PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yacine Fares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Fares
vs
Emelianenko

225 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
230 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yacine Fares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fares misses with an uppercut. Emelianenko saw that one coming.
Fares getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Emelianenko has Fares up against the cage in a clinch.
Emelianenko leaning his opponent against the cage.
Emelianenko looks gassed!

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown.
Fares throws a hook to the side of Emelianenko's head but Emelianenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fares throws a hook but Emelianenko avoids it easily.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Fares sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fares.
Fares throws a hook to the side of Emelianenko's head but Emelianenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big left from Fares misses.
Fares misses with a looping left.
Emelianenko slips a straight right by Fares.
Emelianenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Emelianenko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fares.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fares pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yacine Fares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fares.
Fares has had enough of the clinch but Emelianenko keeps him there for the moment.
Emelianenko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fares is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fares wants to break free but Emelianenko has control.
Fares gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko is working for takedown but Fares is calmly controlling the position for now.
Emelianenko prevents Fares from breaking the clinch.
Fares has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fares tries to break free but Emelianenko pushes him back against the cage.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Emelianenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a push kick but Fares slaps the foot to one side.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Fares sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fares really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Emelianenko clinches up against the cage.
Emelianenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fares wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fares is trying to break the clinch but Emelianenko has him pressed against the cage.
Emelianenko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Emelianenko lands a body punch.
Fares wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Emelianenko prevents Fares from breaking the clinch.
Emelianenko leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fares wants to get back to striking at distance but Emelianenko won't allow it.
Emelianenko slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko is trying to push Fares away but Fares has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Emelianenko tries to circle away but Fares has him pinned against the cage.
Fares has had enough of the clinch but Emelianenko keeps him there for the moment.
Emelianenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fedor 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 tries to clinch there but Fares circles away.
Fares swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fares jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fedor Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Emelianenko forces Fares back against the cage and clinches.
Fares being controlled against the cage.
Emelianenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fares's efforts to push away.
Fares is trying to break free.
Fares wants to get back to striking at distance but Emelianenko won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Fares's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fares tries to break the clinch but Emelianenko is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko stalls.
Fares wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yacine Fares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Fares moves out of range.

Emelianenko has closed the distance and engaged Fares in a clinch.
Fares stops a takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Emelianenko misses with a hook from the clinch.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fares throws a looping overhand right but Emelianenko ducks down to avoid it.
Fedor Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fares blocks the body kick.
Emelianenko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fares throws a big shot that misses.
Emelianenko ducks under a wild hook from Fares.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fares sprawls well. Fares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Emelianenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Yacine Fares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.
Emelianenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko pushes Fares up against the cage in a clinch.
Fares wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch but Fares keeps him there for the moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fares looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Emelianenko gets control of Fares's arms and successfully pulls guard. Emelianenko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Emelianenko looking to control.
Fares tries to stand but Emelianenko is controlling from the bottom.

Emelianenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fares preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fares wants to stand but Emelianenko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Emelianenko controls Fares momentarily but Fares frees himself.

Emelianenko has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Fares off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Emelianenko misses with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko shoots in but Fares avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Emelianenko. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fares throws the left hand but Emelianenko avoids the punch easily.
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! This is the final round!

Emelianenko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Emelianenko misses with a kick to the body.
Emelianenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fares misses with an uppercut. Emelianenko saw that one coming.
Emelianenko has a takedown stuffed.
A slow jab from Fares misses its intended target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Emelianenko dives in and grabs Fares's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fares pushes down on Emelianenko's head and hops out.
Emelianenko takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown but Fares shows good takedown defense.
Yacine Fares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.
Fares misses with an uppercut
and Emelianenko counters with a right hand to the body.
Emelianenko shoots in but no luck this time.
Fares moves out of range as Emelianenko throws a body kick.
Emelianenko connects with a body shot that sends Fares's belly button to the back.
Fedor Emelianenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fares defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Fares is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Emelianenko.

Emelianenko has Fares up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko has Fares pressed against the cage, preventing Fares from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.
Emelianenko effectively controlling the action here.
Fares tries to break the clinch but Emelianenko is controlling the position.
Fares is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fares has had enough of the clinch but Emelianenko keeps him there for the moment.
Emelianenko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Emelianenko successfully pulls guard.
Emelianenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fares is one step ahead there.
Fares wanted to stand there but Emelianenko had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to keep Fares in close.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Emelianenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fares gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fares is looking to stand up but Emelianenko won't let him.
Fares has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Emelianenko scores with a nice shot.
Yacine Fares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emelianenko has a closed guard, preventing Fares from standing up.
Emelianenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fares manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fares being controlled here, momentarily.

Fares had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Emelianenko defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Emelianenko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

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