PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gustaf Nilsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emilianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Emilianenko's choice of entrance music: FFDP - Never Enough. Fedor Emilianenko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Gustaf Nilsson's chin.

Nilsson
vs
Emilianenko

191 cm
20
224 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
19
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gustaf Nilsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fedor Emilianenko!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emilianenko moves in looking to clinch but Nilsson pushes him off.
Emilianenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Emilianenko has a takedown stuffed.
Emilianenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nilsson.
Nilsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nilsson swats away the attempt to clinch by Emilianenko.
Emilianenko lands a head kick!

Emilianenko forces Nilsson back against the cage and clinches.

Emilianenko jumps into guard, dragging Nilsson to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emilianenko keeping moving, preventing Nilsson from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nilsson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Emilianenko is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Nilsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Emilianenko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nilsson is controlling him.
Nilsson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nilsson wants to pass the guard but Emilianenko is keeping the position.
Nilsson is looking to stand up but Emilianenko won't let him.
Emilianenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nilsson scores with a body shot.
Emilianenko looks gassed!

Emilianenko gets caught flat footed, as Nilsson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nilsson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Emilianenko is working an open guard so Nilsson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nilsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nilsson throws a combination. Emilianenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Nilsson clinches up with Emilianenko and pushes him back against the cage.

Emilianenko is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nilsson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Emilianenko to the mat. Emilianenko regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nilsson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Emilianenko on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilsson wants to get up but he can't break Emilianenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Nilsson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nilsson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nilsson wants to pass the guard but Emilianenko is keeping the position.
Nilsson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nilsson wants to pass the guard but Emilianenko is keeping the position.
Nilsson trying to control but Emilianenko is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Emilianenko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nilsson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Nilsson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nilsson tries to control but Emilianenko wriggling away.
Emilianenko working to try and regain half guard.
Nilsson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Emilianenko's face.
Emilianenko is looking to improve his position but Nilsson isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nilsson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Emilianenko looks a forlorn figure.
Nilsson lands a big shot there that rocks Emilianenko but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Emilianenko regains half guard.
Nilsson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Emilianenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Emilianenko.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nilsson with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustaf Nilsson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A left and a right from Emilianenko both land. Nice combination.

Emilianenko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Emilianenko passes Nilsson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nilsson is looking to escape.
Nilsson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Emilianenko is fighting to break Nilsson's control of his arms but Nilsson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Nilsson pushes Emilianenko off and scrambles back to his feet.
Emilianenko shoots and misses

so Nilsson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emilianenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nilsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nilsson lands a couple of digs.
Emilianenko wants to sweep but no luck.
Nilsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Emilianenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Emilianenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Emilianenko passes to side control.
Nilsson is trying to improve his position.
Gustaf Nilsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Emilianenko wants to stand but Nilsson is controlling his arm.
Nilsson is looking for a sweep.
Emilianenko works to advance to full mount. Nilsson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Nilsson tries to lock up and control but Emilianenko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nilsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nilsson tries to hold on but Emilianenko postures up.

Emilianenko moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Nilsson has worked his arm free - good work by Nilsson!
Emilianenko advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emilianenko has hold of Nilsson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nilsson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Emilianenko is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Emilianenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nilsson throws a right hand that Emilianenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Emilianenko also avoids with ease.
Emilianenko lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Emilianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Nilsson.

Nilsson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emilianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Emilianenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Emilianenko looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nilsson trying to mount his opponent but Emilianenko defends it.
Nilsson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Emilianenko wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustaf Nilsson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Emilianenko tries for a takedown but Nilsson circles away easily

and Nilsson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Emilianenko!
Nilsson dominating with strikes here.
Nilsson landing strikes from the mount and Emilianenko is in trouble!
Emilianenko's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Nilsson raining down shots from the mount!
Emilianenko is in all sorts of trouble here.

Nilsson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nilsson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Emilianenko looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nilsson prevents Emilianenko from getting the reversal.
Nilsson looking to finish Emilianenko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Emilianenko!
Emilianenko is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nilsson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nilsson with a couple of short strikes.
Nilsson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Emilianenko is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Emilianenko is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Emilianenko slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Emilianenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Emilianenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nilsson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nilsson's back!

Emilianenko patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Emilianenko is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nilsson defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emilianenko is hanging on to Nilsson's back as he tries to escape.

Emilianenko has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Nilsson is in real trouble here. Emilianenko gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Nilsson is tapping out! Emilianenko wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Fedor Emilianenko!