's back instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Canmelianenko wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sakuraba is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Sakuraba scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Canmelianenko is looking for a way out.
Canmelianenko is trying to break free.
Canmelianenko turns into Sakuraba and is now in his guard.

Sakuraba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sakuraba is breathing heavily.
Canmelianenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sakuraba's head.
Canmelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sakuraba is keeping the position for now.
Sakuraba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canmelianenko stands up over Sakuraba, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Canmelianenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Sakuraba has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sakuraba is on top in guard.
Canmelianenko throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sakuraba wants to pass the guard but Canmelianenko is keeping the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sakuraba would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sakuraba works over Canmelianenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Canmelianenko lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Sakuraba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Canmelianenko is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sakuraba drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sakuraba jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Canmelianenko throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Canmelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Canmelianenko tries to clinch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Canmelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Canmelianenko!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Canmelianenko throws a series of punches but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Canmelianenko steps into range and cracks Sakuraba with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Sakuraba flops backwards and Canmelianenko dives into his guard looking to finish!

Sakuraba is rocked!

It looks like Fedor Sakuraba has been cut.
Canmelianenko with a nice head shot there.
Oh Sakuraba is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Canmelianenko postures up in Sakuraba's guard and throws a big left but Sakuraba blocks it.
Sakuraba seems to have got his legs back now.
Canmelianenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Canmelianenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Canmelianenko postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Canmelianenko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Canmelianenko is working Sakuraba over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canmelianenko wants to control from the top but Sakuraba keeps moving.
Canmelianenko looking to pass the guard.
Canmelianenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sakuraba wants to sweep but no luck.
Canmelianenko wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.
Canmelianenko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sakuraba's guard.
Sakuraba tries to roll over but Canmelianenko keeps him under control.
Sakuraba has hold of Canmelianenko's hands but Canmelianenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Canmelianenko is trying to control the action in half guard but Sakuraba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to full guard.
Sakuraba is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba gets back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Canmelianenko works over Sakuraba with some ground and pound from guard.

Canmelianenko gets to his feet. Sakuraba looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sakuraba closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Horrible takedown by Sakuraba or perhaps it was just good defense by Canmelianenko which made him look bad.
Sakuraba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Canmelianenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Canmelianenko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rodef Canmelianenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Canmelianenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sakuraba keeps working.
Canmelianenko is staying tight to Sakuraba's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sakuraba is not content to let Canmelianenko control the position.
Canmelianenko working the head and body with strikes.
Canmelianenko scoring with punches and elbows.
Canmelianenko controls the position.
Sakuraba takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sakuraba is not content to let Canmelianenko control the position.
Canmelianenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sakuraba tries to buck Canmelianenko off but Canmelianenko is having none of it.
Sakuraba is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Canmelianenko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sakuraba, who protects the arm well.
Sakuraba is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Canmelianenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sakuraba regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sakuraba throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sakuraba can't keep his opponent in guard - Canmelianenko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sakuraba won't allow Canmelianenko to pass to mount.

Sakuraba with the active half guard here but Canmelianenko passes nicely into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakuraba is looking to regain half guard here but Canmelianenko keeps moving and retains side control.
Canmelianenko connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sakuraba some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodef Canmelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Fedor Sakuraba's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Canmelianenko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Canmelianenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rodef Canmelianenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Canmelianenko clinches up against the cage.
Sakuraba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Canmelianenko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Canmelianenko.
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Canmelianenko throws a big shot that misses.
Canmelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Canmelianenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Canmelianenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sakuraba.

Canmelianenko moves into the clinch successfully.
Canmelianenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sakuraba pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rodef Canmelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Canmelianenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Canmelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sakuraba paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.

Canmelianenko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sakuraba!
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position but Canmelianenko isn't that keen on the idea.
Canmelianenko cracks Sakuraba with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sakuraba is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Canmelianenko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sakuraba can't escape the position.
Canmelianenko scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sakuraba?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canmelianenko with a couple of short strikes.
Well,Sakuraba is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Canmelianenko putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sakuraba gets back to half guard.
Sakuraba trying to control here.
Sakuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Canmelianenko sits in half guard.
Sakuraba is trying to stand back up but Canmelianenko is controlling him
Canmelianenko trying to mount his opponent but Sakuraba defends it.
Sakuraba manages to get to full guard.
Fedor Sakuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Canmelianenko wants to pass the guard but Sakuraba is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakuraba slips a jab and a cross from Canmelianenko.
Sakuraba shoots in but no luck this time.
Canmelianenko tries to bum rush Sakuraba with a series of wild strikes but Sakuraba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Canmelianenko clinches with his opponent.
Sakuraba goes for a takedown in the clinch but Canmelianenko prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Sakuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Canmelianenko prevents a takedown attempt there.

Canmelianenko manages to break the clinch.
Sakuraba fails in his attempt to clinch.

Canmelianenko has Sakuraba up against the cage in a clinch.
Canmelianenko throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Canmelianenko has Sakuraba pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Canmelianenko pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sakuraba tumbling to the mat - Canmelianenko dives into Sakuraba's guard.
Canmelianenko postures up and lands a big shot to Sakuraba's brow.
Sakuraba wants to sweep but no luck.
Canmelianenko stands up over Sakuraba, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Canmelianenko from controlling successfully.
Rodef Canmelianenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Canmelianenko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Canmelianenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sakuraba's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakuraba keeping moving, preventing Canmelianenko from controlling successfully.
Sakuraba trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodef Canmelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Canmelianenko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Rodef Canmelianenko!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Rodef Canmelianenko!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Rodef Canmelianenko!

Rodef Canmelianenko wins by unanimous decision!