PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emilianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Emilianenko

173 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

198 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Win Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fedor Emilianenko!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie slaps away a takedown attempt from Emilianenko, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie throws a right and a left that Emilianenko avoids nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Emilianenko.
A jab from Gracie finds it's way through Emilianenko's defenses.
Emilianenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gracie works over Emilianenko's head and body with a nice combination.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Emilianenko shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Max Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emilianenko.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Emilianenko feints and then cracks Gracie's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie down.
Nice sprawl there from Gracie as Emilianenko shoots in.
Emilianenko is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Emilianenko napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Gracie scores with a couple of short elbows.
Emilianenko gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Emilianenko dodges it nicely.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Gracie is keen to just control but Emilianenko is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emilianenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emilianenko trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie wants to stand but Emilianenko has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Emilianenko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Emilianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emilianenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Emilianenko, not yet.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Emilianenko circles away.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Emilianenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Emilianenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emilianenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gracie avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Emilianenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gracie avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Emilianenko tries to pull guard but Gracie holds him up against the cage and eventually Emilianenko drops back down to his feet.
Emilianenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gracie drags the fight down to the ground.
Gracie could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Emilianenko is one step ahead there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gracie wants to stand but Emilianenko is controlling the position.

Gracie wriggles free and stands up.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and Emilianenko counters with a head kick.
Gracie scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Nice body punch from Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Emilianenko back into the cage.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Emilianenko is controlling him.

Gracie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Emilianenko should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Gracie has tightened it up now! Emilianenko should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Max Gracie!