PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Emelyanenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Lai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicholas Lai will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Emelyanenko
vs
Lai

202 cm
25
275 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nicholas Lai!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lai drives through and clinches with Emelyanenko against the cage.
Emelyanenko looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Lai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lai misses with a knee strike.
Lai can't get the takedown.
Lai tries to pull guard but Emelyanenko won't allow it.
Lai looking to throw knees to the head but Emelyanenko is blocking nicely.

Lai gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lai controlling the pace.
Emelyanenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lai on the ground.
Lai sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Emelyanenko defending well though.
Lai controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelyanenko pushes Lai off looking to stand but Lai dives back in and keeps control.

Nicholas Lai has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Lai closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Emelyanenko to the mat! Emelyanenko manages to get full guard.

Lai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lai controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lai is looking to work some ground and pound but Emelyanenko has wrist control.

Lai stands and steps away. Emelyanenko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Lai is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Emelyanenko's half guard.

Lai stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
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!

Lai throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Emelyanenko tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lai is in Emelyanenko's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lai showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Emelyanenko is working an open guard so Lai takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Lai has closed the distance and engaged Emelyanenko in a clinch.
Lai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Emelyanenko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Alexander Emelyanenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicholas Lai.
Lai is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lai ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lai no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lai has his hands on Emelyanenko's head, controlling the position.
Lai striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Lai controlling Emelyanenko's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Lai dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lai shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Emelyanenko napping and manages to drive through into side control!

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

Lai has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Lai tries to land a front kick but Emelyanenko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Emelyanenko misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lai gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lai content to control rather than advance.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Emelyanenko tries to keep at a distance but Lai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lai tries for a takedown but Emelyanenko manages to get underhooks.
Lai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Emelyanenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Lai jumps guard and drags Emelyanenko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lai has control of Emelyanenko's left arm, preventing Emelyanenko from doing any damage.
Lai looking for a sweep. Not yet Lai, not yet.
Emelyanenko being controlled here momentarily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nicholas Lai wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lai lands a nice shot that snaps Emelyanenko's head back.

Lai is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Emelyanenko's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lai with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nicholas Lai has got the better of the ground game so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nicholas Lai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Lai shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lai 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Lai 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Lai. Those never looked like landing.

Lai moves into the clinch.

Lai breaks the clinch.

Lai drives through with a takedown into Emelyanenko's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lai not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lai's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nicholas Lai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Emelyanenko gets caught napping as Lai dives in and scores a takedown. Emelyanenko manages to retain guard.
Lai seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nicholas Lai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Lai clinches.
Lai wants to take the fight to the mat but Emelyanenko manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lai breaks the clinch.
Alexander Emelyanenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lai darts in and clinches Emelyanenko up against the cage.
Emelyanenko wants to break free but Lai has control.

Lai breaks from the clinch.

Lai shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Emelyanenko's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lai decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Emelyanenko, up you get!

Lai changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Emelyanenko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lai staying calm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lai stands up and beckons Emelyanenko to his feet.
Nicholas Lai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Lai gets the takedown into side control.
Lai remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander Emelyanenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicholas Lai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lai 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 24:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 25:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicholas Lai!