PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Lakovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Emerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emerson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Laurent Wolf - No Stress. On his way into the cage it seems that Sasha Lakovic has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Sasha Lakovic seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Lakovic
vs
Emerson

189 cm
27
181 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

185 cm
28
180 lbs
12 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sasha Lakovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Emerson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Lakovic. That's going to slow Emerson down.
Lakovic takes a swing at Emerson's ribcage but misses.
Emerson misses with a double jab
and Lakovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Emerson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lakovic.
Gabriel Emerson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lakovic dodges the punch combination from Emerson.
Lakovic throws a low kick but Emerson moves out of range easily.
Emerson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lakovic misses the jab.
Emerson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lakovic misses with a body kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Emerson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lakovic - the referee stops the clock and Emerson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lakovic. Emerson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Lakovic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Emerson moves out of range as Lakovic throws a body kick.
Emerson misses with a looping left.
Lakovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Emerson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lakovic.
Lakovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lakovic thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lakovic misses the jab.
Lakovic looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lakovic looks for the body kick but Emerson saw that one coming.
Emerson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lakovic misses with an uppercut. Emerson saw that one coming.
Lakovic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Emerson.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Emerson checks a leg kick.
Emerson slips under a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Emerson misses the target.
Emerson misses the jab.
Emerson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lakovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lakovic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Emerson.
Lakovic drops his hands momentarily and Emerson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lakovic loads up on a big right hand but Emerson slips the punch.
Lakovic slips under a jab from Emerson.
Emerson throws a series of strikes that have Lakovic backpedaling.
Lakovic scores with a push kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emerson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sasha Lakovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Emerson blocks a jab.
Lakovic loads up on a big right hand but Emerson slips the punch.
A big right from Lakovic misses.
Lakovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Emerson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lakovic.
Emerson misses with a double jab.

Emerson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lakovic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Emerson in side control, throwing shots but Lakovic defends.
Lakovic can't do much from the bottom here.
Lakovic manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lakovic is looking for a sweep. Emerson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Emerson is thwarting Lakovic's attempts to control the position.
Lakovic wants to sweep but Emerson has passed to side control!
Emerson has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Emerson working for a submission but Lakovic is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Emerson looking to secure an arm triangle but Lakovic defends it well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lakovic can't escape the position.
Emerson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lakovic is looking to escape.
Lakovic is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lakovic tries to hold on but Emerson pushes him away.
Lakovic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lakovic gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Lakovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Emerson finds it's way through Lakovic's defenses.
Sasha Lakovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Lakovic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Emerson throws a series of punches but Lakovic moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Lakovic. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lakovic.

Emerson feints and as Lakovic raises his hands in defense, Emerson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Lakovic keeps moving.
Lakovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Emerson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lakovic's guard.
Lakovic regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lakovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lakovic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lakovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Lakovic keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lakovic is on top in guard.
Lakovic controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lakovic trying to control but Emerson is working from the bottom.

Emerson looking for a guillotine here but Lakovic defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic throwing strikes but missing.
Lakovic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sasha Lakovic.
Lakovic just misses with a punch to the body.
Emerson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Emerson ducks under a wild hook from Lakovic.
Lakovic scores with a nice head shot.
Lakovic misses with a straight left.
Lakovic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slow jab from Lakovic misses its intended target.
Lakovic loads up on a big right hand but Emerson slips the punch.
Emerson takes a swing at Lakovic's ribcage but misses.
Lakovic tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emerson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Emerson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Emerson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Emerson gets a takedown into half guard.
Lakovic tries to get to full guard but Emerson has control of the leg.
Sasha Lakovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Emerson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lakovic wants to improve his position but Emerson is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lakovic has his hands clasped together around Emerson's back. He's all about the action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lakovic wants to get back to full guard but Emerson has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Lakovic dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lakovic looks to throw the jab but Emerson is out of range.
Emerson throws a series of punches but Lakovic moves out of range.
Emerson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lakovic.
Lakovic misses with an uppercut. Emerson saw that one coming.
Emerson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lakovic.

Emerson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lakovic wants to get back to full guard.
Emerson passes the guard and advances to mount!

Emerson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lakovic is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lakovic and Emerson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Lakovic tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lakovic is working hard here to advance position.
Emerson tries to move to mount but Lakovic blocks the move with his legs.
Emerson wants to control but Lakovic is keeping him busy.
Emerson has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Lakovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Emerson working the ground and pound effectively.
Lakovic is looking to get to half guard.
Emerson is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Lakovic is in real trouble.
Lakovic trying to control the position but Emerson manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emerson looking for the choke but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lakovic is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Emerson gets his way!
Emerson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Emerson missing with strikes from the back.
Sasha Lakovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Emerson has the hooks in. Lakovic is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Emerson working for the choke.

Emerson looking for the RNC.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emerson doesn't have the hooks in and Lakovic manages to turn into his guard.
Lakovic wants to control from the top but Emerson keeps moving.
Lakovic preventing the sweep.
Lakovic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Emerson has his foot on Lakovic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lakovic works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sasha Lakovic.
Emerson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emerson avoids the head kick by Lakovic.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emerson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lakovic throws a looping overhand right but Emerson ducks down to avoid it.
Gabriel Emerson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabriel Emerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Emerson does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Emerson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lakovic 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sasha Lakovic!