PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Julio Emanuel (ranked 7193 p4p, 580 weight class) and Victor Stroev (ranked 6757 p4p, 567 weight class). The key to victory for Julio Emanuel has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Emanuel
vs
Stroev

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Emanuel !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Stroev!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stroev circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stroev counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Emanuel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Emanuel working a defensive guard here.
Stroev wants to pass the guard but Emanuel is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stroev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stroev postures up in Emanuel 's guard and throws a big left but Emanuel blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emanuel trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stroev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Emanuel wants to sweep here but Stroev controlling him for the moment.

Emanuel is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Stroev presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Stroev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emanuel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stroev avoids it really well and circles away.
Emanuel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel shoots for a takedown but Stroev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Stroev moves into the clinch successfully.
Emanuel is working for takedown but Stroev is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Emanuel . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emanuel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Stroev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stroev is looking to score with low kicks.
Stroev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Emanuel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stroev.
Stroev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emanuel tries to keep at a distance but Stroev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Emanuel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stroev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Stroev as Emanuel shoots in.

Stroev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stroev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Emanuel wants to get back to his feet.

Stroev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Emanuel trying to hold on to Stroev's head to control him but Stroev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev wants to stand but Emanuel has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Stroev trying to mount his opponent but Emanuel defends it.
Stroev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stroev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stroev leaves Emanuel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Emanuel dives in and grabs Stroev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stroev pushes down on Emanuel 's head and hops out.
Emanuel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stroev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Emanuel tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Stroev is able to avoid easily.

Stroev moves into the clinch.
Stroev missing with knees to the body.
Emanuel tries to pull guard but Stroev holds him up against the cage and eventually Emanuel drops back down to his feet.
Emanuel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Emanuel wants to get back to striking at distance but Stroev won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emanuel is trying to break free.

Stroev jumps into guard, dragging Emanuel to the mat.

Stroev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Emanuel defends it easily.
Stroev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Emanuel . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stroev controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emanuel trying to control but Stroev is working from the bottom.
Emanuel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Emanuel wants to control from the top but Stroev keeps moving.
Emanuel scoring with some ground and pound.
Emanuel throws a big elbow that misses.
Stroev wants to stand but Emanuel is controlling the position.
Stroev has momentary wrist control but Emanuel slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Stroev looking for a guillotine here but Emanuel defends easily.
Emanuel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Emanuel trying to control but Stroev is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stroev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Stroev rushes Emanuel and presses him up against the cage.
Emanuel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Emanuel . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stroev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Julio Emanuel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel shoots in for a double leg but Stroev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stroev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Emanuel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stroev somewhat.
Emanuel shoots in looking for a takedown. Stroev tries to sprawl out of it but Emanuel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stroev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Emanuel is looking to score with low kicks.
Emanuel goes for a double leg but Stroev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stroev continues to drive forward.

Stroev clinches with his opponent.

Stroev gets control of Emanuel 's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stroev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Victor Stroev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stroev has Emanuel pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev wants to stand and escape but Emanuel is having none of it.
Stroev looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stroev looking for a sweep. Not yet Stroev, not yet.
Emanuel trying to control but Stroev is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Emanuel wants to pass the guard but Stroev is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Emanuel connects with a high kick.

Stroev gets a double leg takedown into Emanuel 's guard.
Emanuel trying to keep a closed guard but Stroev is proving a slippery customer.
Emanuel being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Emanuel scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Stroev!
Emanuel tries for a takedown but Stroev circles away easily

and Stroev counters by moving into the clinch.
Stroev jumps guard but Emanuel turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Stroev manages to break the clinch.
Emanuel clobbers Stroev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Emanuel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stroev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Emanuel tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Stroev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Emanuel 's guard.

Emanuel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stroev is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stroev tries to free his leg and advance position but Emanuel is retaining full guard.
Emanuel throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emanuel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stroev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stroev working some strikes from top position.
Stroev stays in close to Emanuel 's body and controls the position.
Stroev wanted to stand there but Emanuel had control of the position.
Emanuel wants to sweep but no luck.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Emanuel swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Emanuel darts in trying to clinch

and Stroev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Emanuel is wriggling around but Stroev manages to pass to half guard.

Stroev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stroev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Emanuel is trying to stand up here but Stroev is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel tries to roll over but Stroev keeps him under control.
Emanuel trying to hold on to Stroev's head to control him but Stroev postures up.

Stroev is working for a kimura but Emanuel is defending it quite comfortably.
Stroev is looking to pass Emanuel 's guard but actually Emanuel recovers to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Stroev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stroev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Stroev!