PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Chrustjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oleg Chrustjev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Emelianenko
vs
Chrustjev

182 cm
23
238 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
225 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Chrustjev!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Chrustjev.
Emelianenko looks for a takedown but Chrustjev sprawls well.

Chrustjev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Chrustjev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Emelianenko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Chrustjev looks to land a strike but Emelianenko avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Emelianenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chrustjev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position but Chrustjev postures up.
Emelianenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chrustjev.

Emelianenko working for a triangle but Chrustjev defends it easily.
Chrustjev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chrustjev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Chrustjev throwing strikes from guard but Emelianenko blocks nicely.
Chrustjev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Chrustjev wants to stand but Emelianenko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Chrustjev postures up.
Chrustjev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Emelianenko has Chrustjev pulled in close to control his posture.
Chrustjev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Chrustjev decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Emelianenko, up you get!

Emelianenko forces Chrustjev back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chrustjev decides to pull guard.
Emelianenko trying to control but Chrustjev is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chrustjev is on top in guard.
Chrustjev won't allow Emelianenko to sweep him here.
Chrustjev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chrustjev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Chrustjev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Chrustjev thows a big elbow that misses.
Chrustjev landing some decent shots from guard.
Chrustjev landing some decent shots from guard.
Chrustjev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chrustjev is fighting to break Emelianenko's control of his arms but Emelianenko is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Emelianenko controls Chrustjev momentarily but Chrustjev frees himself.
Chrustjev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emelianenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chrustjev scoring with punches to the head and body.

Emelianenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Chrustjev working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Chrustjev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Chrustjev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chrustjev with a poor takedown
and Emelianenko counters with a left and a right that stings Chrustjev.

Chrustjev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Chrustjev.
Emelianenko pushes Chrustjev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Chrustjev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Chrustjev cracks Emelianenko with a big elbow.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Chrustjev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.

Chrustjev decides to stand up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chrustjev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Emelianenko clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Chrustjev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Emelianenko leaves Chrustjev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Emelianenko misses with a takedown attempt

and Chrustjev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Chrustjev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Chrustjev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Chrustjev prevents Emelianenko from getting back to his feet.
Chrustjev throws and elbow that misses. Emelianenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chrustjev's guard. Nice move by Emelianenko!

Chrustjev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Chrustjev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Emelianenko is controlling him.

Chrustjev has his foot on Emelianenko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Emelianenko works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Chrustjev keeps moving.

Chrustjev uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Chrustjev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko looking to control but Chrustjev passes into half guard.
Emelianenko wants to get back to full guard.

Chrustjev is looking for a kimura here.
Chrustjev working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is trying to control but can't.
Chrustjev winds up and cracks Emelianenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Emelianenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Emelianenko taking some punishment here, with Chrustjev in his half guard.
Emelianenko trying to control from the bottom.

Chrustjev is looking for a kimura here.
Emelianenko is looking to control Chrustjev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Emelianenko avoid being mounted?

Chrustjev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Oleg Chrustjev has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chrustjev.

Chrustjev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Emelianenko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Emelianenko trying to control but Chrustjev postures up.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Chrustjev.
Chrustjev fails with an attempt to clinch.

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 changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Chrustjev tries to avoid it but Emelianenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Chrustjev to the ground. Chrustjev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Chrustjev throws a nice looking combination but Emelianenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fedor Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chrustjev scores a takedown into full mount!
Emelianenko taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Chrustjev connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Chrustjev looking to finish Emelianenko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Emelianenko!
Chrustjev working Emelianenko over with strikes here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chrustjev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Chrustjev wants to finish this one by submission but Emelianenko is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Chrustjev.
Chrustjev with shots to the head and body - Emelianenko looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Chrustjev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Emelianenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Chrustjev gets a clinch.

Chrustjev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emelianenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Chrustjev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chrustjev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Chrustjev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Emelianenko with a lazy takedown attempt

and Chrustjev counters with a shoot takedown. Emelianenko fights it but they end up in guard.
Chrustjev postures up and lands a big shot to Emelianenko's brow.
Chrustjev works over Emelianenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Emelianenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Emelianenko, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Emelianenko throws his legs up looking for a submission but Chrustjev uses it to pass to side control.
Chrustjev scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chrustjev landing strikes.
Chrustjev lands an elbow.
Chrustjev working away.
Emelianenko taking a bit of punishment here - Chrustjev scoring with strikes.
Chrustjev landing a few strikes.
Chrustjev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Emelianenko struggling a bit here.
Chrustjev creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Chrustjev working the ground and pound.
Emelianenko is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Chrustjev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chrustjev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Chrustjev lands an elbow.
Chrustjev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Emelianenko down.
Emelianenko is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Chrustjev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chrustjev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Emelianenko is trying to maintain the position but Chrustjev is very close to passing his half guard.
Emelianenko scores with a few weak punches.
Chrustjev is nestled in close to Emelianenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Chrustjev working Emelianenko over with strikes.
Emelianenko wants to get back to his feet.

Chrustjev is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chrustjev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Emelianenko's head.
Oleg Chrustjev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Chrustjev tries to pass to full mount but Emelianenko defends it.
Still in half guard, Chrustjev seems content to control.
Emelianenko gets back to full guard.
Chrustjev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Chrustjev looking to sit in guard and control but Emelianenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Chrustjev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.
Chrustjev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chrustjev pulls Emelianenko in to control the position.
Chrustjev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Emelianenko manages to get himself to full guard.
Chrustjev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fedor Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chrustjev trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oleg Chrustjev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Chrustjev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Chrustjev!