PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pertti Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko has chosen Enea Vollare Mezzo as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Apila
vs
Emelianenko

210 cm
29
281 lbs
18 - 8 - 1

183 cm
30
254 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Nordic Nutrition (160 Recovery $99)

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 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Pertti Apila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fedor Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko thuds a left hand into Apila's body.
Emelianenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Apila cracks the inside of Emelianenko's front leg.
Emelianenko misses with an uppercut.
Apila takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circle momentarily. Apila darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Apila misses with a head kick.
Apila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Apila avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big left from Emelianenko misses.
Fedor Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Apila misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Apila has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Emelianenko finds it's way round the side to connect with Apila's head.
Apila throws a hook to the side of Emelianenko's head but Emelianenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Apila. Emelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelianenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Pertti Apila is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Emelianenko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Apila enables Emelianenko to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Apila manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Apila can't keep his opponent in guard - Emelianenko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Apila trying to control from the bottom.

Emelianenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Apila tries to roll over but Emelianenko keeps him under control.
Apila has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Emelianenko is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Emelianenko is pressing down on Apila's thigh, looking to free his foot. Apila is holding on for now.
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!
Apila is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelianenko is pressing down on Apila's thigh, looking to free his foot. Apila is holding on for now.

Emelianenko is working for a kimura but Apila is defending it quite comfortably.

Emelianenko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Emelianenko seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko is working for a submission of some sort.
Apila moves into full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Emelianenko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Apila stops Emelianenko from passing to mount.

Emelianenko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Apila has escaped the position, nice work there.
Emelianenko throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Apila makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Apila.
Emelianenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Apila trying to control the position.

Emelianenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Apila trying to keep a closed guard but Emelianenko is proving a slippery customer.
Apila wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Emelianenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Apila is retaining full guard.
Apila will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Emelianenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Emelianenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Apila slips under a jab from Emelianenko.
Nice defenses there by Apila.
Apila lands a glancing blow to the side of Emelianenko's head.
Emelianenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Apila takes a swing at Emelianenko's ribcage but misses.
Fedor Emelianenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Apila shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Apila looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Apila swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Emelianenko misses with a lunging right hand
and Apila connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Emelianenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Apila.
Emelianenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko misses with a double jab.
Apila scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Apila lands a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Emelianenko. Apila does a little dance to reset his feet.
Emelianenko dives in and grabs Apila's left leg, looking for a takedown. Apila pushes down on Emelianenko's head and hops out.
Apila throws a leg kick but Emelianenko moved away.
Apila lands a nice shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Apila.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Jab by Apila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Apila.
Emelianenko throws a looping overhand right but Apila ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Emelianenko misses with a takedown attempt - Apila sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pertti Apila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelianenko.
Apila tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Emelianenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Apila.
Apila lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Emelianenko looks for a takedown but Apila sprawls well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Apila.
Apila cracks Emelianenko with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Emelianenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Emelianenko missing with a left hand there. Apila was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Apila moves into the clinch successfully.

Apila breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko tries to bum rush Apila with a series of wild strikes but Apila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Apila lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
Emelianenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Apila is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Emelianenko chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Apila can pounce on him.
Apila lands a really nice looking cross but Emelianenko seems unphased.
Apila lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Emelianenko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Apila thuds his right hand into Emelianenko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Good leg kick by Apila there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila lands a jab to the head.
Some wild striking there from Emelianenko.
Apila connects with a looping right hand.
Apila scores with a kick to the midsection.
Apila is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Emelianenko walks forward, straight into a front kick from Apila.
Apila scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A nice leg kick lands there from Apila.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Apila fakes the leg kick and cracks Emelianenko in the body.
Fedor Emelianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good leg kick by Apila there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Emelianenko blocks a head kick by Apila.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pertti Apila dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Apila scores with a jab. Emelianenko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Apila thuds a left hand into Emelianenko's body.
A punch combination from Emelianenko misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Apila.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Apila, right into the meat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Apila. That's going to slow Emelianenko down.
Apila works Emelianenko's body with a nice hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Apila throws a head kick that half lands.
Apila blocks a jab.
Apila closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Apila fails with an attempt to clinch.
Apila throws a head kick that half lands.
Emelianenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Apila.
Emelianenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apila circles away quickly and effectively.
Emelianenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Emelianenko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Apila scores with a jab to the jaw.
Apila throws a quick inside leg kick.
Apila lands a really nice looking cross but Emelianenko seems unphased.
Apila thuds a left hand into Emelianenko's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Apila instigates a clinch.
Emelianenko prevents a body shot from Apila.

Apila's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Apila.
A good leg kick by Apila.
Apila lands a lovely overhand right.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Donk. Apila catches Emelianenko right on the button with a cross.
Apila thumps Emelianenko with a low kick.
Apila scores with a jab.
Apila scores with a body shot.
Apila connects with a jab and follows up with a big overhand right! Oh that's hurt Emelianenko! He's out on his feet! Apila rushes in and drops Emelianenko with another big right hand, forcing the referee to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Pertti Apila!