PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between EA Poe (ranked 2127 p4p, 247 weight class) and Evgeni Elkemenchi (ranked 653 p4p, 81 weight class). Poe comes to the cage accompanied by Unleashing The Bloodthirsty by Cannibal Corpse. Evgeni Elkemenchi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Poe
vs
Elkemenchi

181 cm
43
168 lbs
27 - 23 - 0

172 cm
33
168 lbs
16 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 27 - 23 - 0, fighting out of New York, EA Poe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Evgeni Elkemenchi!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elkemenchi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Poe.
We've been told by Poe's head coaches at Touch Of Death Combat Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Poe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Elkemenchi's calf.
Poe throws a jab but it's blocked by Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Poe lands a lovely overhand right.
Nice sprawl there from Poe as Elkemenchi shoots in.
Poe's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Poe duly obliges.
Poe slaps away a takedown attempt from Elkemenchi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've been informed that Elkemenchi has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Poe misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Elkemenchi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Elkemenchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Poe.
Poe throws a body punch but Elkemenchi moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Elkemenchi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Elkemenchi fails with a takedown attempt.
EA Poe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi misses with a hook.
Poe lands a jab to Elkemenchi's midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes from Poe. Those never looked like landing.
Poe scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe missing with a left hand there. Elkemenchi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Poe connects with a right hand. Elkemenchi shakes it off.
Elkemenchi ducks under a wild hook from Poe.
Elkemenchi has a takedown stuffed.
Poe tries to bum rush Elkemenchi with a series of wild strikes but Elkemenchi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Poe throws a shot from downtown. Elkemenchi moves away and avoids it.
Elkemenchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Poe throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Poe moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Poe misses with a looping left.
Elkemenchi slips a jab and a cross from Poe.
Poe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Poe swings away with a body shot that misses
and Elkemenchi counters with a stiff right hand.
A big right from Poe misses.
Poe misses with a series of wild punches.
Poe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Elkemenchi manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Poe misses with a hook.
Poe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Poe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Elkemenchi manages to avoid it.
Poe misses with a few strikes there.
Poe lands an overhand right.

Elkemenchi feints and as Poe raises his hands in defense, Elkemenchi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Elkemenchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poe is keeping the position for now.
Elkemenchi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Poe is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Poe looking for a sweep. Not yet Poe, not yet.
Elkemenchi is working Poe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elkemenchi trying to control but Poe is working from the bottom.
Poe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Elkemenchi controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Elkemenchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Poe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elkemenchi stops Poe from standing up.
Poe wants to sweep but no luck.
Elkemenchi scoring with some ground and pound.
Elkemenchi preventing the sweep.
Poe keeping full guard, as Elkemenchi tries to pass.
Poe controlling the position.
Poe 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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Poe is trying to keep Elkemenchi in close.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Poe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Elkemenchi throws out a loose jab but Poe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Poe throws a right hand that Elkemenchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Elkemenchi also avoids with ease.
Poe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some wild striking there from Poe.
Elkemenchi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The crowd cheers as Poe lands an impressive looking overhand right. Elkemenchi doesn't seem phased though.
Poe keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Elkemenchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Poe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Poe misses with a body shot.
Elkemenchi misses with an uppercut. Poe saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Poe misses.
Elkemenchi feints the counter takedown.
Poe loads up on a big right hand but Elkemenchi slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EA Poe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Poe's jab looks to have found its range, popping Elkemenchi under the eye.
Elkemenchi looks for a takedown but Poe sprawls well.
Elkemenchi shoots in looking for a takedown. Poe tries to sprawl out of it but Elkemenchi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Poe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Poe is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Poe scores with a four punch combination!
Poe misses with a series of wild punches.
Elkemenchi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poe fails to land with a series of punches.
Poe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Poe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Elkemenchi throws a body shot but no joy.
A quick step to the side and Poe tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Elkemenchi ducks under a wild hook from Poe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Elkemenchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Poe.
Poe looking to land some kicks to the body here.
EA Poe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Poe scores with a jab to the head.
EA Poe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elkemenchi throws a shot from downtown. Poe moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Poe on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Poe throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Poe. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Poe.
Poe misses with a looping right.
Elkemenchi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Elkemenchi scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like EA Poe has been cut.
Poe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Elkemenchi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Poe throws a big counter combination but Elkemenchi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
EA Poe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Poe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Poe misses with a double jab.
EA Poe is winning the standup battle so far.
Elkemenchi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Elkemenchi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Elkemenchi dodges the punch combination from Poe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poe scores with a jab to the head.
Elkemenchi lands a glancing blow to the side of Poe's head.
Poe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Elkemenchi throws out a counter right but Poe avoids it with no problem.
A shot to the liver by Poe. Beautiful body shot.

Poe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Elkemenchi looking to pass the guard.
Poe has Elkemenchi pulled in close to control his posture.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Poe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Poe has Elkemenchi pulled in close to control his posture.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Elkemenchi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poe 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.
Elkemenchi distracts Poe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Elkemenchi advances position into side control!
Poe is trying to improve his position.
Elkemenchi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Elkemenchi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Poe, who protects the arm well.
Poe tries to improve position but can't.
Poe struggling a bit here.
Elkemenchi wants to control but Poe is keeping him busy.
Elkemenchi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position but Poe is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poe is looking for a sweep.
Poe regains half guard.

Elkemenchi has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Poe defend it? Elkemenchi steps over the head and cranks it - Poe is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Elkemenchi!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Evgeni Elkemenchi!
Evgeni Elkemenchi bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.