PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Skender Baruti (ranked 4815 p4p, 504 weight class) and Ivan Emelianenko (ranked 8651 p4p, 703 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Baruti
vs
Emelianenko

202 cm
17
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
27
260 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Power Matrix Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Skender Baruti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko misses with a straight left.
The fighters circling - Emelianenko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Baruti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Baruti scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A bone on bone clash there as Baruti blocks the leg kick.
Emelianenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baruti.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baruti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Baruti blocks a jab.
Emelianenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Baruti seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Emelianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Baruti.
A big left from Emelianenko misses.
Baruti wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baruti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Baruti tries to counter by clinching up but Emelianenko breaks away and moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Baruti as he connects with a hook.
Baruti doesn't manage to clinch there - Emelianenko circles away.
Emelianenko throws a fast counter high kick but Baruti manages to duck under it in time.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baruti working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baruti can't find room to land a body shot as Emelianenko controls the action.
Emelianenko stalling against the cage.
Baruti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from Baruti on the inside.

Emelianenko breaks from the clinch.
Baruti with a hook.

Baruti clinches with his opponent.
Emelianenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Baruti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Emelianenko tries a body shot but Baruti blocks it.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Baruti has him pressed against the cage.
A short left from Baruti.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baruti.
Baruti misses with a short punch on the inside.
Emelianenko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Baruti tries to work over Emelianenko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Baruti.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Baruti is controlling the position.
Emelianenko swings wildly with an uppercut but Baruti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Emelianenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baruti has him pressed against the cage.
Emelianenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Baruti has double underhooks.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch.
Baruti moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Ivan Emelianenko has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emelianenko takes a swing at Baruti's ribcage but misses.

Baruti clinches up against the cage.
Baruti tries to throw a body punch but Emelianenko avoids it by throwing Baruti back against the cage.
Baruti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A shot in the inside from Baruti.
Baruti lands a body shot.
Baruti is working Emelianenko over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Baruti.
A right hand to the body from Baruti.
Emelianenko looks winded!
Baruti lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Baruti lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Baruti.
Baruti lands with a short shot to the head.
Baruti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baruti lands a right hand.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baruti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Emelianenko has time to react.
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!
Baruti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Emelianenko.
Baruti works Emelianenko's body with a nice hook.
Baruti is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko throws a low kick but it's checked well by Baruti.

Baruti moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baruti scores with a shot to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Baruti prevents Emelianenko from breaking the clinch.
Baruti throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelianenkos head.
Baruti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Baruti lands with a right to the head.
Baruti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Emelianenkos head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Baruti.
Baruti lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Emelianenko takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Baruti.
Baruti lands a body punch in the clinch.
Baruti gets through Emelianenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skender Baruti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Emelianenko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baruti slips a jab from Emelianenko.

Baruti gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A hook to the body from Baruti.
Baruti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Emelianenko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Baruti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Baruti.
Baruti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Emelianenko.
Emelianenko is trying to push Baruti away but Baruti has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelianenko is trying to force a seperation but Baruti has the dominant position.
Emelianenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baruti has him pressed against the cage.
Baruti works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Baruti lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Baruti lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Baruti.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baruti lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti lands a nice uppercut.
Baruti lands a left hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.

Baruti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Baruti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Emelianenko.
Skender Baruti is winning the standup battle so far.
An inside leg kick from Emelianenko misses.
Baruti scores with a jab to the jaw.
Baruti scores with a decent looking hook.
Baruti looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Baruti is looking to clinch.
Baruti is looking to clinch.
Emelianenko throws a solid leg kick but Baruti takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Emelianenko.
Emelianenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Emelianenko throws a shot from downtown. Baruti moves away and avoids it.
Baruti connects with a jab.
Baruti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Emelianenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko connects with a jab.

Baruti closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baruti lands a hook to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Emelianenko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Baruti lands a left hand.
Emelianenko can't break the clinch.

Emelianenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baruti checks a low kick from Emelianenko.
Baruti wants to clinch.
Baruti scores with the left hand. Emelianenko knows he should have avoided that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baruti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Emelianenko moves forwards but Baruti connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Baruti blocks the body kick.
As Emelianenko tries to get set, Baruti tries to push him back and clinch up but Emelianenko manages to avoid the attempt.
Baruti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baruti jabs Emelianenko right on the nose. Emelianenko blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baruti slips under a jab from Emelianenko.
Baruti tries to clinch but Emelianenko moves out of range.
Baruti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ivan Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelianenko looks to land a body kick but Baruti moved away.
Baruti tries to clinch but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Baruti digs a good body shot into Emelianenko's ribs.
Baruti keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Emelianenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baruti.
Baruti lands with a nice body punch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
Baruti connects with a body shot that sends Emelianenko's belly button to the back.

Baruti moves into the clinch.
Baruti scores with a shot to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Baruti lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Baruti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Baruti - that landed with a thud.
Skender Baruti has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Baruti.
Baruti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Baruti lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Baruti lands a hook that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti lands with a light punch inside.
A short body shot lands from Baruti as the two fighters clinch.
Baruti lands a body punch.
Baruti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short uppercut from Baruti.
Baruti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baruti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Baruti.
Emelianenko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Baruti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skender Baruti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Emelianenko's cut.
That's time! Baruti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Baruti lands a jab to the head.
Nice takedown defense from Emelianenko. No joy for Baruti on that attempt.
Baruti scores with a nice head shot.
Emelianenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Baruti.
Baruti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Emelianenko can do to turn this around?
Baruti moves out of range as Emelianenko throws a body kick.
Baruti thuds his right hand into Emelianenko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Baruti closes the distance and clinches.
Baruti tries a body shot but Emelianenko blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Baruti fails to land.
Baruti trying to control the position but instead, Emelianenko has worked for underhooks and has pushed Baruti into the cage.
Baruti lands a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baruti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baruti misses with the head strike.
A short body shot lands from Baruti as the two fighters clinch.
Emelianenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko stalling in the clinch but Baruti improves position.
Baruti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Baruti lands a left hand.
Baruti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Baruti scores with a shot to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Baruti scores with a shot to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Baruti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Baruti digs a right hand underneath Emelianenko's ribcage. Emelianenko let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short right from Baruti.
Baruti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Baruti lands a shot to the body.
Baruti lands with a left to the head.
Baruti gets through Emelianenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Baruti as the two fighters clinch.
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!
Baruti lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Baruti.
Baruti scores with a nice hook to the head.
Baruti lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Emelianenko is rocked!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Baruti creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Emelianenko is still on wobbly legs! Can Baruti finish him?
Baruti lands a shoulder strike.
Baruti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Baruti drops Emelianenko onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Emelianenko is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Baruti scores with a hook to the body.
Baruti lands a body punch in the clinch.
Baruti scores with a shot to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Emelianenko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Baruti.
Baruti lands with a light punch inside.
Baruti lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Baruti lands a hook that snaps the head of Emelianenko backwards.
Baruti lands with a short shot to the head.
Emelianenko takes a shot to the head.
Skender Baruti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Emelianenko looking to slow down the pace here.
Baruti lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to land knees to the body.
Emelianenko seems to have recovered his senses.
Baruti lands a shoulder strike.
Baruti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Baruti.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baruti presses Emelianenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Baruti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baruti letting Emelianenko take a breather here.
Emelianenko misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Skender Baruti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Baruti has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Skender Baruti!