PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between deacon james (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghost Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

james
vs
Emelianenko

187 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
212 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, deacon james!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ghost Emelianenko !
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
james keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

james closes the distance and clinches.

james turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

james decides to stand up, so the ref orders Emelianenko to his feet.

james scores a takedown into full mount!
Emelianenko can't escape the position.

james is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Emelianenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
james throws some wild stikes that Emelianenko manages to avoid easily.
james landing shots from mount.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
james sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Emelianenko is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to hold on but james postures up.
Emelianenko looks gassed!
james landing strikes from the mount.
james trying to control but Emelianenko is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

james get's back to his feet.

james drives through with a takedown into guard.

Emelianenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but james can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

james drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and james jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

james decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

james feints and as Emelianenko raises his hands in defense, james changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
james wants to stand but Emelianenko is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Emelianenko controls james momentarily but james frees himself.
james stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Emelianenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

james decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Emelianenko , up you get!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
james doesn't manage to clinch there - Emelianenko circles away.

james closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of james's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take james's back!
james wants to control his opponent's hands but Emelianenko gets his hands free.

james is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Emelianenko gets his way!

Emelianenko is persistently looking for the submission but james is defending it well.
Emelianenko is hanging on to james's back as he tries to escape.
james breaks Emelianenko 's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
james advances position into side control!
james tries to move into full mount but can't pass Emelianenko 's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
james wants to control but Emelianenko is keeping him busy.
Emelianenko sneaks back into half guard.

Emelianenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
james is keen to just control but Emelianenko is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
james is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Emelianenko is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

james is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Emelianenko has managed to free his arm - good work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Emelianenko fails with the takedown

and james counters with a single leg into guard. Emelianenko didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

deacon james dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Emelianenko shoots in and bounces james off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
james trying to control the position.
Emelianenko trying to control the position from guard on top but james is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emelianenko prevents james from getting back to his feet.
james is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
james bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Emelianenko 's guard.

Emelianenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing james from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko tries to strike from the bottom.
james wants to control from the top but Emelianenko keeps moving.
james cracks Emelianenko with a solid left hand.

Emelianenko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead james passes into side control.
Emelianenko is looking for a sweep.
james scoring with punches and elbows.
james controls the position from side control.
james trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
james tries to advance to mount but can't.
Emelianenko takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

james stands up and beckons Emelianenko to his feet.
Ghost Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emelianenko takes an elbow to the temple.
james lands an elbow inside that Emelianenko shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

james lands a takedown into guard.
Emelianenko keeping moving, preventing james from controlling successfully.
deacon james overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Emelianenko 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.
Emelianenko trying to control the position.
james tries to free his leg and advance position but Emelianenko is retaining full guard.

Emelianenko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. james doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. james manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Emelianenko has his foot on james's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. james works his way back into a safe position though.

Emelianenko is working an open guard so james takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

james fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Emelianenko , pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
james lands an elbow that stopped Emelianenko in his tracks for a moment.

james has Emelianenko pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. james pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Emelianenko tumbling to the mat - james dives into Emelianenko 's guard.

Emelianenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. james gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Emelianenko working for a triangle but james defends it easily.
james trying to control but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

deacon james dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

james throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Emelianenko has his takedown stuffed

and james counters with a takedown into side control.

james stands up and beckons Emelianenko to his feet.

james closes the distance and clinches.
james lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Ghost Emelianenko has been cut.

james breaks the clinch.

james gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Emelianenko takes an elbow to the forehead.

james has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Emelianenko regains guard immediately.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Emelianenko has his foot on james's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. james works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
james wants to stand but Emelianenko is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko looking to control.

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Emelianenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
james postures up.

Emelianenko is looking for a triangle here but james uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

james decides to stand back up. james steps back and let's Emelianenko get back to his feet.
Emelianenko tries to clinch

and james counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by james.
james is looking to stand up but Emelianenko won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Emelianenko is on top in guard.
Emelianenko lands a couple of digs.
james manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This has been an exciting period of action!
james lands a nice shot to the head.
james misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Emelianenko is looking to improve his position but james isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
james with good strikes from the mount here!
james punching from mount but Emelianenko doing a good job of avoiding damage.
james prevents Emelianenko from getting the reversal.
james looking to control but Emelianenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Emelianenko tries to hold on but james postures up.
Emelianenko is desperately trying to improve his position but james has a good base and remains in mount.
Emelianenko throwing hammer fists to the chest of james. What's that going to do exactly?
james is in the full mount, landing strikes.

james looking to secure an arm triangle but Emelianenko defends it well.
james lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Emelianenko hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Emelianenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
james trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Emelianenko defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from james.
james throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Emelianenko because james loaded up on that one.
Emelianenko is working to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
james looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

And that's the end of the fight!
deacon james showed his dominance in that final round.
Well james 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... deacon james!