PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles Gibson (ranked 5380 p4p, 443 weight class) and Dimitri Emelianenko (ranked 5957 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles Gibson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Gibson
vs
Emelianenko

196 cm
23
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 New York, Charles Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dimitri Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gibson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Gibson slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko has hold of Gibson's hands but Gibson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibson tries to stand and escape but Emelianenko is controlling the position.
Gibson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko manages to get to full guard.

Emelianenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gibson stopping the sweep attempt from Emelianenko.
Gibson is in close to Emelianenko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gibson throws a strike but Emelianenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Emelianenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Emelianenko prevents Gibson from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko being controlled here momentarily.
Gibson keeping full guard, as Emelianenko tries to pass.
Emelianenko stays in close to Gibson's body and controls the position.
Gibson seems keen to control Emelianenko's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gibson landing some decent shots from guard.
Gibson landing some decent shots from guard.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Gibson from controlling successfully.
Gibson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Emelianenko's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson lands a couple of elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Emelianenko is on top in guard.

Emelianenko is looking to pass into half guard but Gibson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gibson is in guard.

Gibson trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Gibson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gibson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gibson lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gibson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gibson stands up over Emelianenko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibson lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Gibson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gibson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Emelianenko's guard.

Emelianenko pushes Gibson off and gets back to his feet.

Gibson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Emelianenko is trying to control but can't.
Gibson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gibson is looking to take a break and control but Emelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Emelianenko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gibson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Emelianenko can do to turn this around?
Gibson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Emelianenko is on top in guard.

Gibson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Emelianenko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Emelianenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Emelianenko is thwarting Gibson's attempts to control the position.
Emelianenko stalling.
Emelianenko moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko stands up and beckons Gibson to his feet.
We've been informed that Emelianenko has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gibson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Emelianenko now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Emelianenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gibson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Emelianenko quickly recovers to half guard.
Gibson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Emelianenko on the ground.
Gibson slips a nice elbow through Emelianenko's hands, connecting with Emelianenko's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gibson lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking to improve his position.
Gibson trying to control from half guard but Emelianenko is working away.
Charles Gibson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gibson blocks the strikes from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Emelianenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emelianenko.
Gibson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gibson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Gibson darts in looking for a takedown but Emelianenko gets double underhooks and turns Gibson into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Gibson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Gibson shoots in for a double leg but Emelianenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Emelianenko sprawls well. Emelianenko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gibson gets slowly back to his feet.
Emelianenko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gibson tries for a takedown but Emelianenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Emelianenko feints the counter takedown.
Gibson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Emelianenko circles away.
Emelianenko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gibson shoots for a double leg takedown but Emelianenko sprawls well. He's pushed Gibson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Emelianenko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gibson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitri Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gibson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gibson shoots and misses

and Emelianenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gibson 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 controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gibson can't keep his opponent in guard - Emelianenko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Emelianenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gibson wants to improve his position but Emelianenko is controlling well.
Emelianenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Emelianenko works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson holds on to Emelianenko as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
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 pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Emelianenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko dominating with strikes here.
Gibson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Emelianenko controlling from the full mount.
Emelianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gibson is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko content just to control the position here.
Gibson is looking to get to half guard.
Emelianenko controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Emelianenko trying to control but Gibson is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dimitri 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

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