PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isildur Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Steiner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emelianenko's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Raining Blood. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Emelianenko
vs
Steiner

193 cm
20
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Isildur Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Steiner!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko throws a nice inside leg kick.
Emelianenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Emelianenko has a takedown stuffed.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Steiner moves away

and Steiner counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Steiner missing with knees to the body.
Steiner goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Emelianenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Emelianenko tries to break the clinch but Steiner is controlling the position.
A right handed body shot lands from Steiner.
Steiner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Emelianenko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Emelianenko tries to clinch but Steiner moves away

and Steiner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Emelianenko!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Emelianenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Emelianenko wants to hold on but Steiner pushes him away.
Emelianenko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Emelianenko sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Emelianenko missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steiner perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Steiner tries to pass to full mount but Emelianenko defends it.
Emelianenko wants to improve his position but Steiner is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Steiner in particular looking to stall.

Steiner is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Steiner throwing shots but Emelianenko is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Emelianenko wants to improve his position but Steiner is controlling well.
Emelianenko is breathing heavily.
Steiner trying to pass the guard but Emelianenko defending well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Steiner scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Emelianenko wants to control but Steiner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Well, if Steiner is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steiner frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Emelianenko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Steiner controlling from mount.
Emelianenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Emelianenko takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

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.
Steiner controlling the pace for now.
Emelianenko tries to lock up and control but Steiner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Steiner controlling the pace for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark Steiner just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Steiner throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Emelianenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steiner swivels and escapes.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up

and Steiner counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Steiner content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Steiner works his way into side control.
Emelianenko is not content to let Steiner control the position.
Steiner works to advance to full mount. Emelianenko defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Steiner controlling from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Steiner lands with some strikes.
Steiner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Emelianenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Steiner connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Steiner looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Steiner has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steiner looking to secure an arm triangle but Emelianenko defends it well.
BOOM! Steiner connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Steiner dominating with strikes here.
Steiner is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Emelianenko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Steiner looking to control and managing it successfully.
Steiner 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Steiner has a good base and remains in mount.
Steiner controlling the pace for now.
Emelianenko regains half guard.
Steiner sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark Steiner just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Steiner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steiner slows the pace down in half guard.
Emelianenko is trying to control but can't.
Steiner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Steiner uses his free foot to push down on Emelianenko's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Emelianenko.
Steiner controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Steiner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Steiner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Steiner performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Emelianenko tries to roll over but Steiner keeps him under control.
Steiner looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ground and pound from Steiner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steiner is tying to control. Emelianenko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Steiner working over Emelianenko with some ground and pound. Emelianenko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Steiner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Emelianenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steiner looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Emelianenko gets full guard.
Steiner sitting in guard here, content to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mark Steiner just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Emelianenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Steiner counters with a thumping low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Steiner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steiner clinches.
Steiner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Steiner breaks the clinch.
Isildur Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Steiner has closed the distance and engaged Emelianenko in a clinch.
Emelianenko wants a takedown.
Steiner drops down looking for an ankle pick but Emelianenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
Steiner throws a leg kick but Emelianenko moved away.
Emelianenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steiner.

Steiner drives through and clinches with Emelianenko against the cage.
Knees to the body from Steiner.
Steiner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Emelianenko.
Emelianenko gets underhooks to prevent Steiner's takedown attempt.
Steiner gets underhooks to prevent Emelianenko's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isildur Emelianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Steiner has hold of one of Emelianenko's legs. Emelianenko is fighting the takedown attempt but Steiner gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Emelianenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Steiner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Steiner won't allow Emelianenko to get back to his feet.
Emelianenko wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Steiner is now in half guard.
Steiner perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Emelianenko tries to get to full guard but Steiner has control of the leg.
Steiner working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steiner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Steiner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Emelianenko is trying to stand back up but Steiner is controlling him
Mark Steiner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steiner not doing much here.
Emelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Steiner content to control rather than advance.
Emelianenko won't allow Steiner to pass to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Steiner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Steiner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Steiner!