PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gattsu Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fidel Puno Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes to the cage accompanied by Eagle Lands. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Emelianenko
vs
Puno Jr

191 cm
25
252 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

193 cm
24
291 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159+ Energy - $47.50

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 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gattsu Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fidel Puno Jr!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Emelianenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Puno Jr kicks off Emelianenko and gets to his feet.
Emelianenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Emelianenko scores with a hook.
Puno Jr stuffs the takedown.
Emelianenko slips a straight right by Puno Jr.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown but Puno Jr shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gattsu Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Puno Jr tries to sprawl but Emelianenko drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Emelianenko is keen to just control but Puno Jr is a slippery customer.
Emelianenko trying to control from Puno Jr's half guard. Puno Jr has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelianenko throws a strike but Puno Jr rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Emelianenko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Puno Jr would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko has his hands on Puno Jr's head, controlling the position.
Emelianenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Puno Jr has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Emelianenko is proving hard to escape from.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Emelianenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Puno Jr manages to get himself to full guard.
Emelianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Emelianenko slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Puno Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Emelianenko sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Puno Jr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Puno Jr wants it to stay on the feet.

Emelianenko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Puno Jr was covering up waiting for the punch and Emelianenko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Emelianenko won't allow Puno Jr to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Puno Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to control from the top but Puno Jr keeps moving.
Puno Jr wants to stand up but Emelianenko is controlling him.
Emelianenko is stalling in the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gattsu Emelianenko.
Puno Jr slips under a jab from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko lands a two punch combo.
Emelianenko jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Emelianenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puno Jr lands a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Puno Jr misses with a straight right.
Emelianenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Emelianenko avoids a kick to the body.
Emelianenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Puno Jr counters with a head kick.
Puno Jr swinging wildly here.
Puno Jr lands a jab to the nose.
Puno Jr looks for the body kick but Emelianenko saw that one coming.
Emelianenko misses with a body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A bone on bone clash there as Emelianenko blocks the leg kick.
Puno Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Emelianenko.
Puno Jr leaves Emelianenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gattsu Emelianenko dominated that round.
That's time! Emelianenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Puno Jr fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Emelianenko on the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Puno Jr.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Puno Jr as he avoids it easily.
A big right from Emelianenko misses.
Puno Jr throws out a loose jab but Emelianenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Puno Jr turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gattsu Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Puno Jr ducks right into an uppercut from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Emelianenko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Emelianenko misses with a takedown attempt - Puno Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Emelianenko throws a jab when Puno Jr was well out of range.
Puno Jr dodges the punch combination from Emelianenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puno Jr slips a jab and a cross from Emelianenko.
Puno Jr takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Puno Jr tried to score with a low kick but Emelianenko checks it.
Emelianenko checks a leg kick.
Puno Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emelianenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Puno Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Emelianenko.
Puno Jr cracks Emelianenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Emelianenko gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Emelianenko here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Emelianenko is pressing down on Puno Jr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Puno Jr is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is looking to stall here but Puno Jr recovers full guard.
Emelianenko looking to pass the guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelianenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Emelianenko slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Emelianenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Puno Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Puno Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Puno Jr manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Puno Jr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Emelianenko is looking to escape.
Emelianenko bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Emelianenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Emelianenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Emelianenko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Puno Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Emelianenko trying to control but Puno Jr is working from the bottom.
Emelianenko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Emelianenko trying to control but Puno Jr is working from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Emelianenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emelianenko looking to sit in guard and control but Puno Jr gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Emelianenko has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gattsu Emelianenko dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Emelianenko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown but Puno Jr shows good takedown defense.
Emelianenko shoots in but no luck this time.
Puno Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Emelianenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Puno Jr misses with a low kick.

Emelianenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Puno Jr on his heels. He'll look to pass Puno Jr's guard now, I'm sure.
Emelianenko won't allow Puno Jr to get back to his feet.
Puno Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Emelianenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko trying to control but Puno Jr is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Gattsu Emelianenko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Emelianenko shoots in but Puno Jr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gattsu Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emelianenko lands a nice hook to Puno Jr's body. Puno Jr takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
No luck for Emelianenko with that takedown attempt.

Emelianenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Puno Jr to the mat! Puno Jr manages to get full guard.
Puno Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puno Jr keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.
Puno Jr wants to stand but Emelianenko is controlling the position.
Emelianenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Emelianenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Puno Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Emelianenko postures up in Puno Jr's guard and throws a big left but Puno Jr blocks it.
Emelianenko won't allow Puno Jr to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Puno Jr keeping moving, preventing Emelianenko from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Emelianenko finds it's way through Puno Jr's defenses.
Fidel Puno Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emelianenko works the jab nicely.
Emelianenko shoots for a takedown but Puno Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Puno Jr keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Emelianenko.
A slow jab from Emelianenko misses its intended target.
Emelianenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Emelianenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Puno Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Emelianenko.
A nice inside leg kick there by Puno Jr. That's going to slow Emelianenko down.
Fidel Puno Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Puno Jr thows a body shot but no joy.
Puno Jr lands a nice leg kick that just misses Emelianenko's sensitive parts.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Puno Jr.
Emelianenko keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Puno Jr thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Emelianenko if he has to take too many more of those.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Puno Jr pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Puno Jr lands a nice shot that snaps Emelianenko's head back.
Emelianenko misses with a wild combination.

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 Gattsu Emelianenko.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Emelianenko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight for Gattsu Emelianenko!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Gattsu Emelianenko!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Gattsu Emelianenko!

Gattsu Emelianenko wins by unanimous decision!