PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Emelienko (ranked 349 p4p, 48 weight class) and Will Rock (ranked 117 p4p, 14 weight class). Rock has chosen I Wanna Rock as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Emelienko
vs
Rock

176 cm
37
168 lbs
29 - 13 - 1

180 cm
27
160 lbs
16 - 5 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

THE END 32

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 29 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Emelienko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Will Rock!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelienko checks a leg kick nicely.
Rock scores with a spinning back kick!
Emelienko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Emelienko throws an off balance right hand
and Rock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rock walks into a left hand.
Rock throws a jab but it's blocked by Emelienko.
Emelienko checks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Rock.
Emelienko swings for the body but Rock moves out of range.
Emelienko misses with a wild body shot.
Emelienko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rock was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelienko.
Emelienko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emelienko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rock is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rock throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Emelienko on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Emelienko throws a shot from downtown. Rock moves away and avoids it.
Rock dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Emelienko. That did some damage!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rock throws a left and a right that both miss
and Emelienko counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rock thinking.
Rock looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Emelienko throws a leg kick
and Rock makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Emelienko really felt that one!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock wants to land a leg kick but Emelienko is out of range.
Emelienko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Emelienko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rock scores with a jab to the head.
Rock lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Emelienko misses with a low kick.
Emelienko blocks a jab.
Emelienko looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A good leg kick by Rock.

Rock takes the fight into the clinch.
Rock scores with a shot to the side of Emelienko's head.
Rock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Emelienko's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rock.
Emelienko misses with a body punch.
Rock blocks a body shot from Emelienko.

Rock manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Emelienko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rock trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Emelienko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rock has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Emelienko has managed to get both his arms back between Rock's legs - danger averted.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Emelienko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Emelienko won't allow Rock to sweep him here.
Emelienko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Emelienko's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rock throws a body punch but Emelienko moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Rock blocks the low kick.
Emelienko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rock was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelienko.
Emelienko misses with a low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rock.
Emelienko 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.
Emelienko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Emelienko slips a jab and a cross from Rock.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock connects with a looping right hand.
Emelienko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rock.
Emelienko looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rock ducks under a wild hook from Emelienko.
Rock ducks under a wild hook from Emelienko.
Emelienko throws a leg kick
and Rock counters with a nice uppercut.
Emelienko scores with a jab. Rock acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Emelienko throws a jab but it's blocked by Rock.
Rock was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Emelienko throws a right hand that misses
and Rock counters with a good low kick that Emelienko was not able to check.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelienko scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rock misses with a low kick.
Rock lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Emelienko connects with an inside leg kick.
Rock throws a front kick aimed at Emelienko's knee but Emelienko avoids it well.
A quick step to the side and Emelienko tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Emelienko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Emelienko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rock misses with a straight left.
Emelienko misses with a low kick as Rock jumps back.
Nice body kick from Rock.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rock cracks the inside of Emelienko's front leg.
Decent striking displayed by Emelienko there.
Rock misses with a right hand
and Emelienko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Emelienko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rock scores with the left hand. Emelienko knows he should have avoided that one.
Rock fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rock moves out of range of the strikes.
Rock throws a combination. Emelienko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rock staying out of range there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rock connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Emelienko's hands.
Rock misses with a looping right.
Emelienko punishes Rock's body with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A clash of legs there as Rock blocks the low kick.
Emelienko looks to score with a jab to the body but Rock is just out of range.
Rock takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Emelienko is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Emelienko misses the jab.
Rock tries to clinch up.
Rock scores with a sloppy right hand. Emelienko should have avoided that one.
Emelienko walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelienko cracks Rock with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Emelienko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rock has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rock moves out of range of the strikes.
Emelienko misses with a leg kick
and Rock counters with a stiff right hand.
Emelienko throws out a leg kick but Rock moves out of range and Emelienko only half commits.
Rock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Emelienko.
Rock throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A low kick from Emelienko is predictable there
and Rock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Emelienko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rock.
Emelienko swings for the body but Rock moves out of range.
Rock cracks the inside of Emelienko's front leg.
Rock gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Emelienko keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Emelienko throws a low kick but Rock avoids it.
Emelienko scores with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Emelienko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rock looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Emelienko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Emelienko misses with a low kick as Rock jumps back.
Decent striking displayed by Emelienko there.
Emelienko throws an off balance right hand
enabling Rock to counter with a crisp jab.
Rock sizes up Emelienko with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Emelienko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Will Rock seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Emelienko misses with a lunging right hand
and Rock counters with a stiff right hand.
Emelienko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rock.
Emelienko missing with a left hand there. Rock was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Emelienko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rock looks to land a right hand but Emelienko moved out of range.
Emelienko throws a sloppy head kick and Rock moves out of range easily.
Nice body punch from Emelienko.
Rock throws a nice outside leg kick.
Emelienko misses the shot to the body.
Emelienko throws a body punch but Rock moves out of range.
Rock feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Emelienkos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Emelienko avoids a kick to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Emelienko misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rock. That's going to slow Emelienko down.
Rock takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Emelienko throws a body punch but Rock moves out of range.
Rock misses the jab.
Emelienko throws a body shot but no joy.
Emelienko scores with a leg kick.
Emelienko throws a leg kick but Rock checks it.
Rock jabs Emelienko right on the nose. Emelienko blinks but takes it well.
Rock dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Emelienko. That did some damage!
Rock connects with an inside leg kick.
Emelienko will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A jab from Rock misses.
Rock tries to clinch but Emelienko moves out of range.
A jab from Emelienko misses.
Emelienko scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rock doesn't seem bothered though.
Rock connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rock staying out of range there.
Rock misses with a combination
and Emelienko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rock chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Emelienko defending well as Rock loads up on a big left hand.
Emelienko listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Emelienko.
Rock lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rock throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rock misses with an uppercut. Emelienko saw that one coming.
Emelienko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rock manages to avoid it.
Emelienko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rock stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Emelienko feints and then cracks Rock's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rock down.
Rock fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rock checks a low kick from Emelienko.
Rock looks to throw the jab but Emelienko is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Will Rock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Emelienko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rock was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelienko.
Nice defenses there by Emelienko.
Emelienko looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rock throws a head kick but Emelienko moves out of range.
Emelienko throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rock.
Emelienko lands a nice shot to the body.
Rock misses with a kick to the body.
Rock displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Emelienko throws out the jab.
Rock moves away from the strike by Emelienko.
Rock throws a sloppy head kick and Emelienko moves out of range easily.
Rock bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rock throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Emelienko avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Emelienko tries to score with a low kick but Rock moves his leg out of the way.
Emelienko ducks under a wild hook from Rock.
A counter left hand to the body from Emelienko misses its target.
Rock throws a head kick that misses
and Emelienko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Good shot there by Rock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelienko swings for the body but Rock moves out of range.
Emelienko has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rock finds it's way round the side to connect with Emelienko's head.
Rock looks to land a right hand but Emelienko moved out of range.
Emelienko was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Emelienko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rock.
Emelienko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rock works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rock throws a quick inside leg kick.
Emelienko is looking to wear down Rock with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Emelienko needs to keep his hands up - Rock had a free shot at his head there.
Rock works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Emelienko lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Emelienko misses.
Rock scores with a head kick.
Emelienko lands with a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emelienko throws a low kick but Rock avoids it.
Emelienko misses with a wild body shot.
Emelienko misses the body punch
and Rock counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rock ducks under a wild hook from Emelienko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelienko scores with a hook to the body. Rock takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Emelienko defending well as Rock loads up on a big left hand.
Emelienko throws out a leg kick but Rock moves out of range and Emelienko only half commits.
Emelienko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rock checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rock checks a leg kick.
Emelienko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Emelienko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Emelienko staying out of range there.
Rock uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Emelienko.
Rock let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Emelienko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Emelienko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Emelienko throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rock counters with an inside leg kick.
Emelienko throws a low kick but Rock avoids it.
Emelienko moves out of range as Rock strikes.
Emelienko is looking to chop away at Rock's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Emelienko scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Emelienko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rock is out of range and Emelienko settles back down.
Emelienko lands a nice hook to Rock's body. Rock takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rock misses with a two punch combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rock.
Rock throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Emelienko scores with a jab to the head.
Rock throws a head kick that misses.
Vladimir Emelienko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Will Rock is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Emelienko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Emelienko tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A jab from Rock finds it's way through Emelienko's defenses.
Emelienko swings for the body but Rock moves out of range.
Rock avoids the body shot from Emelienko.
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!
Rock avoids the body shot from Emelienko.
Rock appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rock slips under a jab.
Rock connects with a single shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Emelienko fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Emelienko tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rock uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Emelienko.
Emelienko does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Emelienko missing with a left hand there. Rock was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Emelienko takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nice shot by Emelienko.
Emelienko misses with a two punch combination.
Emelienko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rock steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Emelienko.
Emelienko checks a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Emelienko. That's going to slow Rock down.
Rock fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Emelienko on the side of the head.
Emelienko is looking to score with low kicks.
Emelienko misses with a hook. Rock ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Will Rock.
Well Rock 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Rock!
After winning the bout, Will Rock thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.