PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marshall has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Fedor Emelianenko looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Marshall
vs
Emelianenko

192 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
242 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Marshall is having none of it.
Marshall looks for a takedown but Emelianenko sprawls well.
Emelianenko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marshall counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Marshall.

Emelianenko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marshall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marshall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marshall throwing strikes but missing.
Marshall is breathing heavily.
Marshall throws a big right hand that misses.
Marshall throws and elbow that misses. Emelianenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marshall's guard. Nice move by Emelianenko!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control but Marshall is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko stops Marshall from standing up.
Emelianenko with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Marshall counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Emelianenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall is one step ahead there.
Marshall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Emelianenko is on top in guard.

Emelianenko drops back looking for a leg! Marshall is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Marshall manages to kick Emelianenko off! Emelianenko jumps back into Marshall's guard.
Emelianenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Emelianenko is pushing down on Marshall's leg trying to pass to half guard. Marshall is fighting to maintain full guard but Emelianenko has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ground and pound from Emelianenko.
Marshall is trying to stand up here but Emelianenko is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Emelianenko is looking to take a break and control but Marshall is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marshall paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Marshall drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Marshall looks up at the clock and then as Emelianenko takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Marshall smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Marshall scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Emelianenko to see if he's OK.
Emelianenko is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Marshall asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Marshall wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Emelianenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Marshall lands an elbow.
Emelianenko is letting Marshall control him for a moment.
Emelianenko regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Marshall dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Emelianenko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Marshall's half guard.
Marshall pushes Emelianenko off looking to stand but Emelianenko dives back in and keeps control.
Emelianenko wants to take a breather but Marshall is having none of it.
Emelianenko 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.
Emelianenko stops Marshall from getting back to his feet.
Emelianenko is looking to take a break and control but Marshall is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Emelianenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Emelianenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko is looking to advance position but Marshall won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Marshall with a poor takedown
and Emelianenko makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Emelianenko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Marshall decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Emelianenko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall looking to pass the guard.
Marshall slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Marshall could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Emelianenko striking off his back but it's not causing Marshall any problems.
Marshall working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Emelianenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Emelianenko has momentary wrist control but Marshall slips an elbow through the middle.
Marshall chips away with some ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Marshall has his takedown stuffed
and Marshall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marshall fails with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Marshall won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Marshall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko trying to control the action but Marshall is working from the bottom.
Marshall on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Marshall tries to get out of the position.
Emelianenko prevents Marshall from escaping the position.
Emelianenko wants to control but Marshall is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Marshall has escaped the position, nice work there.
Emelianenko trying to control the action but Marshall is working from the bottom.

Marshall explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Marshall circles away easily

so Marshall counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Emelianenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marshall throwing strikes from guard but Emelianenko blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Emelianenko throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Emelianenko throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Marshall is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Marshall blocking the ground and pound.
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 John Marshall will probably get the nod.
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 with a poor takedown

and Marshall counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Marshall loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Marshall scoring with some ground and pound.
Marshall working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Emelianenko tries to strike from the bottom.
Emelianenko is controlling Marshall's posture.
Marshall controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
John Marshall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marshall's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marshall throws and elbow that misses. Emelianenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marshall's guard. Nice move by Emelianenko!
Emelianenko working some strikes from top position.
Emelianenko won't allow Marshall to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Emelianenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Emelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marshall is keeping the position for now.
Marshall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Marshall pushes Emelianenko off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Emelianenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Marshall drives through with a takedown into guard.
Marshall trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emelianenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marshall distracts Emelianenko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Marshall looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko wants to stand and escape but Marshall is having none of it.
Marshall working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Marshall is working Emelianenko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Emelianenko controls Marshall momentarily but Marshall frees himself.
Marshall trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fedor Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Marshall looking to sit in guard and control but Emelianenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Emelianenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Marshall wants to get back to his feet but Emelianenko passes into half guard.
Marshall scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Emelianenko manages to mount him!
Marshall wants to try and get back to his feet.
John Marshall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Marshall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marshall, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Marshall!