PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Hilkuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hilkuri
vs
Emelianenko

184 cm
22
193 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

179 cm
31
185 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Perkele!

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pentti Hilkuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mirko Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko misses with a few strikes there.
Emelianenko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Emelianenko avoids the body shot from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hilkuri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Emelianenko manages to avoid it.
Hilkuri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hilkuri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick which misses Emelianenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Emelianenko tries to avoid it.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hilkuri throws out a leg kick but Emelianenko moves out of range and Hilkuri only half commits.
Hilkuri throws the left hand but Emelianenko avoids the punch easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hilkuri. Emelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up but Hilkuri circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Emelianenko throws a push kick but Hilkuri slaps the foot to one side.
Emelianenko tries to move into range but Hilkuri moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
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!
Hilkuri throws a leg kick but Emelianenko checks it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri scores with a one two! Emelianenko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Mirko Emelianenko has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko looks to clinch
and Hilkuri counters with a straight right hand.
Good work by Emelianenko as he checks the leg kick.
Emelianenko throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hilkuri, right into the meat.
Hilkuri misses with a body shot.
Hilkuri takes a swing at Emelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Hilkuri throws a low kick but Emelianenko moves out of range easily.
A slow jab from Hilkuri misses its intended target.
Hilkuri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hilkuri connects with a leg kick. Emelianenko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Emelianenko slips a jab from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri looks to land a combination but Emelianenko avoids it well.
A slow jab from Emelianenko misses its intended target.
Emelianenko throws a right hand that Hilkuri ducks under and follows up with a left that Hilkuri also avoids with ease.
Emelianenko moves in looking to clinch but Hilkuri pushes him off.
Emelianenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hilkuri scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Emelianenko takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Emelianenko tries to work over Hilkuri's front leg with a kick but Hilkuri checks it.
Emelianenko scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hilkuri scores with a leg kick.

Emelianenko closes the distance and clinches.
Emelianenko tries to throw a body punch but Hilkuri avoids it by throwing Emelianenko back against the ropes.

Hilkuri breaks the clinch.
Emelianenko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hilkuri is out of range and Emelianenko settles back down.
Hilkuri is looking to wear down Emelianenko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Emelianenko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hilkuri blocks a jab.
Hilkuri thows a leg kick but Emelianenko checks it
and Emelianenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Emelianenko misses with a head kick.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilkuri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emelianenko blocks a head kick by Hilkuri.
Hilkuri paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hilkuri keeps the fight on the outside.
Hilkuri lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri scores with a crisp jab that stopped Emelianenko in his tracks.
Emelianenko avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hilkuri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emelianenko moves in looking to clinch but Hilkuri pushes him off.
Hilkuri throws a lazy uppercut

and Emelianenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Emelianenko lands a shoulder strike.
Hilkuri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Emelianenko has him pressed against the ropes.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Emelianenko obliges.
Hilkuri is breathing heavily.
Good body shot from Emelianenko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko pushes Hilkuri back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Emelianenko digs a right hand into Hilkuri's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hilkuri's gas tank.
Emelianenko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Emelianenko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Emelianenko lands a knee to the body.
Emelianenko landing knees to the body.
Emelianenko lands with a left to the head.
Emelianenko crunches a lovely knee into Hilkuri's ribcage.
Emelianenko lands a good knee to the midsection. Hilkuri won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice uppercut lands for Emelianenko. That snapped Hilkuri's head back.
Hilkuri takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Emelianenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A nice leg kick lands there from Emelianenko.

Emelianenko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hilkuri, pushing him back against the ropes.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Emelianenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Hilkuri misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hilkuri has a couple of punches blocked by Emelianenko.
Nice body punch from Emelianenko - that landed with a thud.
Hilkuri lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Emelianenko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Emelianenko pushes Hilkuri back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hilkuri prevents a body shot from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko tries to throw a body punch but Hilkuri avoids it by throwing Emelianenko back against the ropes.
Emelianenko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Emelianenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mirko Emelianenko's cut.
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.

Good standup being displayed there by Emelianenko as he connects with a hook.
Decent striking displayed by Hilkuri there.

Emelianenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hilkuri wants to stall.
Hilkuri working aggressively here.
Hilkuri is trying to break the clinch but Emelianenko has him pressed against the ropes.

Emelianenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelianenko throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Emelianenko is looking to slow Hilkuri down with leg kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Hilkuri misses the target.
Pentti Hilkuri is winning the standup battle so far.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Hilkuri is avoiding it.
Hilkuri lands a nice shot that snaps Emelianenko's head back.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Emelianenko throws a head kick but Hilkuri moves out of range.
Pentti Hilkuri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Emelianenko tries to clinch there but Hilkuri circles away.
Emelianenko throws a right and a left that Hilkuri avoids nicely.
Pentti Hilkuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelianenko looks to land a combination but Hilkuri avoids it well.
Hilkuri throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice jab there from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch.
Hilkuri swings for the body but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Hilkuri bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hilkuri wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hilkuri attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Emelianenko blocks a jab.
Hilkuri misses with a straight left.
Emelianenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick but Emelianenko sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hilkuri misses with a body kick.
Hilkuri is looking to chop away at Emelianenko's legs.
Hilkuri works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hilkuri lands with a hook. Emelianenko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Emelianenko's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Emelianenko duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Hilkuri manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up but Hilkuri circles away and keeps his distance.
Hilkuri throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hilkuri closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hilkuri tries a head kick but it misses.
Hilkuri tries a low kick but Emelianenko avoids it.
Hilkuri throws an overhand right that lands on Emelianenko's shoulder, as Emelianenko tries to avoid the shot.
Hilkuri avoids the head kick by Emelianenko.
Hilkuri throws a big shot that misses.
Hilkuri rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Emelianenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hilkuri jabs Emelianenko to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko slips under a jab.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emelianenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hilkuri.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A shot to the liver by Hilkuri. Beautiful body shot.
Hilkuri throws a series of strikes that have Emelianenko backpedaling.
Hilkuri looks to throw the jab but Emelianenko is out of range.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Hilkuri circles away.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Hilkuri is having none of it.
Hilkuri motions for Emelianenko to come forward. Hilkuri throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hilkuri throws a body kick that misses.
Emelianenko digs a good hook to Hilkuri's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hilkuri blocks a head kick by Emelianenko.
Hilkuri lands the left hand.
Emelianenko throws a low kick, looking for Hilkuri's leg but Hilkuri calmly moves out of range.
Hilkuri thows a leg kick but Emelianenko checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Emelianenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hilkuri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hilkuri takes a swing at Emelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Hilkuri throws a shot from downtown. Emelianenko moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri staying out of range there.
Hilkuri thuds his shin into the meat of Emelianenko's side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice leg kick lands there from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Hilkuri is avoiding it.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Hilkuri is having none of it.
Emelianenko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hilkuri thows a body shot but no joy.
A punch lands to the side of Emelianenko 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hilkuri throws a series of punches but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Emelianenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hilkuri.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Hilkuri is having none of it.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
Emelianenko throws a right and a left that Hilkuri avoids nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A swing and a miss from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hilkuri misses with a series of wild punches.
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 Pentti Hilkuri will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mirko Emelianenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Emelianenko's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hilkuri connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Emelianenko scrambles back to his feet.
Emelianenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilkuri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hilkuri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Hilkuri circles away.
A slow jab from Hilkuri misses its intended target.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilkuri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilkuri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Hilkuri is avoiding it.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Hilkuri is having none of it.
Emelianenko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Emelianenko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Emelianenko instigates a clinch.
Hilkuri tries to break free but Emelianenko pushes him back against the ropes.
Emelianenko lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the head but Hilkuri blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilkuri has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hilkuri misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko lands a hook that snaps the head of Hilkuri backwards.
Hilkuri has had enough of the clinch but Emelianenko keeps him there for the moment.
Emelianenko connects with a knee to the head.
Emelianenko scores with a shoulder strike.
Hilkuri takes a knee to the side of the body.
Emelianenko stalls.
Emelianenko taking a breather.
Emelianenko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hilkuri blocks it with crossed arms.
Hilkuri is trying to maintain a safe position but Emelianenko gets an underhook and turns Hilkuri into the ropes.
Emelianenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hilkuri's efforts to push away.
Emelianenko misses with a knee to the head.
Hilkuri is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko keeps control of Hilkuri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Emelianenko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Hilkuri is trying to push Emelianenko away but Emelianenko has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Hilkuri tries to throw a body punch but Emelianenko avoids it by throwing Hilkuri back against the ropes.

Hilkuri's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Emelianenko gets a clinch.
Emelianenko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hilkuri backwards.
Hilkuri looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Emelianenko blocks a body shot from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko misses with a hook to the ribs.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Hilkuri misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hilkuri tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emelianenko's elbow.
Emelianenko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Emelianenko - that landed with a thud.
Emelianenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hilkuri has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Emelianenko tries a knee to the head but Hilkuri blocks it.
Emelianenko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Emelianenko has Hilkuri pressed against the ropes, preventing Hilkuri from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Emelianenko misses with a body punch.
Emelianenko scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Emelianenko blocks a body shot from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Emelianenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Emelianenko has Hilkuri pressed against the ropes, preventing Hilkuri from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short uppercut from Emelianenko.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko moves out of range of the strikes.
Emelianenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Hilkuri circles away.
Hilkuri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Emelianenko.
Hilkuri throws a one two combo.
Hilkuri looks to land a combination. Emelianenko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
Emelianenko thumps Hilkuri with a low kick.
Emelianenko wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Hilkuri.
Emelianenko lands with a kick to the temple. Hilkuri shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hilkuri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Hilkuri moves out of range.
Hilkuri plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Emelianenko scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Emelianenko throws a nice outside leg kick.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.
An inside leg kick from Hilkuri misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Emelianenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Emelianenko!
Mirko Emelianenko very nearly forgot to thank O'Brannigan's Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.