PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Emelienko (ranked 539 p4p, 66 weight class) and Esko Marttinen (ranked 938 p4p, 120 weight class). Marttinen has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Emelienko
vs
Marttinen

176 cm
38
168 lbs
29 - 14 - 1

182 cm
34
162 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 29 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Emelienko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esko Marttinen!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marttinen works the jab nicely.
Emelienko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marttinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelienko.
Emelienko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marttinen.
Marttinen's coach down at Heavy Metal was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Marttinen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Emelienko swings for the body but Marttinen moves out of range.
Marttinen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Marttinen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Marttinen misses with an uppercut. Emelienko saw that one coming.
Marttinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've been told by Emelienko's head coaches at Runts Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Marttinen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Marttinen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Marttinen misses with a head kick.
Marttinen shoots in looking for a takedown. Emelienko tries to sprawl out of it but Marttinen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Emelienko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marttinen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Marttinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Emelienko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A solid body kick from Marttinen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelienko misses the shot to the body.

Marttinen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Marttinen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelienko is trying to get back to half guard.
Emelienko is working hard here to advance position.
Emelienko sneaks back into half guard.
Emelienko desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Marttinen throwing shots but Emelienko is blocking nicely.
Emelienko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marttinen is working away from the top position though.
Marttinen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Marttinen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Emelienko has hold of Marttinen's hands but Marttinen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Marttinen connects with a nice short shot to Emelienko's temple.
Emelienko wants to control but Marttinen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Emelienko wants to improve his position but Marttinen is controlling well.
Emelienko trying to control but Marttinen postures up.
Marttinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marttinen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Emelienko is trying to stand back up but Marttinen is controlling him
Marttinen throwing shots but Emelienko is blocking nicely.
Emelienko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Marttinen is working away from the top position though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Marttinen connects with a nice short shot to Emelienko's temple.
Marttinen prevents Emelienko from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Marttinen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Marttinen thows a huge punch but Emelienko dodges it nicely.
Emelienko wants to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Marttinen there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marttinen winds up and cracks Emelienko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Marttinen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Emelienko's head.
Marttinen is keen to just control but Emelienko is a slippery customer.
Emelienko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Marttinen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Emelienko sees it coming and defends easily.

Marttinen is trying to work for a kimura but Emelienko is defending well.
Marttinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko has his hands clasped together around Marttinen's back. He's all about the action.
Emelienko moves into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marttinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emelienko looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Marttinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emelienko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marttinen is one step ahead there.
Marttinen postures up and lands a big shot to Emelienko's brow.
Marttinen working some strikes from top position.
Marttinen being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Marttinen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Emelienko misses with a body shot.
Marttinen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Marttinen misses with a looping right.
Marttinen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Marttinen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jab by Marttinen.
Emelienko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Marttinen throws the kick towards the body but Emelienko avoids it.
Marttinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Emelienko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Emelienko thuds his right hand into Marttinen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Marttinen fails with the takedown.
It looked like Emelienko was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Marttinen.
Emelienko lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Emelienko.
Emelienko tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice uppercut lands for Emelienko. That snapped Marttinen's head back.
Vladimir Emelienko is winning the standup battle so far.
A thudding body kick lands there by Marttinen!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelienko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Emelienko. Emelienko obviously looking to wear him down.
Emelienko moves out of range of the strikes.
Marttinen shoots in for a double leg but Emelienko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Emelienko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marttinen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Marttinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Emelienko was well out of range. Poor timing from Marttinen.
Emelienko blocks a jab.
Marttinen blocks a low kick nicely.
Emelienko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Marttinen is out of range and Emelienko settles back down.
Marttinen scores with a spinning back kick!
Emelienko looks to throw the jab but Marttinen is out of range.
Emelienko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Marttinen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Marttinen goes for a double leg but Emelienko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Emelienko continues to drive forward.
Vladimir Emelienko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esko Marttinen.
Emelienko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Emelienko wants it to stay on the feet.
Emelienko misses with a body shot.
Emelienko throws a lazy right hand but Marttinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Emelienko is looking to wear down Marttinen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Marttinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Emelienko.
Marttinen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Emelienko's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Marttinen.
Emelienko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marttinen misses with a takedown attempt - Emelienko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Emelienko misses the target.
Emelienko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Emelienko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Marttinen misses.
Marttinen scores with a nice head shot.
Emelienko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Marttinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Emelienko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emelienko cracks the inside of Marttinen's front leg.
Emelienko bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Marttinen misses with a looping right.
Marttinen throws a shot from downtown. Emelienko moves away and avoids it.
Marttinen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Emelienko checks a leg kick.
Marttinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Emelienko is out of range and Marttinen settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen lands the left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Emelienko. Marttinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marttinen looks to land a right hand but Emelienko moved out of range.
Marttinen misses with a hook
letting Emelienko counter with a right hand.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A big right from Emelienko misses.
Despite the aggression on Marttinen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Emelienko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Emelienko just misses with a punch to the body.
Emelienko misses the shot to the body.
That kick from Emelienko tenderised Marttinen's leg. Marttinen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Emelienko connects with a jab.
Emelienko fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Marttinen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Emelienko defends well and Marttinen ends up having to push Emelienko into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A left lands for Marttinen.
Emelienko avoids a kick to the body.
Marttinen throws a big shot that misses.
Emelienko fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Marttinen on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marttinen darts in looking for a takedown but Emelienko gets double underhooks and turns Marttinen into the cage.
Emelienko scores with a jab. Marttinen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Emelienko as he checks the leg kick.
Marttinen swinging wildly here.
Emelienko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vladimir Emelienko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch lands to the side of Marttinen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Marttinen throws an overhand right that lands on Emelienko's shoulder, as Emelienko tries to avoid the shot.
Emelienko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Marttinen throws a body punch but Emelienko moves out of range.
Emelienko misses the shot to the body.
Marttinen swinging wildly here.
Emelienko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Marttinen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A swing and a miss from Emelienko.
Marttinen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Emelienko with a body shot.
Marttinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Marttinen.
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 Vladimir Emelienko will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Marttinen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Emelienko counters with a stiff right hand.
Marttinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelienko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a body kick.
Good exchange - Marttinen coming out on top.
Marttinen throws a lazy uppercut
and Emelienko counters with a nice body shot.
Emelienko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Emelienko throws a leg kick which misses Marttinen's front leg but catches the back leg as Marttinen tries to avoid it.
Marttinen motions for Emelienko to come forward. Marttinen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Emelienko walks into a straight right hand from Marttinen.
Emelienko connects with an inside leg kick.
Emelienko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Marttinen is looking to land body kicks.
A quick step to the side and Emelienko tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Emelienko throws a low kick but Marttinen avoids it.
Emelienko scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marttinen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Emelienko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Marttinen.
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!
Emelienko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marttinen misses with a hook. Emelienko ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelienko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Marttinen is looking to slow Emelienko down with leg kicks.
Marttinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Emelienko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marttinen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Esko Marttinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marttinen slips a jab from Emelienko.
Marttinen avoids the body shot from Emelienko.
Marttinen misses with a leg kick
and Emelienko counters with a nice leg kick.
Emelienko scores with a body shot.
Emelienko walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Marttinen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Emelienko slips a jab from Marttinen.
Marttinen throws a wild body kick that Emelienko sees coming a mile off.
Marttinen misses the jab.
Marttinen avoids the body shot from Emelienko.
Emelienko connects with a jab.
Emelienko takes a swing at Marttinen's ribcage but misses.
Marttinen throws a leg kick that misses.
Emelienko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marttinen manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Marttinen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Emelienko has time to react.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
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.
Emelienko takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Emelienko moves out of range of the body kick from Marttinen.
Marttinen missing with a left hand there. Emelienko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marttinen misses with a hook
and Emelienko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
No joy there for Emelienko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marttinen wants to land a leg kick but Emelienko is out of range.
Emelienko looks to score with a jab to the body but Marttinen is just out of range.
Emelienko throws a leg kick which misses Marttinen's front leg but catches the back leg as Marttinen tries to avoid it.
Emelienko throws a jab when Marttinen was well out of range.
Marttinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Emelienko takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Emelienko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Marttinen checks the leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Marttinen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Marttinen cracks Emelienko with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko scores with a jab to the jaw.
Emelienko scores with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Emelienko. Marttinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelienko tries a low kick but Marttinen avoids it.
Marttinen throws a low kick, looking for Emelienko's leg but Emelienko calmly moves out of range.
Emelienko checks a low kick from Marttinen.
Marttinen lunges at Emelienko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Emelienko's hand.
Emelienko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Marttinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice body punch from Emelienko.
Emelienko looks to throw the jab but Marttinen is out of range.
And Marttinen tries to counter it with a takedown but Emelienko pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Marttinen looks to throw the jab but Emelienko is out of range.
Emelienko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Emelienko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Marttinen is out of range.
A leg kick checked by Marttinen.
Emelienko throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Marttinen misses with an uppercut.
Marttinen throws an off balance right hand
and Emelienko makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marttinen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Emelienko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Marttinen throws a front kick that sends Emelienko stumbling back into the cage.
The fighters circling - Marttinen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marttinen checks a low kick from Emelienko.
Emelienko misses with a hook. Marttinen ducked under it nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Marttinen! But no joy.
Marttinen lands with a nice body punch.
Marttinen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Emelienko walks into a stiff left hand from Marttinen.
Emelienko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marttinen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Emelienko's calf.
Marttinen throws a front kick aimed at Emelienko's knee but Emelienko avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vladimir Emelienko.
I think Emelienko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Emelienko!
Vladimir Emelienko was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.