PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Emelyanenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralph Gordan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Emelyanenko has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Emelyanenko
vs
Gordan

202 cm
25
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
250 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Emelyanenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ralph Gordan!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelyanenko tries to clinch up.
Ralph Gordan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gordan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Emelyanenko dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gordan. That did some damage!

Gordan gets a double leg takedown into Emelyanenko's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Emelyanenko wants to sweep but no luck.
Gordan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gordan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Emelyanenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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!
Gordan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Emelyanenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Alexander Emelyanenko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gordan throws a looping overhand right but Emelyanenko ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelyanenko tries to clinch up but Gordan circles away and keeps his distance.
Gordan throws a leg kick but Emelyanenko sees it coming and moves out of range.

Gordan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gordan sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gordan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gordan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Emelyanenko controls Gordan momentarily but Gordan frees himself.
Gordan throws a big elbow that misses.
Gordan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ralph Gordan was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Gordan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelyanenko has Gordan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gordan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Gordan manages to pull guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gordan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Emelyanenko is looking to stand up but Gordan won't let him.
Gordan pulls Emelyanenko in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ralph Gordan was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Gordan has taken the fight to the clinch.

Gordan jumps guard and drags Emelyanenko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gordan managing to control the position.
Emelyanenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gordan on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Emelyanenko wants to get up but he can't break Gordan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ralph Gordan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gordan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Emelyanenko is out of range and Gordan settles back down.
Gordan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gordan misses with an uppercut
and Emelyanenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Emelyanenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Gordan circles away.
Emelyanenko shoots in for a double leg but Gordan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Emelyanenko is breathing heavily.
Gordan misses with a straight left.
Gordan is looking to land body kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordan misses with a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Emelyanenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Gordan circles away.
Emelyanenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Emelyanenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gordan finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Emelyanenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Emelyanenko.
Gordan misses with a low kick.

Gordan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gordan is taking a breather. Emelyanenko says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Gordan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Emelyanenko tries to clinch there but Gordan circles away.
Gordan misses the shot to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gordan.

Gordan takes the fight into the clinch.
Gordan can't find room to land a body shot as Emelyanenko controls the action.

Gordan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gordan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gordan motions for Emelyanenko to come forward. Gordan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gordan swats away the attempt to clinch by Emelyanenko.
Gordan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Alexander Emelyanenko has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gordan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Emelyanenko. That did some damage!
Ralph Gordan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gordan does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A jab from Gordan misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gordan clinches up with Emelyanenko and pushes him back against the cage.
Gordan has Emelyanenko pressed against the cage, preventing Emelyanenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gordan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Emelyanenko pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Gordan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelyanenko closes the distance and clinches up with Gordan, looking for a takedown. Emelyanenko pushes Gordan against the cage but Gordan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gordan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gordan misses with a double jab.
Emelyanenko moves out of range as Gordan strikes.

Gordan closes the distance and pushes Emelyanenko back into the cage.

Gordan breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gordan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gordan sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gordan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gordan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gordan staying calm.
Emelyanenko on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Gordan decides to stand back up.

Gordan gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gordan is looking to break free of the clinch but Emelyanenko has double underhooks.
Gordan pushes Emelyanenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Gordan turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Emelyanenko is letting Gordan control him for a moment.
Gordan scores with punches from side control.
Emelyanenko on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Gordan is working to tighten is grip on Emelyanenko's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Emelyanenko has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Gordan is really squeezing tight and eventually Emelyanenko passes out! Gordan breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ralph Gordan!