PBP Commentary

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

Emelianenko
vs
Luciano

183 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
18
239 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gabriel Luciano!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luciano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Emelianenko's waist but Emelianenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Luciano off to one side.
Luciano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko avoids it really well and circles away.

Luciano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Luciano moves nicely into side control.
Luciano wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping him busy.
Luciano lands a decent elbow from side control.
Luciano looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Emelianenko is avoiding damage well.
Luciano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Emelianenko keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano 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 breathing heavily.
Luciano tries to move to mount but Emelianenko blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Luciano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Igor Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Luciano.
Emelianenko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Luciano.
Luciano leaves Emelianenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gabriel Luciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luciano doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a shoot takedown. Luciano fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to stand and escape but instead Luciano has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Luciano wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
Emelianenko can't keep his opponent in guard - Luciano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Emelianenko is refusing to be controlled, as Luciano sits in half guard.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Luciano wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luciano wants to take a breather but Emelianenko is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Luciano shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Emelianenko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Luciano!
Luciano is in all sorts of trouble here.
Luciano sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luciano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Emelianenko is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Luciano misses with a takedown attempt

and Emelianenko counters with a single leg into guard. Luciano didn't expect that.
Luciano looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Luciano manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Luciano looking to ground and pound but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.

Luciano working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Luciano cracks Emelianenko with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luciano has hold of Emelianenko's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Emelianenko manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Luciano working Emelianenko over with strikes here.
Luciano tries to control but Emelianenko wriggling away.
Emelianenko tries to hold on but Luciano pushes him away.

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.
Luciano unloads with some shots from mount but Emelianenko bucks and avoids them well.

Luciano has control of Emelianenko's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Emelianenko regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Emelianenko controls the position.
Emelianenko wants to control but Luciano is having none of it.
Luciano looking to finish Emelianenko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Emelianenko!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Luciano is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Emelianenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Emelianenko tries to hold on but Luciano postures up.
Luciano thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Luciano tries to control but Emelianenko wriggling away.

That's four 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.
Poor strikes thrown by Luciano there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Luciano looking to control but Emelianenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Luciano goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Emelianenko is on top in guard.
Emelianenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gabriel Luciano will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Luciano misses with a takedown attempt

and Emelianenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.
Luciano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Igor Emelianenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Luciano is on top in guard.
Luciano looking to pass the guard.
Luciano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emelianenko could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Luciano slips nicely into half guard.
Luciano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Emelianenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Luciano is working for a submission of some sort.

Luciano 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Luciano wants to pass the guard but Emelianenko is defending well.
Luciano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luciano is trying to work for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending well.
Luciano is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Luciano is controlling the pace.
Luciano landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four 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.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Luciano passes to side control.
Emelianenko wants to control but Luciano postures up.

Luciano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Emelianenko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emelianenko is trying to control Luciano's posture but Luciano avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Igor Emelianenko.
I think Emelianenko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Emelianenko!