PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herb Tarlic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emilaniko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fedor Emilaniko is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tarlic
vs
Emilaniko

200 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
235 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Herb Tarlic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fedor Emilaniko!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emilaniko is looking to clinch.
Emilaniko shoots in for a takedown but Tarlic shows good takedown defense.
Emilaniko connects with a jab.
Emilaniko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tarlic waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Emilaniko.
Emilaniko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emilaniko fails to land with a series of punches.
Emilaniko tries to clinch up.

Emilaniko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Emilaniko showed some decent athleticism there.
Tarlic tries to get to full guard but Emilaniko has control of the leg.
Emilaniko is taking a breather. Tarlic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Tarlic tries to roll over but Emilaniko keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlic moves into full guard.
Emilaniko tries to free his leg and advance position but Tarlic is retaining full guard.
Emilaniko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Tarlic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tarlic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Emilaniko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two 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.

Tarlic is working an open guard so Emilaniko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Emilaniko or perhaps it was just good defense by Tarlic which made him look bad.
Herb Tarlic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emilaniko.
The fight stays on the outside here - Emilaniko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tarlic tries to work over Emilaniko's front leg with a kick but Emilaniko checks it.
Emilaniko tries to bum rush Tarlic with a series of wild strikes but Tarlic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Emilaniko looks gassed!
A jab from Tarlic misses.
The fighters circling - Tarlic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Emilaniko slips a jab and a cross from Tarlic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emilaniko moves in looking to clinch but Tarlic pushes him off.
A leg kick checked by Tarlic.

Tarlic moves into the clinch.

Tarlic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Emilaniko misses.
Tarlic throws a hook but Emilaniko avoids it easily.
Tarlic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Emilaniko manages to avoid it.
Tarlic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Emilaniko.

Emilaniko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Emilaniko preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tarlic is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarlic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tarlic wants to sweep but no luck.
Tarlic striking off his back but it's not causing Emilaniko any problems.
Tarlic keeping full guard, as Emilaniko tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Some wild striking there from Emilaniko.
Tarlic blocks a head kick by Emilaniko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Emilaniko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Emilaniko darts in trying to clinch
and Emilaniko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Fedor Emilaniko has been cut.
Emilaniko looks to clinch
and Tarlic makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Emilaniko checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Tarlic.
Emilaniko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fedor Emilaniko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tarlic throws a right and a left that Emilaniko avoids nicely.
Emilaniko clinches but Tarlic breaks the clinch

and Tarlic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Tarlic is trying to work for a kimura but Emilaniko is defending well.
Tarlic wants to pass the guard but Emilaniko is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarlic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Emilaniko defends it well.
Tarlic is thwarting Emilaniko's attempts to control the position.
Emilaniko is staying active underneath Tarlic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tarlic wants to free his trapped foot but Emilaniko is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Emilaniko has one foot on Tarlic's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Emilaniko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tarlic moves into the clinch.
Tarlic managing to block the knees to the body from Emilaniko.

Tarlic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Emilaniko closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tarlic counters with a nice uppercut.
Emilaniko wants to clinch but Tarlic slips to the side

and Tarlic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Emilaniko's guard now.
Tarlic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emilaniko is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tarlic drops back, looking for a kneebar! Emilaniko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Emilaniko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Emilaniko!
Tarlic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Emilaniko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tarlic wants to control but Emilaniko postures up.
Emilaniko trying to control the position but Tarlic is working away.
Tarlic tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Emilaniko presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

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.

Emilaniko is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Emilaniko closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tarlic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tarlic trying to control but Emilaniko is working from the bottom.
Emilaniko 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emilaniko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tarlic.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herb Tarlic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emilaniko's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tarlic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Emilaniko tries to bum rush Tarlic with a series of wild strikes but Tarlic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tarlic shoots in for a takedown but Emilaniko shows good takedown defense.
Emilaniko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tarlic circles away quickly and effectively.
Emilaniko tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Tarlic to counter with a crisp jab.
Emilaniko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tarlic.
Emilaniko wants to clinch but Tarlic slips to the side
and Tarlic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Emilaniko wants to clinch

so Tarlic counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tarlic trying to move into half guard but instead Emilaniko has managed to sweep!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tarlic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tarlic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tarlic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tarlic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Emilaniko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tarlic wants to improve his position but instead Emilaniko has moved into half guard.
Emilaniko passes into side control, despite Tarlic's attempt to control the position.

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.
Emilaniko controlling from side mount.
Tarlic is trying to get back to half guard.

Emilaniko has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Emilaniko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tarlic counters with a takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Tarlic are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Emilaniko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Emilaniko is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Tarlic thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Emilaniko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Emilaniko tries to escape but Tarlic is in control.

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

Tarlic tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Emilaniko prevents Tarlic from moving into mount.
Tarlic working the body and head with strikes.

Tarlic working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Tarlic goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Emilaniko has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tarlic but great work by Emilaniko.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herb Tarlic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tarlic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herb Tarlic!