PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herb Dean (ranked 4375 p4p, 476 weight class) and Ivan Emelianenko (ranked 5715 p4p, 596 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Dean
vs
Emelianenko

198 cm
25
267 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
26
260 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herb Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dean changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Emelianenko tries to avoid it but Dean manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Emelianenko to the ground. Emelianenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Emelianenko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dean is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Emelianenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Emelianenko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dean defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dean tries to close the distance and clinch but Emelianenko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Emelianenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dean's guard.

Dean manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dean to keep the fight standing.

Emelianenko turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Dean struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dean takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Dean trying to remain calm as Emelianenko controls from the top position.
Dean tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Emelianenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko cracks Dean with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Dean's face as Emelianenko controls the position.
Emelianenko tries to advance to mount but Dean denies him.

Emelianenko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dean has escaped the position, nice work there.
Emelianenko is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Dean will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Dean tries to buck Emelianenko off but Emelianenko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko stands up and beckons Dean to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dean.
Emelianenko looks for a takedown but Dean sprawls well.
Herb Dean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Emelianenko.
Dean shoots in looking for a takedown. Emelianenko tries to sprawl out of it but Dean keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Emelianenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Emelianenko feints the counter takedown.

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 closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dean did well to prevent Emelianenko getting side control.
Emelianenko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Emelianenko is working for an americana but Dean has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Emelianenko was thinking about the submission.

Emelianenko gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dean shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Emelianenko pinned against the cage. Emelianenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Emelianenko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dean misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dean feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Emelianenkos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dean throws a sloppy head kick and Emelianenko moves out of range easily.
Herb Dean is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dean shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Emelianenko sprawls well. Emelianenko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dean gets slowly back to his feet.
Emelianenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dean.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herb Dean. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Emelianenko as he avoids it easily.
It seemed like Emelianenko was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Emelianenko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dean was covering up waiting for the punch and Emelianenko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.
Emelianenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Emelianenko controls the pace.
Emelianenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dean's head.
Emelianenko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Emelianenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Emelianenko stands and steps away. Dean gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Emelianenko shoots in and gets a takedown into Dean's guard.
Emelianenko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Dean is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dean trying to control the position.
Emelianenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dean. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Dean is working an open guard so Emelianenko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Emelianenko gets a double leg takedown into Dean's guard.
Emelianenko postures up.
Emelianenko distracts Dean with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dean, up you get!
Dean misses with a wild combination.

Emelianenko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Emelianenko sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ivan Emelianenko has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean wants to stand up but Emelianenko is controlling him.

Emelianenko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Dean throws a one two combo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dean is looking to clinch.

Emelianenko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Emelianenko showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Emelianenko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dean was covering up waiting for the punch and Emelianenko finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Emelianenko gets to his feet. Dean looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Emelianenko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dean's half guard.
Emelianenko content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean trying to control here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Dean tries to roll over but Emelianenko keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dean is trying to stand up here but Emelianenko is controlling him well.
Emelianenko controlling the pace.
Dean is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Emelianenko seems to be working for a kimura but Dean defends the submission attempt.
Emelianenko working Dean over with strikes.
Emelianenko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean trying to control here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Emelianenko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dean regains full guard. Nicely done.
Emelianenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Emelianenko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dean looking for a sweep but Emelianenko has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Dean tries to hold on but Emelianenko postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Emelianenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Herb Dean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Emelianenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Emelianenko blocks Dean's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

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