PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ange fili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes to the cage accompanied by Soviet March. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Emelianenko
vs
fili

199 cm
22
253 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
270 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, ange fili!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Emelianenko with that takedown attempt.
fili with a lazy takedown attempt

and Emelianenko counters with a nice double leg into side control. fili won't be happy with that.
fili is trying to improve his position.

Emelianenko is trying to get an arm triangle but fili is defending well.
fili is trying to get back to half guard.
fili manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

fili is working for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending it quite comfortably.
fili wants to take a breather but Emelianenko is having none of it.
fili is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.

fili seems to be working for a kimura but Emelianenko defends the submission attempt.

fili is trying to work for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending well.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Emelianenko is trying to maintain the position but fili is very close to passing his half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
fili tries for a takedown but Emelianenko circles away easily

and Emelianenko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in fili's guard.
Emelianenko wanted to stand there but fili had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fili keeping full guard, as Emelianenko tries to pass.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
fili working for submissions but it's allowed Emelianenko to get to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Emelianenko in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
fili slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Emelianenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as fili works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
fili trying to control the position.

fili looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Emelianenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

fili is looking for a triangle here but Emelianenko uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
fili looks gassed!

Emelianenko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Emelianenko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
fili is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Emelianenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is controlling the pace.
fili flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
fili is trying to get back to full guard.
Emelianenko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
fili trying to control but Emelianenko postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Emelianenko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Emelianenko closes the distance and clinches.

Emelianenko pulls fili into guard.

fili has gone for a leg lock! Emelianenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into fili's guard.
fili looking to hit a scissor sweep but Emelianenko is one step ahead there.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Emelianenko here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Emelianenko trying to stand up but can't free himself from fili's guard.
Emelianenko won't allow fili to sweep him here.
Emelianenko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of fili is proving hard to escape from.
Emelianenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

fili throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
fili working a defensive guard but Emelianenko manages to pass into side control anyway.
fili is not content to let Emelianenko control the position.

Emelianenko is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. fili knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Emelianenko tries to score with some ground and pound. fili controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Emelianenko is looking to take a break and control but fili is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
fili is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Emelianenko off and has taken his back!
fili controlling well, preventing Emelianenko from escaping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Emelianenko is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
fili is punishing Emelianenko with strikes - can he finish him?!

fili tightening his grip on Emelianenko, looking for the choke.
Emelianenko trying to control the hands but fili won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fili is hanging on to Emelianenko's back as he tries to escape.

fili working for the choke.

fili has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Emelianenko! Can he survive? No! He's out! fili gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). ange fili!