PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wanderlei Emelianenko will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Taylor
vs
Emelianenko

200 cm
22
285 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
23
280 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Knock Out Artistry
Knock Out Artistry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wanderlei Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taylor clinches.
Emelianenko is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.
Emelianenko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taylor just stands there and leans against the cage.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Taylor closes the distance and pushes Emelianenko back into the cage.
Emelianenko takes a shot to the head.
Emelianenko is trying to break free.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Emelianenko.
Taylor prevents the takedown attempt.

Emelianenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emelianenko tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.
Matthew Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Emelianenko.
Emelianenko jumps guard but Taylor stands there with Emelianenko around his waist. Emelianenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch but Taylor keeps him there for the moment.
Taylor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Emelianenko smiles and moves away.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Taylor slips a jab and a cross from Emelianenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Taylor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Emelianenko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Taylor scores with a nice short uppercut.
Taylor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Taylor pulls guard.
Emelianenko trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Taylor wants to control but Emelianenko passes easily into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is trying to stand.
Taylor is staying active underneath Emelianenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor works his way to full guard. Good work.

Taylor is looking for a triangle but Emelianenko pushes his legs off easily.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Taylor trying to control the position here.
Emelianenko preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emelianenko trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taylor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Emelianenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Emelianenko jumps guard but Taylor stands there with Emelianenko around his waist. Emelianenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Emelianenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Emelianenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Emelianenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.
Taylor pushes Emelianenko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Emelianenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.
Emelianenko throws a hook but Taylor blocks it.
Matthew Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Taylor Rushes Emelianenko and starts throwing punches like they are going out of style! Emelianenko is up against the cage and has nowhere to go. Taylor Piles on the pressure and Emelianenko crumples to the floor! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matthew Taylor!