PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Eremeev (ranked 3178 p4p, 337 weight class) and Evgeni Elkemenchi (ranked 812 p4p, 100 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Eremeev
vs
Elkemenchi

189 cm
37
165 lbs
18 - 20 - 0

172 cm
33
168 lbs
17 - 16 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

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 18 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrey Eremeev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, Evgeni Elkemenchi!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eremeev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Elkemenchi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Eremeev dives into side control.

Eremeev remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Elkemenchi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Elkemenchi is not content to let Eremeev control the position.
Eremeev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eremeev working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Eremeev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Eremeev happy to just control the position for now.
Elkemenchi is looking to reverse the position.
Eremeev passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Elkemenchi!
Eremeev controlling from mount.
Eremeev trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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.
Eremeev controlling from the full mount.
Eremeev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Elkemenchi is looking to escape.
Eremeev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Eremeev looking to control but Elkemenchi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi tries to reverse the position but Eremeev maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eremeev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Eremeev looking to control but Elkemenchi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Elkemenchi is in all sorts of trouble here.

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.

Eremeev jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Elkemenchi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Eremeev taking a breather here.
Eremeev is looking to take a break and control but Elkemenchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elkemenchi is looking to reverse the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Eremeev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Elkemenchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A leg kick checked by Eremeev.
Elkemenchi digs a good hook to Eremeev's body.
Eremeev has his takedown stuffed
and Elkemenchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Elkemenchi connects with an inside leg kick.

Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Eremeev trying to control but Elkemenchi postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eremeev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Elkemenchi slips a nice elbow through Eremeev's hands, connecting with Eremeev's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi moves nicely into side control.
Elkemenchi working the ground and pound.
Eremeev tries to buck Elkemenchi off but Elkemenchi is having none of it.
Andrey Eremeev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eremeev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Elkemenchi off and has taken his back!
Eremeev avoiding Elkemenchi 's attempts to control his hands.
Eremeev biding his time, looking for the opening.
Eremeev controlling well, preventing Elkemenchi from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eremeev is looking to control Elkemenchi but Elkemenchi is wriggling around and keeping busy.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Eremeev controlling the positon.
Eremeev's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Eremeev is hanging on to Elkemenchi's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eremeev looking for the choke but no joy.
You can see the frustration on Elkemenchi's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Elkemenchi defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Eremeev's arms.
Elkemenchi is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Eremeev wants to control but Elkemenchi is keeping busy.

That's four 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 defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Eremeev's arms.
Will Eremeev go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Elkemenchi can't escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elkemenchi prevents Eremeev from getting a body triangle.
Eremeev keeps control of the position easily here as Elkemenchi tries to buck him off.
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.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Elkemenchi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Elkemenchi.
Eremeev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Elkemenchi is fending him off so far but Eremeev persists. Nope, Elkemenchi circles away and we're back to standing.
Eremeev closes the distance and clinches up with Elkemenchi, looking for a takedown. Eremeev pushes Elkemenchi against the cage but Elkemenchi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Elkemenchi lands with a shot to the body.
Eremeev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Eremeev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Eremeev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Eremeev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eremeev gets the takedown into side control.
Elkemenchi tries to buck Eremeev off but Eremeev is having none of it.

Eremeev is trying to get an arm triangle but Elkemenchi is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eremeev trying to control the position but Elkemenchi is working away.
Elkemenchi is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eremeev taking a break here but Elkemenchi is having none of it and regains half guard.
Eremeev stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Eremeev is looking to pass Elkemenchi's guard but actually Elkemenchi recovers to full guard.
Eremeev stays in close to Elkemenchi's body and controls the position.
Eremeev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Elkemenchi for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Elkemenchi is on top in guard.

Elkemenchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eremeev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Elkemenchi stays in close to Eremeev's body and controls the position.
Eremeev keeping full guard, as Elkemenchi tries to pass.
Eremeev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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.
Elkemenchi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Elkemenchi with a nice head shot there.
Eremeev looking for a sweep. Not yet Eremeev, not yet.
Elkemenchi working some strikes from top position.

Elkemenchi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Eremeev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Elkemenchi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Eremeev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Elkemenchi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Eremeev is looking for a triangle but Elkemenchi pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Elkemenchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Elkemenchi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Evgeni Elkemenchi!
Evgeni Elkemenchi spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.