PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Elkemenchi (ranked 2994 p4p, 322 weight class) and Jack Wilder (ranked 1879 p4p, 218 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Elkemenchi
vs
Wilder

172 cm
36
168 lbs
21 - 23 - 1

170 cm
35
167 lbs
22 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 21 - 23 - 1, fighting out of London, Evgeni Elkemenchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Wilder!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elkemenchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wilder misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilder avoids the body shot from Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wilder is trying hard to land a takedown here. Elkemenchi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wilder is trying hard to land a takedown here. Elkemenchi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Elkemenchi lands with an overhand left.

Elkemenchi shoots in and bounces Wilder off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wilder throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Elkemenchi postures up in Wilder's guard and throws a big left but Wilder blocks it.
Wilder looking to hit a scissor sweep but Elkemenchi is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elkemenchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilder is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elkemenchi throws a big right hand that misses.
Elkemenchi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wilder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Elkemenchi.
Wilder controls Elkemenchi momentarily but Elkemenchi frees himself.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilder wants to stand and escape but Elkemenchi is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Wilder tries to close the distance and clinch up but Elkemenchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Elkemenchi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wilder shoots for a double leg takedown but Elkemenchi sprawls well. He's pushed Wilder's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Evgeni Elkemenchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Wilder.
Elkemenchi lands with a slapping head kick.
Elkemenchi cracks a nice hook into Wilder's ribs.
Elkemenchi scores with a jab to the head.

Elkemenchi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Wilder is rocked!
Elkemenchi is trying to control. Wilder wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Wilder is defending against the submission attempts here by Elkemenchi.
Wilder has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Elkemenchi is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder is staying active underneath Elkemenchi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wilder wants to control but Elkemenchi is keeping busy.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet.
Elkemenchi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wilder scores with a kick to the midsection.

Wilder clinches up with Elkemenchi and pushes him back against the cage.

Elkemenchi lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilder looking to hit a scissor sweep but Elkemenchi is one step ahead there.
Elkemenchi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Wilder's head.
Elkemenchi cracks Wilder with a solid left hand.
Elkemenchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilder bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Elkemenchi's guard.

Wilder preventing the sweep.
Elkemenchi is working hard here to advance position.
Wilder slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Elkemenchi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Elkemenchi misses with a hook. Wilder ducked under it nicely.
Wilder is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Wilder shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Elkemenchi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Elkemenchi controls Wilder momentarily but Wilder frees himself.
Wilder is stalling in the full guard.
Elkemenchi looking for a sweep. Not yet Elkemenchi, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder trying to control but Elkemenchi is working from the bottom.
Wilder is stalling in the full guard.
Wilder tries to free his leg and advance position but Elkemenchi is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wilder takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wilder fails with a takedown attempt.
Wilder takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wilder is trying hard to land a takedown here. Elkemenchi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Wilder is just out of range.
Wilder ducks right into an uppercut from Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi shoots in for a takedown but Wilder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Elkemenchi throws out a loose jab but Wilder uses good head movement to avoid it.

Wilder clinches.
Wilder working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wilder tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Elkemenchi smiles and moves away.
Evgeni Elkemenchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Wilder.
Wilder tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Elkemenchi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wilder doesn't seem bothered though.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Elkemenchi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Elkemenchi misses.
As Elkemenchi backs off Wilder throws a huge counter combo but Elkemenchi manages to avoid it all.
Elkemenchi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Wilder is out of range and Elkemenchi settles back down.
Wilder shoots for a double leg takedown but Elkemenchi sprawls well. He's pushed Wilder's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Wilder gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Elkemenchi to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi is in close to Wilder's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wilder tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Elkemenchi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Elkemenchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wilder swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Elkemenchi throws a big right hand that misses.
Elkemenchi wants to pass the guard but Wilder is keeping the position.
Wilder is trying to control the position but Elkemenchi postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wilder is controlling Elkemenchi's posture.
Elkemenchi wants to control from the top but Wilder keeps moving.
Wilder has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Elkemenchi has passed into side control.
Elkemenchi working away.
Wilder taking a bit of punishment here - Elkemenchi scoring with strikes.
Wilder manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wilder moves into full guard.
Elkemenchi wants to pass the guard but Wilder is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Elkemenchi dominated that second round.
That's time! Elkemenchi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Elkemenchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Elkemenchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck for Elkemenchi with that takedown attempt.
Wilder closes this distance looking for a takedown but Elkemenchi circles away.
Wilder shoots and misses
and Elkemenchi counters with a straight right hand.
Evgeni Elkemenchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elkemenchi scores with a decent looking hook.
Elkemenchi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wilder defends well and Elkemenchi ends up having to push Wilder into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Elkemenchi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wilder.
Evgeni Elkemenchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Wilder.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilder throws a head kick that misses.
Elkemenchi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Elkemenchi looks to throw the jab but Wilder is out of range.
Wilder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elkemenchi throws a lazy right hand but Wilder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Elkemenchi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Despite the aggression on Wilder's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Wilder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wilder tries to clinch up.
Elkemenchi catches Wilder with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Wilder shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Elkemenchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wilder was well out of range. Poor timing from Elkemenchi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Elkemenchi. Wilder does a little dance to reset his feet.
Elkemenchi throws a jab when Wilder was well out of range.
Wilder looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Elkemenchi is fending him off so far but Wilder persists. Nope, Elkemenchi circles away and we're back to standing.

Elkemenchi dives in and scores a takedown into Wilder's guard.
Evgeni Elkemenchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Elkemenchi trying to control but Wilder is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Elkemenchi looking to pass the guard.
Elkemenchi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Elkemenchi is chipping away with strikes.
Elkemenchi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Wilder sneaks back into half guard.
Elkemenchi is nestled in close to Wilder, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi working over Wilder with some ground and pound. Wilder looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wilder is not content to let Elkemenchi control the position.
Elkemenchi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wilder defending well though.
Elkemenchi works his way into side control.
You can see the frustration on Wilder's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wilder takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Elkemenchi lands some shots froms side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elkemenchi lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sloppy strikes there by Elkemenchi.
Elkemenchi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Wilder is trying to improve his position.
Elkemenchi trying to control the action but Wilder is working from the bottom.
Elkemenchi controls the position.
Evgeni Elkemenchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wilder is trying to improve his position.
Jack Wilder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Elkemenchi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Elkemenchi looks up at the clock and then as Wilder takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Elkemenchi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Elkemenchi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Elkemenchi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgeni Elkemenchi!
A very excited looking Evgeni Elkemenchi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.