PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Strodov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Strodov
vs
Emelianenko

187 cm
18
224 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
229 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Strodov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strodov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Emelianenko is fending him off so far but Strodov persists. Nope, Emelianenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Strodov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Emelianenko fails to land the takedown.
Strodov with a poor takedown

and Emelianenko counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Strodov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Emelianenko pulls guard.
Emelianenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Emelianenko pulls Strodov in close to his closed guard and prevents Strodov from doing any damage or advancing position.

Strodov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Strodov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Emelianenko manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Strodov has Emelianenko in his guard.

Strodov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Emelianenko trying to control but Strodov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko postures up and lands a big shot to Strodov's brow.
Strodov looking to control.

Emelianenko drops back looking for a leg! Strodov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Strodov manages to kick Emelianenko off! Emelianenko jumps back into Strodov's guard.
Strodov looking for a sweep. Not yet Strodov, not yet.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Strodov is retaining full guard.

Strodov is working an open guard so Emelianenko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Strodov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Emelianenko lands a few punches from side control.
Strodov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Emelianenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Strodov keeps working.
Strodov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Strodov is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Emelianenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Strodov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Emelianenko is working away from the top position though.
Strodov is looking to improve his position.
Emelianenko passes to full mount!
Strodov is in a horrible position here. Emelianenko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Emelianenko.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strodov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Strodov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Emelianenko cracks Strodov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Strodov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Strodov?
Emelianenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Strodov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko punishing his opponent with strikes.
Strodov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Emelianenko with shots to the head and body - Strodov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Emelianenko working the ground and pound effectively.
Emelianenko working Strodov over with strikes here.
Strodov tries to reverse the position but Emelianenko maintains control.
Strodov is squirming around, avoiding Emelianenko's attempts to control the action.
Strodov is desperately trying to improve his position but Emelianenko has a good base and remains in mount.
Emelianenko scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strodov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Strodov is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Strodov tries to keep at a distance but Emelianenko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Strodov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Emelianenko stops a takedown attempt from Strodov.
Strodov wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Strodov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strodov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Emelianenko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Emelianenko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Strodov.
Strodov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Emelianenko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Emelianenko pulls guard effortlessly.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position but Strodov postures up.

Emelianenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Strodov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Strodov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko has his feet on Strodov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Strodov leaves Emelianenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Emelianenko fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strodov sprawls well initially but Emelianenko persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Strodov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Strodov is refusing to be controlled, as Emelianenko sits in half guard.

Emelianenko seems to be looking for submissions.
Strodov is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strodov gets full guard.
Emelianenko throwing strikes but missing.

Strodov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Emelianenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Strodov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strodov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Emelianenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Strodov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Strodov's back!
Strodov is really stuck here.
Strodov takes a big shot to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strodov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Emelianenko's guard. Nice work there by Strodov.
Emelianenko controlling Strodov's posture.

Strodov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Strodov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Emelianenko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Emelianenko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Emelianenko!
Emelianenko works to advance to full mount. Strodov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Emelianenko prevents Strodov from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Strodov tries to reverse the position but Emelianenko maintains control.
Emelianenko controlling the pace for now.
Emelianenko prevents Strodov from getting the reversal.

Emelianenko with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strodov can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Strodov but Strodov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Strodov with a lazy takedown attempt

so Emelianenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

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

Strodov is working an open guard so Emelianenko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Strodov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Emelianenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Emelianenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Strodov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Strodov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Emelianenko controls the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strodov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Strodov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emelianenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Strodov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strodov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Emelianenko!

Strodov working for a guillotine from mount but Emelianenko is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strodov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Emelianenko turns into him and now he's in Strodov's guard.
Emelianenko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Strodov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Emelianenko!

Strodov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Emelianenko manages to avoid the submission attempt.
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That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strodov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Strodov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Emelianenko knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Strodov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Emelianenko, who protects the arm well.

That's four 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 has one of Strodov's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Emelianenko manages to work his way to half guard, despite Strodov's best efforts.
Emelianenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Emelianenko wants to sweep but no luck.

Strodov drops back looking for a leg! Emelianenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Emelianenko manages to kick Strodov off! Strodov jumps back into Emelianenko's guard.

Strodov has gone for a leg lock! Emelianenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Strodov's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Emelianenko 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

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