PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herb Dean (ranked 4609 p4p, 512 weight class) and Ivan Emelianenko (ranked 5955 p4p, 623 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dean
vs
Emelianenko

198 cm
25
267 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
26
260 lbs
2 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Herb Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emelianenko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dean is trying to defend but Emelianenko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Dean is looking to get back to is feet but Emelianenko passes into side control.
Dean wants to control but Emelianenko postures up.
Dean is looking to regain half guard here but Emelianenko keeps moving and retains side control.
Dean can't do much from the bottom here.
Dean wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Emelianenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko is pressing down on Dean's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dean is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Dean is trying to stand up here but Emelianenko is controlling him well.
Emelianenko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dean with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Emelianenko is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Emelianenko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dean trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Emelianenko as Dean shoots in.
And Emelianenko tries to counter it with a takedown but Dean pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Emelianenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Dean on his heels. He'll look to pass Dean's guard now, I'm sure.

Emelianenko gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Emelianenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dean sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Emelianenko somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko shoots for a takedown but Dean saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Emelianenko misses with a takedown attempt - Dean sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Herb Dean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Emelianenko.
Horrible takedown attempt by Emelianenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Dean, which made it look bad.

Emelianenko drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko postures up.

Dean throws his legs up looking for a submission but Emelianenko uses it to pass to side control.
Dean sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
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.

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

Dean actively working from the bottom here.
Emelianenko is thwarting Dean's attempts to control the position.
Dean is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Emelianenko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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.

Emelianenko dives in and grabs Dean's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dean pushes down on Emelianenko's head and hops out.
Nice takedown defense from Emelianenko. No joy for Dean on that attempt.
Emelianenko steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Dean.
Dean closes the distance and clinches up with Emelianenko, looking for a takedown. Dean pushes Emelianenko against the cage but Emelianenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Emelianenko unleashes a big counter combination but Dean bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Emelianenko scores with a takedown into Dean's guard.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Dean is retaining full guard.

Emelianenko gets to his feet - Dean follows without any prompting.

Emelianenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Emelianenko lands in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Dean is retaining full guard.
Emelianenko stays in close to Dean's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean wants to stand up but Emelianenko is controlling him.
Dean not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Emelianenko is stalling in the full guard.

Emelianenko stands up from Dean's guard - Emelianenko perhaps looking for a knockout.

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.
Dean has his takedown stuffed

and Emelianenko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herb Dean. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dean wants to sweep but no luck.
Emelianenko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Dean is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Emelianenko is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dean is keeping the position for now.
Emelianenko working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Emelianenko stands up from Dean's guard - Emelianenko perhaps looking for a knockout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Emelianenko.
Dean wants to get back to his feet but Emelianenko is dominant here and he's now got Dean's back!
Emelianenko trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Dean doesn't escape.
Dean wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko controlling the position well here. Dean rolled but Emelianenko kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Emelianenko punishes Dean with strikes from the back mount.
Ivan Emelianenko has got the better of the ground game so far.

Emelianenko goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Dean escapes and is now in half guard on top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dean throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dean gets caught flat footed, as Emelianenko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Emelianenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Emelianenko working some strikes from top position.
Emelianenko sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dean has momentary wrist control but Emelianenko slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko is stalling in the full guard.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Dean is retaining full guard.
Emelianenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko stands up and waves to Dean to follow him.

Emelianenko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dean is in trouble now - Emelianenko has advanced to mount!
Dean tries to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko content just to control the position here.
Dean tries to reverse the position but Emelianenko maintains control.
Dean wants to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
Emelianenko 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 swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Dean is now in Emelianenko's guard. A big mistake from Emelianenko there, giving up the dominant position!
Emelianenko has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko pushes Dean off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
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.
Dean darts in looking for a takedown but Emelianenko gets double underhooks and turns Dean into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Emelianenko gets the takedown into side control.
Emelianenko controls the position.

Emelianenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Dean fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herb Dean. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Dean, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Emelianenko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dean is trying to defend but Emelianenko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Emelianenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Emelianenko trying to control the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

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