PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Canses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Canses has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Canses
vs
Emelianenko

189 cm
22
270 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rob Canses!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nikola Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Canses circles away.
A big left from Canses misses.
Emelianenko avoids the body shot from Canses.
Canses swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Emelianenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Canses could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Canses keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Canses swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Canses is working to get back to half guard.
Canses is in a horrible position here. Emelianenko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

It looks like Rob Canses has been cut.
Emelianenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Canses is looking to escape.
Canses regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko thows a huge punch but Canses dodges it nicely.
Emelianenko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Rob Canses's cut is getting worse.
Emelianenko blocks the strikes from Canses.
Canses tries to get to full guard but Emelianenko has control of the leg.
Canses works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Canses is retaining full guard.
Emelianenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Emelianenko wants to stand but Canses is controlling his posture from full guard.
Canses lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Emelianenko!
Canses has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Canses working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canses is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Emelianenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko wants to control but Canses is having none of it.
Emelianenko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Emelianenko taking shots to the head.
Canses landing punches.
Emelianenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Canses is landing with some decent strikes but Emelianenko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Canses has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Emelianenko's face.
Canses lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Canses.
Canses is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Emelianenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Canses looking to finish Emelianenko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Emelianenko!
Emelianenko is bucking up trying to escape but Canses cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Canses is breathing heavily.
Emelianenko is bucking up trying to escape but Canses cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Canses in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Canses is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Emelianenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Emelianenko wants to control but Canses is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Emelianenko can do anything to dispel that myth.
Canses with good strikes from the mount here!
Emelianenko wants to control but Canses is having none of it.
Canses is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Emelianenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Canses lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Emelianenko hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canses scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Emelianenko?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Canses with the ground and pound from mount.
Emelianenko wants to hold on but Canses pushes him away.
Canses fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Emelianenko is trying to escape the mount.
Canses fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Canses with a couple of short strikes.
Emelianenko swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Emelianenko tries to hold on but Canses pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Canses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Canses with a couple of short strikes.
Canses lands a heavy elbow.
Emelianenko tries to reverse the position but Canses maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Canses dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Canses's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Emelianenko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Canses's half guard.
Emelianenko trying to control the action but Canses is working from the bottom.
Canses tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Emelianenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Canses does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Emelianenko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Canses kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Canses regains full guard. Nicely done.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Canses is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Canses is on top in guard.
Canses works over Emelianenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Canses won't allow Emelianenko to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canses landing with the ground and pound.
Canses wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is keeping the position.
Canses in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Canses with a nice head shot there.
Canses content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Canses postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Canses throwing strikes from guard but Emelianenko blocks nicely.
Canses trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Emelianenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Emelianenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Canses loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Canses is working Emelianenko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Emelianenko looking for a guillotine here but Canses defends easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Emelianenko lands a nice looking body shot.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Canses as he avoids it easily.
Emelianenko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Canses looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Emelianenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Canses has Emelianenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Emelianenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Canses is defending well for now.
Emelianenko misses with a knee strike.
Canses has Emelianenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Emelianenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Canses wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Canses wants to get back to striking at distance but Emelianenko won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko fails to pull guard.
Canses has Emelianenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Emelianenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Canses. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Canses goes for a takedown in the clinch but Emelianenko prevents it.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Emelianenko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Canses prevents it.
Canses looking for a takedown.
Canses prevents Emelianenko from breaking the clinch.
Canses can't get the takedown.
Emelianenko throws a head punch that misses.
Canses tries to break the clinch but Emelianenko is controlling the position.
Emelianenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Canses gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko tries to roll over but Canses keeps him under control.
Emelianenko pushes Canses off looking to stand but Canses dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep. Canses is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Canses looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Canses working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Canses stops Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
Canses winds up and cracks Emelianenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Canses working Emelianenko over with strikes.
Canses looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Emelianenko wants to get back to full guard.
Canses looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Emelianenko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Canses landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rob Canses will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rob Canses's cut.
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!

Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Canses sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.
Canses fails to land with a series of punches.
Canses looks to land a combination but Emelianenko avoids it well.
Emelianenko throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Canses stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Emelianenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Canses moves out of range.
Canses will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Emelianenko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Canses is trying to defend but Emelianenko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rob Canses overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Canses flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Canses regains full guard. Nicely done.
Emelianenko stopping the sweep attempt from Canses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to get up but he can't break Canses's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Canses tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emelianenko with a nice head shot there.
Emelianenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Canses manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Emelianenko manages to get himself to full guard.
Emelianenko throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Emelianenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Emelianenko wants to sweep here but Canses controlling him for the moment.
Canses with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position but Canses postures up.
Canses thows a big elbow that misses.
Canses postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Emelianenko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Canses doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Canses manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Canses shoots for a takedown but Emelianenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Emelianenko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Canses makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Canses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Canses is on top in guard.
Emelianenko working a defensive guard here.
Canses postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canses scoring with some ground and pound.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Canses.
Canses in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Canses.
Canses prevents Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
Canses working some strikes from top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emelianenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Canses looks to land a combination but Emelianenko avoids it well.
Emelianenko tries to clinch there but Canses circles away.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Canses regains half guard.
Emelianenko blocks the strikes from Canses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canses blocking the ground and pound attempt from Emelianenko.
Canses is looking to improve his position.
Canses is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Emelianenko scores with a couple of nice shots.
Emelianenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Canses does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Canses regains full guard. Nicely done.
Emelianenko wants to pass the guard but Canses is keeping the position.
Canses striking off his back but it's not causing Emelianenko any problems.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Emelianenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Canses which made him look bad.
Canses shoots for a takedown but Emelianenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikola Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Canses 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Canses!