PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between AkoSii Gajo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ivan Emelianenko was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gajo
vs
Emelianenko

170 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, AkoSii Gajo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Gajo.
Gajo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Gajo fails with the takedown.
Emelianenko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gajo is defended easily by Emelianenko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AkoSii Gajo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gajo is looking to clinch but Emelianenko is avoiding it.
Gajo has a takedown stuffed.

Gajo forces Emelianenko back against the cage and clinches.
Emelianenko is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gajo looking for a takedown.
Emelianenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gajo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gajo tries to pull guard but Emelianenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Gajo drops back down to his feet.
Emelianenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Gajo.
Gajo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gajo controlling the action here for a moment.
Emelianenko tries to score a body lock takedown but Gajo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Gajo pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Emelianenko is pushing down on Gajo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gajo is fighting to maintain full guard but Emelianenko has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gajo pushes Emelianenko off and gets back to his feet.
Gajo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Emelianenko defends it nicely.
Emelianenko tries for a takedown but Gajo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Emelianenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gajo circles away.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown but Gajo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gajo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gajo 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.
Gajo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Emelianenko as he jumps to the side.
Gajo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Emelianenko circles away.
Emelianenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Gajo. Gajo gets slowly back to his feet.
Gajo is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gajo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Gajo as Emelianenko shoots in.
No luck for Gajo with that takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Emelianenko. No joy for Gajo on that attempt.
Gajo circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gajo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Emelianenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gajo manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gajo is trying to keep Emelianenko in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko looking to sit in guard and control but Gajo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Emelianenko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gajo is controlling him.
Emelianenko has control of Gajo's left arm, preventing Gajo from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gajo preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that AkoSii Gajo 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.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Emelianenko is defended easily by Gajo.
Gajo shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko shows good takedown defense.
Gajo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Emelianenko defends it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko shoots for a takedown but Gajo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
AkoSii Gajo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Emelianenko.
Gajo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Emelianenko defends it nicely.
Gajo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Emelianenko as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko stuffs the takedown.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.
Gajo throws a head kick but Emelianenko moves out of range.

Emelianenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emelianenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gajo trying to control here.
Emelianenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Emelianenko wants to control but Gajo is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gajo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gajo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko drops an elbow to the side of Gajo's head.
Emelianenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gajo wants to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gajo wants to improve his position but Emelianenko is controlling well.
Emelianenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko slows the pace down in half guard.
Gajo trying to control here.
Gajo tries to roll over but Emelianenko keeps him under control.
Gajo trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gajo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because AkoSii Gajo just wasn't active enough.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gajo as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gajo clinches with his opponent.
Emelianenko pressing his opponent against the cage.
Come on Gajo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gajo avoids a wild elbow strike from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gajo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Emelianenko wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Gajo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Gajo darts in and clinches Emelianenko up against the cage.

Gajo decides to pull guard.

Gajo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Emelianenko is aware though and is defending well.
Gajo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Emelianenko manages to get himself to full guard.
Gajo trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gajo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Emelianenko is proving hard to escape from.
Gajo throwing strikes from guard but Emelianenko blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gajo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Emelianenko pushes Gajo off and scrambles back to his feet.
AkoSii Gajo is winning the standup battle so far.

Emelianenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gajo's guard.
Emelianenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gajo wants to get back to his feet but Emelianenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gajo controls Emelianenko momentarily but Emelianenko frees himself.
Gajo keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gajo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Emelianenko is looking to clinch but Gajo is avoiding it.
Gajo shoots in looking for a takedown. Emelianenko tries to sprawl out of it but Gajo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Emelianenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Gajo gets tackled into the cage by Emelianenko. Emelianenko maintains the clinch.
Emelianenko has Gajo pressed against the cage.
Gajo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Emelianenko just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gajo is trying to break free.
Emelianenko has Gajo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gajo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gajo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gajo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gajo shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AkoSii Gajo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gajo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gajo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Emelianenko is fending him off so far but Gajo persists. Nope, Emelianenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Gajo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Emelianenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up.
Gajo is looking to clinch but Emelianenko is avoiding it.
AkoSii Gajo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Emelianenko fails to land the takedown.
Gajo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gajo wants it to stay on the feet.
Gajo swats away the attempt to clinch by Emelianenko.
Gajo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gajo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Gajo swats away the attempt to clinch by Emelianenko.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to AkoSii Gajo.
I think Gajo 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... AkoSii Gajo!