PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Petrosyan Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Popov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Emelianenko
vs
Popov

183 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petrosyan 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, Andrey Popov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko has a takedown stuffed.
Popov lands a nice shot that snaps Emelianenko's head back.

Popov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Popov prevents a takedown attempt there.

Popov breaks the clinch.
Popov clobbers Emelianenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popov tries a head kick but it misses.
Popov misses with a takedown

so Emelianenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Emelianenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Popov is keeping the position for now.
Emelianenko is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Popov is retaining full guard.

That's two 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.
Popov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Popov controlling Emelianenko's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Emelianenko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petrosyan Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Popov misses with a takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Popov can't do much from the bottom here.
Popov parries the strikes from Emelianenko easily there. Emelianenko is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Popov to escape.
Emelianenko is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Popov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Popov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Emelianenko asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control the position but Popov is working away.
Popov pushes Emelianenko away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Emelianenko gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Popov prevents Emelianenko from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Petrosyan Emelianenko 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.

Emelianenko avoids the body shot from Popov.
Andrey Popov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Popov. Emelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelianenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Popov throws a right hand that Emelianenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Emelianenko also avoids with ease.
Popov looks to clinch

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Popov!
Emelianenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popov wants to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
Popov working to try and regain half guard.
Popov is squirming around, avoiding Emelianenko's attempts to control the action.
Popov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

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.
Popov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Emelianenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Emelianenko controlling from the full mount.
Popov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popov is looking to control Emelianenko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Popov avoid being mounted?
Popov wants to stand back up but Emelianenko manages to pass into side control.
Emelianenko trying to control the action but Popov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Emelianenko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Popov tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petrosyan Emelianenko dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Popov circles away.
Popov throws a hook but Emelianenko avoids it easily.
Popov scores with a head kick.
Popov throws a right and a left that both miss.

Popov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Emelianenko was covering up waiting for the punch and Popov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Popov is looking to stand up but Emelianenko won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to keep a closed guard but Popov is proving a slippery customer.
Emelianenko is looking to sweep but instead, Popov has passed into half guard.
Popov passes into side control, despite Emelianenko's attempt to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Emelianenko gets back to half guard.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep. Popov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Popov there.
Popov wants to stand up but Emelianenko has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to control but can't.
Popov wants to stand up but Emelianenko is controlling the position.
Popov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Emelianenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko working a defensive guard here.
Andrey Popov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Popov throws a strike but Emelianenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Popov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Emelianenko 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petrosyan Emelianenko!