PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Emelianenko (ranked 21427 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralph McGuire Jr (ranked 3250 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McGuire Jr's choice of entrance music: Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down. Aleksandr Emelianenko had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Emelianenko
vs
McGuire Jr

198 cm
23
230 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

196 cm
28
245 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Blue Moon

Urban Fighter

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aleksandr Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ralph McGuire Jr!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McGuire Jr defends well and Emelianenko ends up having to push McGuire Jr into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ralph McGuire Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Emelianenko tries to sprawl but McGuire Jr drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko looks like he's trying to stand up.
Emelianenko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McGuire Jr working some strikes from top position.
McGuire Jr makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McGuire Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emelianenko is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Emelianenko throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! McGuire Jr escapes and throws Emelianenko's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Emelianenko looking for a sweep but McGuire Jr has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire Jr lands a heavy elbow.
Emelianenko is bucking up trying to escape but McGuire Jr cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Emelianenko slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
McGuire Jr passes the guard and advances to mount!
Emelianenko tries to hold on but McGuire Jr pushes him away.
Emelianenko bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Emelianenko has gone for a leg lock! McGuire Jr slips out almost immediately though and dives into Emelianenko's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Emelianenko looking to control.
McGuire Jr connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGuire Jr wants to get up but he can't break Emelianenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
McGuire Jr working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McGuire Jr cracks Emelianenko with a solid left hand.
Emelianenko can't keep his opponent in guard - McGuire Jr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Emelianenko moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire Jr landing some decent shots from guard.
McGuire Jr pushing down on Emelianenko's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Emelianenko actively working from the bottom here.

Emelianenko has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, McGuire Jr escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by McGuire Jr!
Check out the look on McGuire Jr's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Emelianenko is looking to reverse the position.
Emelianenko struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Emelianenko is controlling McGuire Jr's trapped leg to prevent McGuire Jr from advancing to side control.
Emelianenko wants to control but McGuire Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Emelianenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McGuire Jr lands a nice short elbow.
McGuire Jr drops an elbow to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph McGuire Jr dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Emelianenko gets caught flat footed, as McGuire Jr shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Emelianenko is looking for a triangle here but McGuire Jr uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Emelianenko looks to move to half guard but instead McGuire Jr has passed into mount! Damn!
McGuire Jr lands a big elbow.
Emelianenko taking shots to the head.
Emelianenko regains half guard.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.

McGuire Jr is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep. McGuire Jr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McGuire Jr drops an elbow to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.

McGuire Jr is looking for a kimura but Emelianenko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McGuire Jr to get the leverage.
Emelianenko tries to roll over but McGuire Jr keeps him under control.
Emelianenko taking some punishment here, with McGuire Jr in his half guard.
Emelianenko pushes McGuire Jr off but McGuire Jr dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to improve his position.
McGuire Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McGuire Jr in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

McGuire Jr goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Emelianenko rolls with the submission and now he's on top in McGuire Jr's guard! Nice work there by Emelianenko!
Emelianenko stands up over McGuire Jr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

It looks like Ralph McGuire Jr has been cut.
McGuire Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet McGuire Jr, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGuire Jr is working an open guard so Emelianenko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
McGuire Jr misses with the body kick

and Emelianenko counters with a takedown into side control.
McGuire Jr prevents Emelianenko from moving into mount.
McGuire Jr 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.

Emelianenko goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McGuire Jr rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Emelianenko's guard! Nice work there by McGuire Jr!
McGuire Jr lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire Jr throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McGuire Jr throws a strike but Emelianenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGuire Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
Ralph McGuire Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Emelianenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emelianenko landing with the ground and pound.
McGuire Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but McGuire Jr is retaining full guard.
McGuire Jr tries to strike from the bottom.
McGuire Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ralph McGuire Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ralph McGuire Jr's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McGuire Jr misses with a head kick.
McGuire Jr moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McGuire Jr as he avoids it easily.
McGuire Jr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McGuire Jr wants it to stay on the feet.
McGuire Jr digs a good hook to Emelianenko's body.
McGuire Jr throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A jab from McGuire Jr misses.
Emelianenko shoots in and drives through. McGuire Jr sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGuire Jr misses with an attempted mid kick.
McGuire Jr has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGuire Jr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emelianenko takes one on the button.
McGuire Jr scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters circling a little - McGuire Jr finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Emelianenko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Aleksandr Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGuire Jr closes the distance and pushes Emelianenko back into the cage.
McGuire Jr digs a right hand into Emelianenko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Emelianenko's gas tank.
McGuire Jr lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
McGuire Jr lands an uppercut.
McGuire Jr misses with a hook to the ribs.
Emelianenko tries to score a body lock takedown but McGuire Jr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Emelianenko misses with an elbow strike.
McGuire Jr lands a left hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.

Emelianenko is rocked!
A short uppercut from McGuire Jr.
Oh Emelianenko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
McGuire Jr creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Emelianenko's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Emelianenko drops to his knees and McGuire Jr pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ralph McGuire Jr!
Ralph McGuire Jr gave a mention to Urban Fighter in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).