PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Dias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Emelianenko
vs
Dias

195 cm
20
256 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
240 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc
Mundo Green - World Verde

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andrei Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Dias!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dias scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Emelianenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dias remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Emelianenko tries to buck Dias off but Dias is having none of it.
Dias wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping him busy.
Dias is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Emelianenko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Dias stands up and beckons Emelianenko to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dias shoots in and drives through. Emelianenko sprawls well.
Dias shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Emelianenko as he jumps to the side.
Emelianenko with a poor takedown

and Dias counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Dias is looking for a kimura here.
Emelianenko pushes Dias off looking to stand but Dias dives back in and keeps control.
Emelianenko keeping hold of Dias's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dias is working for a submission of some sort.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.

Dias is trying to work for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending well.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko pushes Dias off looking to stand but Dias dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dias trying to control from half guard but Emelianenko is working away.

Dias looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Dias is trying to control the action in half guard but Emelianenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dias shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a single leg into guard. Dias didn't expect that.
Andrei Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Dias.
Dias trying to keep a closed guard but Emelianenko is proving a slippery customer.
Emelianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dias swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dias looking to control.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Dias keeps moving.
Dias is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Dias dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dias doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Emelianenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dias jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Emelianenko walks away with a smile on his face. Dias gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dias tries for a takedown but Emelianenko circles away easily

and Emelianenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Andrei Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Dias.
Emelianenko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dias up against the cage.
Emelianenko prevents a takedown attempt there.

Dias is fighting off a takedown attempt but Emelianenko is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dias to the mat. Dias regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Dias is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dias throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Emelianenko sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dias is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Emelianenko gets to his feet. Dias looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Emelianenko misses with a takedown attempt

and Dias counters with a nice double leg into side control. Emelianenko won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here.
Emelianenko wants to control but Dias postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep.
Dias trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Dias has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Emelianenko!
Dias scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Emelianenko working to try and regain half guard.

Dias jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Emelianenko manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dias trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Emelianenko manages to get to full guard.
Dias lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Dias from controlling successfully.
Emelianenko looking to control but Dias passes into half guard.
Emelianenko is staying active underneath Dias, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Emelianenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dias is working away from the top position though.
Dias working over Emelianenko with some ground and pound. Emelianenko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raphael Dias will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Emelianenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Emelianenko with a poor takedown

so Dias counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Emelianenko wants to stand up but Dias is controlling him.
Dias slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Dias from controlling successfully.

Emelianenko looking for subs off his back but Dias has passed one foot through into half guard.
Dias passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Emelianenko!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dias wants to control the pace but Emelianenko is squirming around nicely.
Dias is stalling here but it's allowed Emelianenko to get half guard.

Dias is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Emelianenko has a hand on Dias's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Dias takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

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.
Emelianenko is working to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko is squirming around, avoiding Dias's attempts to control the action.

Dias looking to isolate an arm here. Emelianenko doesn't see it coming and as Dias extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Dias!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Raphael Dias!