PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Diehard (ranked 90 p4p, 12 weight class) and Vladimir Emelienko (ranked 168 p4p, 25 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Diehard
vs
Emelienko

180 cm
33
158 lbs
26 - 11 - 1

176 cm
34
168 lbs
24 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

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XFighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Diehard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Emelienko!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelienko throws a head kick that misses
and Diehard counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab from Emelienko misses.
It looked like Diehard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Diehard cracks Emelienko with an open hand slap.
Diehard throws a lazy right hand but Emelienko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Diehard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Emelienko to the ground. Diehard is now in Emelienko's guard.

Emelienko pushes Diehard off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A jab from Emelienko misses.
Diehard avoids the body shot from Emelienko.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelienko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diehard.
Emelienko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diehard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Emelienko is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Diehard with a body shot.
Emelienko cracks Diehard with an open hand slap.
Diehard lands a nice shot that snaps Emelienko's head back.
Nice jab there from Diehard.
Diehard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Diehard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Emelienko throws a hook but Diehard avoids it easily.
Good work by Diehard as he checks the leg kick.
Diehard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Diehard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelienko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Emelienko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Emelienko throws a series of punches but Diehard moves out of range.
Emelienko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diehard.
Emelienko misses with a low kick.
Diehard is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Diehard. Emelienko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelienko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diehard misses with a hook.

Diehard clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diehard.
Emelienko misses with a punch to the body.
Emelienko blocking some punches.
Emelienko tries a body shot but Diehard blocks it.
Diehard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Emelienko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diehard blocks an uppercut.
Diehard throws a head punch that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Diehard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Diehard or not.
Diehard working aggressively here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelienko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diehards head.
Emelienko tries to work over Diehard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've been informed that Emelienko has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Diehard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Emelienko can't find room to land a body shot as Diehard controls the action.
Emelienko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diehard's elbow.
Emelienko looking to stall.
Diehard working aggressively here.
Emelienko struggles to land a body shot inside as Diehard controls his hands.
Emelienko slows down the pace here.
Diehard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Emelienko backwards.

Emelienko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emelienko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diehard.
Diehard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diehard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Emelienko moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko tries to land a leg kick but Diehard saw it coming and moves away.
Diehard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Emelienko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diehard manages to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Diehard. Beautiful body shot.
Diehard cracks Emelienko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A slow jab from Emelienko misses its intended target.
Emelienko misses with a looping right.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Diehard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Emelienko.
Diehard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Emelienko.
Emelienko is looking to chop away at Diehard's legs.
A little feinted left hand from Diehard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diehard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Emelienko.
Emelienko lands a nice hook to Diehard's body. Diehard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
No joy there for Emelienko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Emelienko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Emelienko defending well as Diehard loads up on a big left hand.
Emelienko lands a jab.
Emelienko throws a hook but Diehard blocks it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Diehard darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelienko throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Diehard is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko misses the shot to the body.
Vladimir Emelienko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelienko throws a front kick aimed at Diehard's knee but Diehard avoids it well.
Emelienko connects with a solid leg kick.
Emelienko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Emelienko attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Diehard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Diehard throws a lazy right hand but Emelienko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diehard scores with a nice strike.
A telegraphed right hand from Diehard misses the target.
Diehard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Emelienko.
Diehard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diehard jabs at Emelienko's body.
A low kick from Emelienko misses
enabling Diehard to counter with a crisp jab.
Diehard defending well as Emelienko loads up on a big left hand.
Diehard lunges at Emelienko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Emelienko's hand.
Vladimir Emelienko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diehard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Emelienko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diehard.
Emelienko throws a body shot but no joy.

Diehard closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vladimir Emelienko will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A bone on bone clash there as Diehard blocks the leg kick.
Emelienko wants to land a leg kick but Diehard is out of range.
Diehard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Emelienko ducks under a wild hook from Diehard.
Emelienko throws a leg kick but Diehard checks it.
Diehard went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Diehard throws a right hand that misses
and Emelienko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Diehard checks a leg kick.
Diehard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A swing and a miss from Emelienko.
Emelienko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Emelienko staying out of range there.
Diehard ducks under a wild hook from Emelienko.
A little feinted left hand from Diehard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diehard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Emelienko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelienko lands a leg kick that knocks Diehard off balance momentarily.
Diehard shoots in for a takedown but Emelienko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Emelienko wants to land a leg kick but Diehard is out of range.
Diehard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Diehard throws a hook but Emelienko avoids it easily.
Emelienko walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Diehard checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelienko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diehard throwing a counter right hand but Emelienko manages to avoid it.
Diehard tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Emelienko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Good work by Diehard as he checks the leg kick.
Diehard throws a shot from downtown. Emelienko moves away and avoids it.

Diehard instigates a clinch.
Emelienko lands with a light punch inside.
Emelienko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Emelienko lands a left hand.
Emelienko lands with a right to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Diehard.
Diehard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diehard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diehard swings wildly with an uppercut but Emelienko uses good head movement to avoid it.

Emelienko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelienko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Emelienko connects with an inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emelienko lands a nice hook to Diehard's body. Diehard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diehard connects with a single shot there.
Emelienko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Diehard lands a slapping body shot.
Diehard misses with a wild body shot.
An inside leg kick from Emelienko misses.
Emelienko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Diehard counter with a right hand.
Emelienko lands with a nice body punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Diehard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diehard lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Emelienko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Diehard.
Emelienko throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Emelienko throws a body punch but Diehard moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Emelienko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Diehard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Emelienko.
Emelienko misses with a leg kick.
A big right from Emelienko misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diehard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Emelienko misses with a body punch.
Diehard lands a body shot.
Diehard misses with a hook from the clinch.

Diehard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Diehard closes the distance and clinches.
Diehard swings wildly with an uppercut but Emelienko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emelienko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Diehard backwards.
Diehard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Emelienko tries a body shot but Diehard blocks it.
Emelienko working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Diehard fails to land.
Diehard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Diehard tries for a takedown but Emelienko manages to get underhooks.
Emelienko misses with a body punch.
Emelienko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Emelienko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Diehard goes for a takedown attempt but Emelienko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Diehard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko throws an overhand right that lands on Diehard's shoulder, as Diehard tries to avoid the shot.
Emelienko throws a low kick but it's checked well by Diehard.
Diehard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Diehard throws a poor cross that misses
and Emelienko counters with a left to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Emelienko gets tackled into the cage by Diehard. Diehard maintains the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Diehard fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Emelienko fails to land.
Emelienko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Emelienko lands a hook to the side of the head.
Diehard misses with a short punch on the inside.

Emelienko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelienko misses with a low kick.
Diehard was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vladimir Emelienko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A punch lands to the side of Diehard 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Diehard connects with a body shot.
A big right from Emelienko misses.
Emelienko tries to score with a low kick but Diehard moves his leg out of the way.
Emelienko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Emelienko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vladimir Emelienko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Emelienko throws a jab but it's blocked by Diehard.
Diehard takes a swing at Emelienko's ribcage but misses.
Emelienko throws a right hand that Diehard ducks under and follows up with a left that Diehard also avoids with ease.
Emelienko throws out a leg kick but Diehard moves out of range and Emelienko only half commits.
Diehard is looking to counter punch.
Emelienko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diehard.
A swing and a miss from Emelienko.
Diehard checks the leg kick nicely there.
Diehard throws an overhand right that lands on Emelienko's shoulder, as Emelienko tries to avoid the shot.
Emelienko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diehard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Emelienko.
Diehard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Diehard misses with a looping left.
Emelienko misses with a body punch

and Diehard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diehard scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Diehard.
Emelienko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Diehard misses with the head strike.
Diehard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emelienko's elbow.
Diehard lands an uppercut.
Diehard digs a right hand into Emelienko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Emelienko's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diehard pushes Emelienko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Diehard lands a hook that snaps the head of Emelienko backwards.
Diehard lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Emelienko.
Bruce Diehard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Diehard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Diehard lands a hook that snaps the head of Emelienko backwards.
Diehard pushes Emelienko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Emelienko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Emelienko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Emelienko misses with some punches.
Emelienko wants to get back to striking at distance but Diehard won't allow it.
Diehard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diehard digs a right hand into Emelienko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Emelienko's gas tank.
Diehard digs a right hand underneath Emelienko's ribcage. Emelienko let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Diehard.
Diehard lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Diehard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diehard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelienkos head.
Diehard working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diehard is pushing Emelienko up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Emelienko tries a body shot but Diehard blocks it.
Emelienko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Emelienko misses with a punch to the body.
Diehard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diehard misses with the head strike.
Diehard lands a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Emelienko.
Emelienko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diehard tries to work over Emelienko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Diehard misses with a punch on the inside.
Emelienko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Diehard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Diehard lands a shoulder strike.
Diehard misses with some punches.
Diehard being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diehard working aggressively here.
Diehard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diehard lands with a right to the head.
Emelienko lands a body shot in the clinch.
Emelienko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diehard struggles to land a body shot inside as Emelienko controls his hands.
Emelienko tries to work over Diehard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Emelienko throws a head punch that misses.
Vladimir Emelienko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Emelienko is looking to break free of the clinch but Diehard has double underhooks.
A short right from Diehard on the inside.
Diehard scores with a shot to the side of Emelienko's head.
Diehard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emelienko's elbow.
Diehard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Emelienko working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Diehard.
Emelienko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diehard's elbow.
Diehard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bruce Diehard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diehard swings wildly with an uppercut but Emelienko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emelienko taking a breather.
Emelienko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diehard's elbow.
Emelienko has a couple of punches blocked by Diehard.
Emelienko blocking some punches.
Emelienko tries to throw a body punch but Diehard avoids it by throwing Emelienko back against the cage.
Diehard lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diehard jumps guard but Emelienko stands there with Diehard around his waist. Diehard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Diehard throws a punch but it's blocked by Emelienko.
Emelienko tries to throw a body punch but Diehard avoids it by throwing Emelienko back against the cage.

Emelienko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emelienko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Diehard throws an overhand right that lands on Emelienko's shoulder, as Emelienko tries to avoid the shot.
Emelienko just misses with a punch to the body.
Diehard seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Emelienko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Diehard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Emelienko 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vladimir Emelienko!
A very excited looking Vladimir Emelienko rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.