PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ramazan Emaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Efremov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Emaev
vs
Efremov

183 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramazan Emaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Efremov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emaev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Emaev trying to control but Efremov is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emaev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Efremov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Efremov pulls Emaev in to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Emaev shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Efremov's guard.
Emaev trying to control but Efremov is working from the bottom.
Emaev wants to stand but Efremov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emaev is fighting to break Efremov's control of his arms but Efremov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Efremov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Efremov has control of Emaev's left arm, preventing Emaev from doing any damage.
Efremov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ramazan Emaev.

Emaev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Efremov did well to prevent Emaev getting side control.
Efremov controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emaev is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Efremov desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Efremov looking for submissions off his back.
Emaev prevents Efremov from improving his position.
Emaev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Efremov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Efremov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emaev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Efremov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Emaev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Efremov is proving hard to escape from.
Emaev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Efremov is pulling down on Emaev's head to control his posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Efremov misses with a takedown
and Emaev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Emaev looking to score a takedown here. Efremov is defending well but Emaev drives through and ends up in Efremov's guard.
Emaev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Efremov is controlling Emaev's posture.
Emaev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Efremov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Efremov pulls Emaev in close to his closed guard and prevents Emaev from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramazan Emaev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Emaev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Efremov goes for a double leg but Emaev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Emaev continues to drive forward.
Efremov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Emaev pulls guard.
Efremov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Efremov won't allow Emaev to sweep him here.
Efremov looking to pass the guard.
Emaev trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Efremov controlling from the top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emaev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Efremov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Emaev fails in his attempt to clinch.

Efremov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Emaev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Emaev is trying to get back to half guard.
Emaev is trying to escape the position but Efremov is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Efremov passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Emaev!
Efremov with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Emaev is trying to escape the mount but Efremov keeps good control and instead manages to take Emaev's back.
Emaev tries to roll but Efremov sticks to his back.
Emaev is keeping busy.
Efremov keeps control of the position as Emaev tries to break free.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Efremov trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Emaev doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Efremov not allowing Emaev to control his hands.
Well, with Efremov on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Emaev is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Efremov really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Emaev.
Efremov is hanging on to Emaev's back as he tries to escape.
Emaev is trying to get back to his feet but Efremov has full control of the position and if anything, Emaev has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emaev trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Efremov controls the action.

Efremov is cranking Emaev's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Emaev! He's tightened the choke and Emaev is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mikhail Efremov!