PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gareth McCall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCall has chosen Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife as his entrance music. Gareth McCall told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Emelianenko
vs
McCall

179 cm
42
185 lbs
37 - 13 - 0

185 cm
29
195 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 37 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Mirko Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth McCall!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A nice leg kick lands there from Emelianenko.
That kick from Emelianenko tenderised McCall's leg. McCall is trying to keep his angry face on.
Emelianenko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McCall swats away the attempt to clinch by Emelianenko.
A jab from McCall misses.
McCall scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Emelianenko throws a leg kick that misses.
We've been told by Emelianenko's head coaches at Laoch Den that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Emelianenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McCall.
Emelianenko punishes McCall's body with a nice straight punch.
McCall tries to close the distance and clinch up but Emelianenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
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.
Emelianenko throws a low kick but McCall moves out of range easily.
McCall connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emelianenko takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McCall thuds his right hand into Emelianenko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
McCall misses the jab.
McCall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Emelianenko.
McCall thumps Emelianenko with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko clinches up with McCall and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McCall.
McCall on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Emelianenko lands an uppercut.
McCall scores with a nice hook to the head.
McCall tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emelianenko's elbow.
We've been informed that McCall has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Emelianenko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McCall is defending well for now.
McCall tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Emelianenko avoids it.
Emelianenko throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McCall takes a knee right on the jaw!
Emelianenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McCall throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelianenkos head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Emelianenko.
McCall misses with some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko looking to throw knees to the head but McCall is blocking nicely.
McCall lands with a short shot to the head.
Emelianenko misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from McCall on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCall takes a knee right on the jaw!
McCall lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Emelianenko.
Emelianenko misses with a punch to the body.
McCall avoiding damage as Emelianenko throws knees to the body.
McCall lands with a left to the head.
McCall comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Mirko Emelianenko has been cut.
McCall working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by McCall.
Emelianenko can't find room to land a body shot as McCall controls the action.
Emelianenko lands a hook that snaps the head of McCall backwards.
Emelianenko tries to land a knee to the head but McCall blocks with his arms.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McCall.
A short right from McCall on the inside.

Emelianenko is rocked!
McCall lands a left hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Oh Emelianenko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
McCall pushes Emelianenko against the cage. McCall is working some dirty boxing. McCall pushes off with a quick right hook! Emelianenko goes down! Emelianenko tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! McCall moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gareth McCall!
A relieved looking Gareth McCall thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.