PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Romulus Fietsora (ranked 1029 p4p, 125 weight class) and Evgeni Elkemenchi (ranked 2133 p4p, 248 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Fietsora
vs
Elkemenchi

172 cm
34
162 lbs
22 - 11 - 0

172 cm
32
168 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Romulus Fietsora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Evgeni Elkemenchi!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fietsora throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Elkemenchi's head.

It looks like Evgeni Elkemenchi has been cut.
Elkemenchi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Fietsora clinches up against the cage.
Fietsora taking a breather.
Elkemenchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fietsora makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fietsora misses with a body punch.

Elkemenchi gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Fietsora wants to get back to his feet.
Fietsora scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Elkemenchi manages to mount him!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fietsora is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Fietsora bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fietsora is fighting to break Elkemenchi's control of his arms but Elkemenchi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fietsora wants to stand and escape but instead Elkemenchi has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Elkemenchi wants to control from the top but Fietsora keeps moving.
Fietsora wants to get back to his feet but Elkemenchi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Elkemenchi wants to control from the top but Fietsora keeps moving.
Fietsora looking for a sweep. Not yet Fietsora, not yet.
Fietsora wants to stand but Elkemenchi is controlling the position.
Fietsora can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Elkemenchi controls the pace.
Elkemenchi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fietsora utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Elkemenchi stops Fietsora from standing up.
Elkemenchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fietsora is looking to stand up but Elkemenchi isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fietsora is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fietsora tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Elkemenchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Fietsora moves into the clinch successfully.
Fietsora working aggressively here.
Fietsora will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Elkemenchi up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fietsora.
Fietsora throws a punch but it's blocked by Elkemenchi.
A frustrated look appears on Elkemenchi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fietsora wants a takedown but no success here.
Elkemenchi blocks an uppercut.
Elkemenchi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fietsora misses with a punch on the inside.
Fietsora can't find room to land a body shot as Elkemenchi controls the action.
Fietsora misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fietsora throws a punch but it's blocked by Elkemenchi.
Fietsora is looking for a takedown.
Fietsora misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Fietsora fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Fietsora fails to land.

Fietsora breaks the clinch.
Elkemenchi throws a lazy right hand but Fietsora sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Elkemenchi misses with a body shot.

Fietsora darts in and clinches Elkemenchi up against the cage.
Elkemenchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fietsora lands with a short shot to the head.

Elkemenchi pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fietsora wanted to stand there but Elkemenchi had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romulus Fietsora dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Evgeni Elkemenchi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Elkemenchi slips a jab and a cross from Fietsora.
Fietsora is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Elkemenchi can do to turn this around?
Fietsora moves out of range of the strikes.
Fietsora went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Fietsora fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Elkemenchi is out of range.
Elkemenchi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A jab from Elkemenchi misses.
A big left from Elkemenchi misses.
Fietsora is looking to counter with head kicks.
Fietsora throws a leg kick but Elkemenchi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Elkemenchi keeps the fight on the outside.
Fietsora loads up on a big right hand but Elkemenchi slips the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fietsora looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Elkemenchi misses with a takedown attempt - Fietsora sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fietsora doesn't manage to clinch there - Elkemenchi circles away.
Elkemenchi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fietsora tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Elkemenchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Elkemenchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Fietsora.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fietsora moves in looking to clinch but Elkemenchi pushes him off.
Fietsora wants to clinch.
Elkemenchi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Romulus Fietsora seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot by Elkemenchi.
Fietsora takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fietsora tries to close the distance and clinch but Elkemenchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fietsora fails with an attempt to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fietsora.
Elkemenchi missing with a left hand there. Fietsora was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fietsora tries to clinch but Elkemenchi moves out of range.
Fietsora throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fietsora jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fietsora fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Elkemenchi shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fietsora manages to avoid it.
Fietsora tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fietsora throws a nice inside leg kick.
Elkemenchi throws a big shot that misses.

Fietsora closes the distance and pushes Elkemenchi back into the cage.
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!
Fietsora looking to throw knees to the head but Elkemenchi is blocking nicely.
Fietsora swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Elkemenchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fietsora working aggressively here.
Good body shot from Fietsora.

Elkemenchi breaks from the clinch.
Fietsora looks to throw a body kick
and Fietsora takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Fietsora clinches with his opponent.
Elkemenchi avoids a wild elbow strike from Fietsora.
Fietsora has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Elkemenchi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fietsora lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fietsora lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Elkemenchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fietsora scores with a head kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Elkemenchi is defended easily by Fietsora.
Romulus Fietsora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkemenchi.
Fietsora throws a hook but Elkemenchi avoids it easily.
A cross from Elkemenchi lands.
Elkemenchi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Fietsora counter with a right hand.
Fietsora closes the distance looking to clinch
and Elkemenchi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fietsora misses with a double jab.
Fietsora uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Elkemenchi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fietsora pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Evgeni Elkemenchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fietsora tries to clinch up but Elkemenchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Fietsora dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Elkemenchi. That did some damage!
Elkemenchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elkemenchi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Elkemenchi looks to land a right hand but Fietsora moved out of range.
Elkemenchi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Elkemenchi misses with a left hand
and Fietsora counters with a left and a right that stings Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Elkemenchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice shot lands for Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fietsora on the side of the head.
Elkemenchi throws an overhand right that lands on Fietsora's shoulder, as Fietsora tries to avoid the shot.
Elkemenchi throws a series of punches but Fietsora moves out of range.
Elkemenchi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fietsora throws a sloppy head kick and Elkemenchi moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Evgeni Elkemenchi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Evgeni Elkemenchi's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice uppercut there from Elkemenchi.
Fietsora scores with a head kick.
Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fietsora as he avoids it easily.
Elkemenchi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fietsora tries to avoid it but Elkemenchi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fietsora to the ground. Fietsora escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fietsora is looking for a counter combo.
Fietsora tries to clinch there but Elkemenchi circles away.
Fietsora lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fietsora fails with an attempt to clinch.
Elkemenchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fietsora closes the distance but Elkemenchi moves to the side
and Elkemenchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Elkemenchi lands a lovely overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fietsora lands a head kick. Elkemenchi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Elkemenchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Elkemenchi throws a good cross that connects.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fietsora tries to close the distance and clinch but Elkemenchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And Elkemenchi tries to counter it with a takedown but Fietsora pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Elkemenchi tries to keep at a distance but Fietsora has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi takes a shot to the head.
Fietsora prevents Elkemenchi from breaking the clinch.
Fietsora throws an elbow but it misses.
Elkemenchi working hard to break the clinch.
Fietsora makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fietsora lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Fietsora on the inside.

Elkemenchi is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Fietsora can't fight it off and eventually Elkemenchi manages to take the fight to the floor. Fietsora looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fietsora keeping moving, preventing Elkemenchi from controlling successfully.
Fietsora preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elkemenchi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fietsora manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Elkemenchi has Fietsora in his guard.

Fietsora has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Elkemenchi is proving hard to escape from.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position here.
Fietsora would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fietsora tries to stand but Elkemenchi is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Elkemenchi misses with a looping right.
Elkemenchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fietsora was well out of range. Poor timing from Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Elkemenchi loads up on a big right hand but Fietsora slips the punch.

Fietsora moves into the clinch successfully.
Fietsora misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fietsora lands with a short shot to the head.
Elkemenchi working hard to break the clinch.
Elkemenchi takes a shot to the head.
Fietsora goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fietsora taking a breather.
Fietsora tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Elkemenchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romulus Fietsora showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fietsora 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romulus Fietsora!
Romulus Fietsora seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.