PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fyodor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cid Emelianenpo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Emelianenko
vs
Emelianenpo

186 cm
23
245 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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, Fyodor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cid Emelianenpo!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Emelianenpo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Emelianenpo has closed the distance and engaged Emelianenko in a clinch.
A short right from Emelianenpo on the inside.

Emelianenpo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emelianenpo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Emelianenpo has Emelianenko up against the cage in a clinch.
Emelianenpo scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Fyodor Emelianenko has been cut.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.

Emelianenpo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Emelianenpo rushes Emelianenko and presses him up against the cage.
Emelianenpo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Emelianenpo lands a damaging elbow.
Emelianenpo scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Emelianenpo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Emelianenko is working for takedown but Emelianenpo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Emelianenpo lands an elbow just above Emelianenko 's eye.

Emelianenko is fighting off a takedown attempt but Emelianenpo is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Emelianenko to the mat. Emelianenko regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!

Emelianenpo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Emelianenpo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Emelianenpo breaks from the clinch.
Fyodor Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelianenko needs to keep his hands up - Emelianenpo had a free shot at his head there.
Emelianenpo scores with a jab to the body.

Emelianenpo darts in and clinches Emelianenko up against the cage.
Emelianenpo landing knees to the body.
Emelianenpo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Emelianenpo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Emelianenko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenpo lands an elbow just above Emelianenko 's eye.
Emelianenpo is working Emelianenko over against the cage.
Emelianenpo lands a shot to the body.
Emelianenko takes a shot to the head.
Emelianenko takes a knee right on the jaw!
Emelianenko looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fyodor Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenpo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Emelianenpo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Emelianenpo pulls guard effortlessly.
Emelianenpo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Emelianenko wants to pass the guard but Emelianenpo is keeping the position.
Emelianenpo keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko throwing strikes but missing.
Emelianenpo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenpo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko won't allow Emelianenpo to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenpo is looking to clinch but Emelianenko is avoiding it.
Emelianenko tries to clinch there but Emelianenpo circles away.
Emelianenpo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Emelianenpo scores with a hook.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch.
Emelianenpo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Emelianenko.
Emelianenpo stuffs the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Emelianenpo takes the fight into the clinch.
Emelianenpo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Emelianenpo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenpo lands an elbow inside that Emelianenko shrugs off.
Emelianenpo wants a takedown but no success here.
Emelianenpo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Emelianenko is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Emelianenpo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Emelianenpo wants a takedown but no success here.
Emelianenpo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Emelianenpo misses with a punch on the inside.
Emelianenko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Emelianenpo backwards.
Emelianenpo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Emelianenpo tries to stall but Emelianenko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Emelianenko blocks an elbow strike from Emelianenpo.
Emelianenko dodges an elbow strike from Emelianenpo.
Emelianenpo stops a takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko looking for a takedown.

Emelianenpo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown.

Emelianenpo has closed the distance and engaged Emelianenko in a clinch.
Emelianenpo looking to throw knees to the head but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Emelianenpo gets underhooks to prevent Emelianenko's takedown attempt.
Emelianenpo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Emelianenko goes for a takedown attempt but Emelianenpo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Emelianenpo tries to sprawl out of it but Emelianenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Emelianenpo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Emelianenpo or perhaps it was just good defense by Emelianenko which made him look bad.

Emelianenko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Emelianenko moves nicely into side control.
Emelianenko passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Emelianenpo!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Emelianenko lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Emelianenpo hang on?
Emelianenpo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cid Emelianenpo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fyodor Emelianenko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Emelianenko with a poor takedown

and Emelianenpo moves into the clinch.
Emelianenpo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Emelianenpo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Emelianenko can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fyodor Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenpo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Emelianenpo lands an elbow just above Emelianenko 's eye.
Emelianenpo controlling the action here for a moment.
Emelianenpo lands with a left to the head.
Emelianenpo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Emelianenpo lands an elbow inside that Emelianenko shrugs off.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Emelianenpo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelianenkos head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenpo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Emelianenpo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Emelianenko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Emelianenpo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Emelianenko is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Emelianenpo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from Emelianenpo.
Emelianenko prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko lands a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko lands a couple of digs.
Emelianenpo keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Emelianenpo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko 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.
Emelianenko chips away with some ground and pound.
Emelianenko stopping the sweep attempt from Emelianenpo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenpo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Emelianenko drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenpo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emelianenpo wants to stand and escape but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Emelianenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Emelianenko trying to control but Emelianenpo is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko stands and throws Emelianenpo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Emelianenko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Emelianenko is putting a hurting on Emelianenpo here, landing some big shots from side control.

Emelianenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Emelianenko shoots in and drives through. Emelianenpo sprawls well.
Emelianenko shoots for a double leg takedown but Emelianenpo sprawls well. He's pushed Emelianenko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Emelianenpo keeps the fight on the outside.
Emelianenpo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nice takedown defense from Emelianenko. No joy for Emelianenpo on that attempt.
Emelianenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Emelianenpo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emelianenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Emelianenpo's guard.
Emelianenpo has momentary wrist control but Emelianenko slips an elbow through the middle.
Emelianenko passes into half guard.
Emelianenko is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emelianenpo is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Emelianenpo is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fyodor Emelianenko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fyodor Emelianenko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

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

Emelianenpo clinches with his opponent.
Emelianenpo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short right from Emelianenpo on the inside.

Emelianenpo gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Emelianenpo throwing strikes but missing.
Emelianenko looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Emelianenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Emelianenko, not yet.

Emelianenpo stands and steps away. Emelianenko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Emelianenpo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emelianenpo jabs at Emelianenko's body.
Emelianenpo tries to clinch but Emelianenko moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenpo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Emelianenpo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Emelianenko wants a takedown but no success here.
Emelianenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Emelianenpo pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fyodor Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Emelianenpo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Emelianenpo stops a takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Emelianenpo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Emelianenpo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Emelianenpo breaks from the clinch.
Emelianenpo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Emelianenko moves into the clinch.
Emelianenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Emelianenpo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Emelianenko shoots and misses

and Emelianenpo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Emelianenpo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Emelianenpo has Emelianenko pressed against the cage.
Emelianenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Emelianenpo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Emelianenko wants to clinch
and Emelianenpo counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenpo tries to clinch but Emelianenko is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emelianenko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Emelianenpo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Emelianenpo looking to throw knees to the head but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Emelianenpo is trying to stall.

Emelianenko has Emelianenpo pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Emelianenko pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Emelianenpo tumbling to the mat - Emelianenko dives into Emelianenpo's guard.
Emelianenpo has momentary wrist control but Emelianenko slips an elbow through the middle.
Emelianenko trying to control but Emelianenpo is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko looking to sit in guard and control but Emelianenpo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Emelianenko had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Emelianenpo is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Emelianenko Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Emelianenpo's back instead.

Emelianenko looking to break Emelianenpo's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Emelianenpo remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Emelianenko will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Emelianenko missing with strikes from the back.

Emelianenko seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Emelianenpo's chin but Emelianenpo turns very nicely into Emelianenko's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Emelianenpo.
Emelianenpo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Emelianenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Emelianenpo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Emelianenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emelianenpo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Emelianenko misses with a takedown

and Emelianenpo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Emelianenpo.

Emelianenpo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenpo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Emelianenpo moves in looking to clinch but Emelianenko pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cid Emelianenpo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Emelianenpo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cid Emelianenpo!