PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cormier comes into the arena with Survivor -- Eye of the Tiger blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cormier
vs
Emelianenko

179 cm
18
258 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
240 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Vicious Nutrition (159 Recovery With Proof)

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cormier shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Emelianenko looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Cormier throwing shots but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Cormier missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cormier trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cormier trying to pass the guard but Emelianenko defending well.
Cormier is trying to control. Emelianenko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Emelianenko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cormier thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Emelianenko's head.
Cormier takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cormier throwing shots but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.
Cormier works his foot free and advances to mount.
Emelianenko taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier misses with a head shot.
Cormier pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Emelianenko wants to control but Cormier is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Cormier trying to control but Emelianenko is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cormier punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cormier feints and as Emelianenko raises his hands in defense, Cormier changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cormier stands and throws Emelianenko's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cormier in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Cormier sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Emelianenko is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cormier tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cormier trying to control the position but Emelianenko is working away.
Cormier tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Cormier closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Emelianenko to the mat! Emelianenko manages to get full guard.

Cormier thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cormier stands and steps away. Emelianenko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Cormier feints and as Emelianenko raises his hands in defense, Cormier changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko is trying to keep Cormier in close.
Cormier controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cormier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cormier is looking to work some ground and pound but Emelianenko has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cormier shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cormier wants to stand but Emelianenko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Emelianenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cormier is looking to work some ground and pound but Emelianenko has wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cormier.
Cormier thows a big elbow that misses.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cormier.
Daniel Cormier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cormier lands a couple of elbows.
Igor Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cormier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cormier trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Cormier postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cormier trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cormier chips away with some ground and pound.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cormier.

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.
Cormier trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cormier working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cormier wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Cormier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cormier has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Cormier!