PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Cajo Branca (ranked 1674 p4p, 2724 weight class) and Roman Emelianenko (ranked 202 p4p, 330 weight class). Branca comes into the arena with original score medley blaring out of the sound system. Emelianenko has chosen Mala Dama - Kabat as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Branca
vs
Emelianenko

194 cm
36
269
29 - 23 - 0

190 cm
28
257
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Voodoo Nutrition

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 29 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Cajo Branca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roman Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Emelianenko misses.
Emelianenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Branca.
Emelianenko looks to land a left hand but Branca moved out of range nicely.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
Branca is looking to counter punch.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Branca is avoiding it.
Emelianenko tries to clinch there but Branca circles away.
Emelianenko wants to clinch up but Branca keeps it at a distance.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Branca was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Emelianenko misses with a straight right.

Emelianenko clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branca blocking some punches.
Branca throws a head punch that misses.
Branca lands a right hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Branca lands a hook that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Branca has a couple of punches blocked by Emelianenko.
Branca working aggressively here.
Emelianenko throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca can't find room to land a body shot as Emelianenko controls the action.
Branca lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

It looks like Roman Emelianenko has been cut.
Branca swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Branca takes a shot to the head.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Brancas head.
A shot in the inside from Branca.
Branca has a couple of punches blocked by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Branca.
A nice right hand lands inside from Emelianenko.

It looks like Joao Cajo Branca has been cut.
Come on Branca - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Emelianenko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Branca throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Branca misses with a punch on the inside.
Branca tries to work over Emelianenko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Emelianenko misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Emelianenko on the inside.
Emelianenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Branca avoids the damage to the body.
Branca misses with a short punch on the inside.
Branca tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Emelianenko swings wildly with an uppercut but Branca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branca misses with a punch on the inside.

Branca manages to break the clinch.
Emelianenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Branca swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Branca scores with a one two! Emelianenko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Emelianenko forces Branca back against the cage and clinches.
Emelianenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Branca.
Branca is struggling to control the position.
Branca tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Branca tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emelianenko's elbow.
Branca is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Emelianenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Branca.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branca.
Emelianenko swings wildly with an uppercut but Branca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branca presses Emelianenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko misses with the head strike.
Branca has a couple of punches blocked by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Branca.
Branca swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Branca's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Emelianenko closes the distance and pushes Branca back into the cage.
Branca lands a right hand.
Emelianenko has a couple of punches blocked by Branca.
Branca swings wildly with an uppercut but Emelianenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branca scores with a shot to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Emelianenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Brancas head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branca blocks an uppercut.
Branca misses with some punches.
Emelianenko blocks a body shot from Branca.
A short right from Emelianenko.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Branca misses with some punches.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
Branca misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Branca has a couple of punches blocked by Emelianenko.

Branca breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Branca paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Branca swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Branca misses with a body shot.
Emelianenko appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Emelianenko throws an overhand right that lands on Branca's shoulder, as Branca tries to avoid the shot.
Branca seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Emelianenko scoring well with a low kick there.
Branca bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Branca appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Emelianenko misses with a few strikes there.
Emelianenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Emelianenko moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roman Emelianenko will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters circling - Branca throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Branca throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Branca drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Branca throws a leg kick which misses Emelianenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Emelianenko tries to avoid it.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch.
Branca's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Roman Emelianenko seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Emelianenko misses with a punch on the inside.
Emelianenko blocks an uppercut.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Emelianenko. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Branca blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Branca fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Emelianenko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Branca backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko keeps control of Branca as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Branca.
A head punch on the inside from Emelianenko fails to land.
A short right from Emelianenko on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short right from Branca.
Branca lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Branca.
Branca has a couple of punches blocked by Emelianenko.
A right handed body shot lands from Branca.
Emelianenko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Branca backwards.
Emelianenko blocks a body shot from Branca.
Branca tries a body shot but Emelianenko blocks it.
Emelianenko pushes Branca back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Emelianenko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Branca lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Branca blocks an uppercut.
Emelianenko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Branca scores with a nice short uppercut.
Branca managing to block the knees to the body from Emelianenko.
Branca blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Emelianenko misses with a punch on the inside.
Branca misses with a hook to the ribs.
Emelianenko lands with a right to the head.
Branca blocks an uppercut.
Emelianenko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Branca misses with a body punch.
Emelianenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Branca.
Branca goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Branca goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Branca gets through Emelianenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Branca blocking some punches.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
Branca tries a body shot but Emelianenko blocks it.
Branca looking to stall.
Emelianenko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Emelianenko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branca avoiding damage as Emelianenko throws knees to the body.
Branca misses with a hook from the clinch.
Emelianenko throws a head punch that misses.

Branca escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A punch combination from Emelianenko misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Branca misses the target.
Roman Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice uppercut there from Branca.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Branca swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Branca swats away the attempt to clinch by Emelianenko.
A counter left hand to the body from Branca misses its target.

Emelianenko rushes Branca and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
Emelianenko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branca fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Emelianenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Branca avoiding damage as Emelianenko throws knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Branca.
Emelianenko working aggressively here.
Branca lands a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Branca scores with a hook to the body.
Branca struggles to land a body shot inside as Emelianenko controls his hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Branca lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
Branca tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Branca blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Emelianenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Branca tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emelianenko's elbow.
Branca stalling in the clinch but Emelianenko improves position.
Emelianenko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Branca avoiding damage as Emelianenko throws knees to the body.
Branca tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Branca fails to land.
Emelianenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Branca.
A head punch on the inside from Emelianenko fails to land.
Emelianenko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Branca, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Emelianenko moves out of range of the strikes.
Emelianenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Branca moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Branca throwing a counter right hand but Emelianenko manages to avoid it.
Emelianenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Branca.

Emelianenko closes the distance and pushes Branca back into the cage.
Emelianenko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Emelianenko blocks an uppercut.

Branca manages to break the clinch.
Branca fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Emelianenko manages to avoid it.
Branca throws a jab when Emelianenko was well out of range.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Branca swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko darts in trying to clinch
and Branca makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Emelianenko wants to clinch
and Branca connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roman Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko slips a straight right by Branca.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Branca makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Branca misses with a hook from the clinch.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Branca avoids it.
Emelianenko blocks a body shot from Branca.
Branca scores with a shoulder strike.
Branca works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Emelianenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Branca avoids the damage to the body.
Emelianenko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Branca effectively controlling the action here.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
Emelianenko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Branca lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Emelianenko blocking some punches.
Emelianenko blocks an uppercut.
Joao Cajo Branca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branca tries a body shot but Emelianenko blocks it.
Emelianenko blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Branca tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Emelianenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Branca is defending well for now.
Emelianenko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Branca misses with a short punch on the inside.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Branca is defending well for now.
Emelianenko lands with a right to the head.
Emelianenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Emelianenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Branca.
Emelianenko takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Branca fails to land.
Branca throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelianenkos head.
Branca throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelianenkos head.
Emelianenko working aggressively here.
Branca lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branca blocks an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Branca.
Emelianenko swings wildly with an uppercut but Branca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branca working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Branca misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Branca.
A right handed body shot lands from Branca.
Emelianenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Emelianenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Brancas head.
Branca scores with a nice hook to the head.
Branca misses with a punch on the inside.
Branca gets through Emelianenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Branca avoids the damage to the body.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Branca is defending well for now.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Branca is defending well for now.
Branca struggles to land a body shot inside as Emelianenko controls his hands.
Branca lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a head punch that misses.
Branca pushes Emelianenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Branca swings wildly with an uppercut but Emelianenko uses good head movement to avoid it.

Branca pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Branca drops Emelianenko with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Emelianenko looks back up at him and smiles so Branca waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Emelianenko is rocked!
Emelianenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelianenko wants to clinch
and Branca counters with a huge left! Emelianenko is in big trouble! He's backing up but Branca isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Emelianenko from any more damage. A dominating finish by Branca!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joao Cajo Branca!
Joao Cajo Branca 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.