PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emilio Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes into the arena with Enea Vollare Mezzo blaring out of the sound system. This should be a great matchup!

Emelianenko
vs
Barbosa

185 cm
21
264 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

197 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emilio Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barbosa moves into range and clinches up with Emelianenko.

Emelianenko manages to break the clinch.
Barbosa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Emelianenko's waist but Emelianenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barbosa off to one side.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Barbosa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Barbosa moves away
letting Barbosa counter with a right hand.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up

and Barbosa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barbosa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Emelianenko is controlling Barbosa's trapped leg to prevent Barbosa from advancing to side control.
Barbosa tries to stand and escape but Emelianenko actually recovers to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko wants to stand up but Barbosa is controlling him.
Barbosa trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa stops Emelianenko from standing up.
Barbosa wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Emelianenko has his feet on Barbosa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Barbosa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Barbosa is looking for a kimura here.
Barbosa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko looks like he's trying to stand up.
Barbosa controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Barbosa has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
I looks like Barbosa might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to get to full guard but Barbosa has control of the leg.
Emelianenko trying to control but Barbosa postures up.
Barbosa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.

Barbosa decides to stand up.

Emelianenko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Barbosa tries to bench press Emelianenko off him but Emelianenko keeps the position.
Barbosa is trying to control Emelianenko's posture but Emelianenko avoids it.

Emelianenko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko is trying to get an arm triangle but Barbosa is defending well.
Barbosa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Emelianenko's best efforts.
Barbosa is looking for a sweep. Emelianenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barbosa is controlling Emelianenko's trapped leg to prevent Emelianenko from advancing to side control.

Barbosa kicks Emelianenko off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emilio Barbosa 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.

Barbosa clinches.
Barbosa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barbosa is defending well for now.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barbosa shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko shows good takedown defense.
Emelianenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Barbosa throws a wild body kick that Emelianenko sees coming a mile off.
Barbosa is looking to land body kicks.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Barbosa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Emelianenko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Barbosa fails with a takedown attempt.
Emelianenko wants to clinch but Barbosa slips to the side

and Barbosa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Emelianenko!
Emelianenko is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barbosa controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Barbosa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Emelianenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barbosa avoids the attempt from Emelianenko to control.
Emilio Barbosa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Emelianenko tries to buck Barbosa off but he can't manage it.
Barbosa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Emelianenko tries to lock up and control but Barbosa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Emelianenko is bucking up trying to escape but Barbosa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two 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.

Barbosa is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Barbosa clinches.
Emelianenko can't get the takedown.
Emelianenko avoids a wild elbow strike from Barbosa.
Emelianenko wants to break free but Barbosa has control.
Barbosa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Emelianenko stops a takedown attempt from Barbosa.
Alexander Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emilio Barbosa.
Barbosa tries to break the clinch but Emelianenko is controlling the position.
Barbosa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Emelianenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Barbosa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Emelianenko has him pressed against the cage.

Barbosa jumps guard and drags Emelianenko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Barbosa wants to sweep but no luck.
Barbosa is controlling Emelianenko's posture.
Emelianenko is looking to stand up but Barbosa won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control but Barbosa is working from the bottom.
Barbosa controls Emelianenko momentarily but Emelianenko frees himself.
Barbosa has Emelianenko pulled in close to control his posture.
Emelianenko wants to stand but Barbosa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Barbosa wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Barbosa wants to land a leg kick but Emelianenko is out of range.

Barbosa scores with a takedown into Emelianenko's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa stopping the sweep attempt from Emelianenko.
Barbosa landing some decent shots from guard.
Barbosa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Emelianenko looking to control but Barbosa passes into half guard.
Emelianenko wants to control but Barbosa is keeping busy.
Emelianenko is not content to let Barbosa control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emilio Barbosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barbosa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Barbosa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Emelianenko is just riding it out for now. Barbosa eventually gives up the hold.
Emelianenko gets back to full guard.
Emelianenko has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Barbosa has passed into side control.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Emelianenko takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to bench press Barbosa off him but Barbosa keeps the position.
A control attempt from Emelianenko but he's now mounted!
Barbosa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Emelianenko is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barbosa breaks from Emelianenko's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Barbosa looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barbosa has hold of Emelianenko's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Emelianenko manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Barbosa working for a submission but Emelianenko is keeping him at bay.
Emelianenko has given up his back here.
Barbosa controlling from the back.
Emelianenko just trying to survive but Barbosa is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa scores with punches and elbows.
Emelianenko trying to control the action but Barbosa just sinks the hooks in.
Barbosa lands punches and elbows.
Emelianenko trying to control the hands but Barbosa breaks the grip.
Emelianenko looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Emelianenko is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Barbosa.
The referee is taking a good look at Emelianenko as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Barbosa!
Barbosa is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barbosa not allowing Emelianenko to control his hands.
Barbosa tries to keep control of the position but Emelianenko is staying busy.
Emelianenko trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
I would not like to be Emelianenko right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emelianenko turns into Barbosa and is now in his guard.
Alexander Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emilio Barbosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barbosa is looking to stand up but Emelianenko isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emilio Barbosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barbosa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emilio Barbosa!