PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Sobolev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sobolev comes to the cage accompanied by Война. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sobolev
vs
Emelianenko

200 cm
19
256 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
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, Alexandr Sobolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emelianenko has managed to clinch.

Emelianenko has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sobolev regains guard immediately.
Emelianenko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Emelianenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sobolev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Emelianenko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sobolev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fedor Emelianenko wasn't active enough on the ground.
Emelianenko tries to bum rush Sobolev with a series of wild strikes but Sobolev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sobolev 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 Sobolev off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sobolev.
Fedor Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Emelianenko.
Sobolev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandr Sobolev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sobolev closes the distance and clinches up with Emelianenko, looking for a takedown. Sobolev pushes Emelianenko against the cage but Emelianenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Emelianenko clinches up with Sobolev and pushes him back against the cage.
Sobolev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Emelianenko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sobolev gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko pulls guard effortlessly.
Emelianenko wants to stand but Sobolev is controlling the position.
Sobolev is looking to stand up but Emelianenko won't let him.

Emelianenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Emelianenko wants to stand up but Sobolev is controlling him.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Emelianenko seems keen to control Sobolev's posture.
Sobolev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sobolev trying to control the position from guard on top but Emelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Emelianenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing Sobolev from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Emelianenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sobolev wants to get back to his feet.
Sobolev trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev gets full guard.
Sobolev is looking to stand up but Emelianenko isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two 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 works over Sobolev with some ground and pound from guard.
Emelianenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Emelianenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Emelianenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobolev looking to control.
Sobolev is looking to stand up but Emelianenko isn't so interested in that idea.
Sobolev is trying to control the position but Emelianenko postures up.

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.
Emelianenko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sobolev looking to control.
Emelianenko stays in close to Sobolev's body and controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alexandr Sobolev just wasn't active enough.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sobolev napping and manages to drive through into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sobolev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Emelianenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sobolev is trying to stand up here but Emelianenko is controlling him well.
Emelianenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Emelianenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sobolev keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobolev tries to kick Emelianenko off but Emelianenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Emelianenko thows a huge punch but Sobolev dodges it nicely.
Sobolev has hold of Emelianenko's hands but Emelianenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Emelianenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
Emelianenko working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sobolev is looking to escape.
Emelianenko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sobolev defending well though.
Sobolev is trying to stand back up but Emelianenko is controlling him
Fedor Emelianenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Emelianenko in particular looking to stall.
Emelianenko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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

Fedor Emelianenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sobolev moves out of range of the leg kick from Emelianenko.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Emelianenko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Emelianenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Emelianenko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

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