PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Elkemenchi (ranked 4536 p4p, 488 weight class) and Timothy Robinson (ranked 5611 p4p, 570 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Elkemenchi
vs
Robinson

172 cm
28
168 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

173 cm
35
169 lbs
24 - 22 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Evgeni Elkemenchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 22 - 2, fighting out of London, Timothy Robinson!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elkemenchi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Elkemenchi shoots for a takedown but Robinson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Evgeni Elkemenchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elkemenchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Robinson is just out of range.
Elkemenchi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Elkemenchi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Elkemenchi misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Robinson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Elkemenchi tries to roll over but Robinson keeps him under control.
Robinson wants to take a breather but Elkemenchi is having none of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Robinson in particular looking to stall.

Robinson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Elkemenchi has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Robinson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Robinson is looking for a kimura but Elkemenchi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Robinson to get the leverage.
Elkemenchi lands with a few short shots to the body.
Robinson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Elkemenchi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Robinson slips nicely into half guard.
Robinson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Elkemenchi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Elkemenchi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Robinson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Elkemenchi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Robinson.
Robinson is pressing down on Elkemenchi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Elkemenchi is holding on for now.
Elkemenchi is staying active underneath Robinson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Elkemenchi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Robinson wants to pass the guard but Elkemenchi is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson preventing the sweep.
Robinson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elkemenchi is keeping the position for now.
Robinson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Elkemenchi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Elkemenchi gets full guard.
Robinson stands and throws Elkemenchi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Robinson trying to control the action but Elkemenchi is working from the bottom.
Elkemenchi is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robinson taking a break here but Elkemenchi is having none of it and regains half guard.
Robinson trying to pass the guard but Elkemenchi defending well.

Robinson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Elkemenchi defends it well.
Robinson wants to pass the guard but Elkemenchi is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Robinson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Elkemenchi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timothy Robinson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Robinson throws a leg kick

and Elkemenchi counters with a takedown into side control.
Elkemenchi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Robinson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Elkemenchi is looking to control Robinson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Elkemenchi avoid being mounted?
Robinson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Elkemenchi is trying desperately to improve position.

Elkemenchi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Robinson.
Robinson looking to control but Elkemenchi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Robinson wants to take Elkemenchi's back here but Elkemenchi is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi tries to lock up and control but Robinson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Robinson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Elkemenchi is looking to escape.
Robinson is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Elkemenchi is in real trouble.

Robinson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Elkemenchi defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Robinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Robinson is retaining full guard.
Elkemenchi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Elkemenchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Elkemenchi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Elkemenchi wants to pass the guard but Robinson is keeping the position.
Robinson keeping moving, preventing Elkemenchi from controlling successfully.
Robinson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi trying to control but Robinson is working from the bottom.
Elkemenchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Robinson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Elkemenchi trying to control but Robinson is working from the bottom.
Elkemenchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Elkemenchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Robinson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Robinson keeping moving, preventing Elkemenchi from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Robinson avoids the head kick by Elkemenchi.
Robinson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Elkemenchi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Robinson as Elkemenchi shoots in.
Robinson throws a low kick, looking for Elkemenchi's leg but Elkemenchi calmly moves out of range.
Elkemenchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Robinson circles away.
Robinson with the counter takedown but Elkemenchi avoids it easily.
Robinson tries to land a front kick but Elkemenchi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Elkemenchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Elkemenchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Robinson gets caught napping as Elkemenchi dives in and scores a takedown. Robinson manages to retain guard.
Elkemenchi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Elkemenchi postures up in Robinson's guard and throws a big left but Robinson blocks it.
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 Evgeni Elkemenchi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Elkemenchi closes the distance and clinches up with Robinson, looking for a takedown. Elkemenchi pushes Robinson against the cage but Robinson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Elkemenchi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Robinson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Robinson with the counter takedown but Elkemenchi avoids it easily.
Robinson checks a leg kick nicely.
Robinson with the counter takedown but Elkemenchi avoids it easily.
Elkemenchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Robinson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Elkemenchi closes the distance and clinches up with Robinson, looking for a takedown. Elkemenchi pushes Robinson against the cage but Robinson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Robinson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Elkemenchi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Robinson defends well and Elkemenchi ends up having to push Robinson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And Robinson tries to counter it with a takedown but Elkemenchi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeni Elkemenchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Robinson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Elkemenchi checks a leg kick.
Elkemenchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Robinson's waist but Robinson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Elkemenchi off to one side.
Elkemenchi wants to clinch up but Robinson keeps it at a distance.
Elkemenchi shoots in but Robinson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Robinson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Robinson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Elkemenchi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Robinson shoots in and gets a takedown into Elkemenchi's guard.
Timothy Robinson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Elkemenchi keeping full guard, as Robinson tries to pass.
Elkemenchi controls Robinson momentarily but Robinson frees himself.
My spies in Gorilla Warfare Academy inform me that Robinson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Robinson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elkemenchi is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson is pushing down on Elkemenchi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Elkemenchi is fighting to maintain full guard but Robinson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Robinson is trying to control the action in half guard but Elkemenchi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Robinson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Robinson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Elkemenchi is looking for a sweep. Robinson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Elkemenchi won't allow Robinson to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi is looking to escape.
Robinson trying to pass the guard but Elkemenchi defending well.
Elkemenchi punching from the bottom.
Robinson is controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Let's hope that Robinson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Elkemenchi jabs at Robinson's body.

That's four 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.
Robinson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Elkemenchi.

It looks like Evgeni Elkemenchi has been cut.

Elkemenchi looking to score a takedown here. Robinson is defending well but Elkemenchi drives through and ends up in Robinson's guard.
Robinson pulls Elkemenchi in close to prevent any damage.
Elkemenchi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Robinson is adopting a defensive guard.

Robinson working for a triangle but Elkemenchi defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Robinson trying to keep a closed guard but Elkemenchi is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timothy Robinson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Robinson 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timothy Robinson!
An out of breath and clearly excited Timothy Robinson thanked Sully's Bar & Grill for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).