PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vir Lenir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko comes into the arena with Era - Enae Volare Mezzo blaring out of the sound system. Vir Lenir has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Emelianenko
vs
Lenir

183 cm
21
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
18
248 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fedor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vir Lenir!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lenir shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Emelianenko as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Lenir. No joy for Emelianenko on that attempt.
Lenir throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Fedor Emelianenko has been cut.
Lenir misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lenir looks for a takedown but Emelianenko sprawls well.
Fedor Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vir Lenir.
Emelianenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lenir shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Emelianenko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lenir looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Emelianenko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lenir won't allow Emelianenko to pass to mount.
Emelianenko is keen to just control but Lenir is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko moves into full mount! Lenir won't be happy about that!
Emelianenko in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Lenir looks winded!
Emelianenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lenir working to try and regain half guard.
Lenir is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Lenir reaches up to try and control the position but Emelianenko seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Lenir rolls and tries to escape and now Emelianenko has his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Emelianenko is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Lenir up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko is landing with strikes. Lenir can't take much more of this.
Lenir prevents Emelianenko from getting a body triangle.
Emelianenko controls the action.
Lenir rolls, trying to escape but Emelianenko keeps control of the position.
Emelianenko really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Lenir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
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.

Emelianenko is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Lenir defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Emelianenko wants to control but Lenir manages to buck him off and is now in Emelianenko's guard! Nice work there by Lenir!

Emelianenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Emelianenko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lenir!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lenir is squirming around, avoiding Emelianenko's attempts to control the action.
Emelianenko is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Emelianenko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Emelianenko unloading with bombs!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Emelianenko scoring with strikes but Lenir is staying in there.
Emelianenko looking to control but Lenir is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emelianenko's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Emelianenko misses with the combination.

Lenir moves into the clinch successfully.
Lenir keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Emelianenko's efforts to push away.
Lenir stops a takedown attempt from Emelianenko.
A short left from Lenir.

Emelianenko manages to pull guard.

Emelianenko working for a triangle but Lenir defends it easily.
Lenir has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Emelianenko is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lenir with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lenir looking to pass the guard.

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fedor Emelianenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lenir has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Emelianenko is proving hard to escape from.
Lenir trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
Lenir throws a big right hand that misses.
Emelianenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Emelianenko manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lenir shoots for a takedown but Emelianenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Emelianenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lenir looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vir Lenir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lenir fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fedor Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vir Lenir.
Emelianenko misses with a wild combination.
Emelianenko dodges the punch combination from Lenir.
Emelianenko fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lenir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lenir throws a half hearted mid kick.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lenir wants to improve his position but Emelianenko is controlling well.
Emelianenko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Emelianenko connects with a nice short shot to Lenir's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to control but Lenir is keeping him busy.
Emelianenko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lenir is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fedor Emelianenko.
Lenir shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko shows good takedown defense.

Emelianenko clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lenir tries to pull guard but Emelianenko won't allow it.

Emelianenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emelianenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emelianenko's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Emelianenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lenir tries for a takedown but Emelianenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown.
Lenir thuds his shin into the meat of Emelianenko's side.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lenir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Emelianenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lenir lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Emelianenko at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lenir shoots in for a takedown but Emelianenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lenir fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lenir shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fedor Emelianenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vir Lenir.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko moves into the clinch.

Lenir's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelianenko fails with an attempt to clinch.

Emelianenko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lenir was covering up waiting for the punch and Emelianenko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Lenir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lenir is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lenir looking for a sweep. Not yet Lenir, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko stands and throws Lenir's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lenir wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Lenir wants to get back to his feet but Emelianenko is dominant here and he's now got Lenir's back!
Emelianenko is landing with strikes from the back.
Emelianenko just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelianenko tries to keep control of the position but Lenir is staying busy.

Emelianenko is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Lenir with him. Lenir is trying to defend but Emelianenko has an arm under the chin now! Lenir grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Fedor Emelianenko!
A pretty intense looking Fedor Emelianenko took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.