PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tif Da Cat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Emelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Da Cat
vs
Emelianenko

169 cm
21
220 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

197 cm
18
229 lbs
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tif Da Cat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Emelianenko!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emelianenko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Emelianenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Da Cat scores with a takedown into Emelianenko's guard.
Da Cat slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Da Cat throwing strikes but missing.

Da Cat decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Da Cat feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Emelianenko wants to sweep here but Da Cat controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Emelianenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Da Cat is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Emelianenko is looking for a triangle but Da Cat pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emelianenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Da Cat stands up and waves to Emelianenko to follow him.
Emelianenko looks gassed!
Emelianenko fails to land with a series of punches.

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

Da Cat lands a big uppercut and Emelianenko crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Emelianenko looks OK. Da Cat waves Emelianenko back to his feet!

It looks like Ivan Emelianenko has been cut.
Emelianenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Da Cat.
Da Cat changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Da Cat shoots for a double leg takedown but Emelianenko sprawls well. He's pushed Da Cat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Da Cat shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Emelianenko napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Emelianenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Emelianenko takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Emelianenko trying to remain calm as Da Cat controls from the top position.
Da Cat working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Cat swings around for an armbar but Emelianenko sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Da Cat's guard.
Emelianenko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Da Cat really is a fat lump.

Da Cat throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Emelianenko trying to stand up but can't free himself from Da Cat's guard.
Da Cat might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Da Cat 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.
Da Cat is working hard here to advance position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko swinging wildly here.
Emelianenko misses with a low kick.
Da Cat avoids the head kick by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a right and a left that Da Cat avoids nicely.
Emelianenko lands a jab-cross combination.
Da Cat throws a nice looking combination but Emelianenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Da Cat shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Da Cat is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Emelianenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Da Cat is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Cat tries to free his leg and advance position but Emelianenko is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tif Da Cat dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Emelianenko's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Emelianenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Emelianenko misses with a head kick.
Da Cat takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Da Cat bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Da Cat is putting a hurting on Emelianenko here, landing some big shots from side control.
Da Cat controls the position.
Da Cat scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Emelianenko to see if he's OK.
Emelianenko struggling a bit here.
Emelianenko is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko is letting Da Cat control him for a moment.
Emelianenko wants to control but Da Cat postures up.
Da Cat scores with punches from side control.
Emelianenko is being controlled here.
Da Cat trying to control the action but Emelianenko is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Emelianenko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ivan Emelianenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Emelianenko throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Da Cat tries for a takedown but Emelianenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Emelianenko lands with a kick to the temple. Da Cat shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Good leg kick by Da Cat there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A bone on bone clash there as Da Cat blocks the leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Da Cat.
Emelianenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Emelianenko lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Da Cat looks to land a body kick but Emelianenko moved away.
Emelianenko cracks the inside of Da Cat's front leg.
Ivan Emelianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Emelianenko throws the left hand but Da Cat avoids the punch easily.
Emelianenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Da Cat slips under a jab from Emelianenko.
A punch combination from Emelianenko misses.
Da Cat avoids the head kick by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a combination that misses

so Da Cat counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Cat content to stall in guard here.
Da Cat thows a big elbow that misses.

Da Cat avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tif Da Cat overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Da Cat is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Da Cat stands up and waves to Emelianenko to follow him.
Da Cat misses with a body kick.
Emelianenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Emelianenko lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Emelianenko misses with a two punch combination.
Da Cat misses with the combination.
Emelianenko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Emelianenko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Emelianenko throws a leg kick that misses.
Da Cat scores with a nice right hand.
Da Cat throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tif Da Cat dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Emelianenko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Da Cat throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Emelianenko counters with a leg kick.
Da Cat checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Da Cat misses the body punch
and Emelianenko counters with a straight right hand.
Da Cat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Emelianenko throws a sloppy head kick and Da Cat moves out of range easily.
Emelianenko throws a head kick that misses.
Da Cat tries to clinch there but Emelianenko circles away.
Tif Da Cat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Cat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Emelianenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tif Da Cat is winning the standup battle so far.
Da Cat tries to clinch up but Emelianenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Emelianenko stuffs the takedown.
Da Cat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Da Cat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Emelianenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Da Cat counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Da Cat misses with the combination.
Emelianenko throws a left and a right that both miss

and Da Cat counters with a takedown into side control.
Emelianenko is trying to buck Da Cat off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Cat is working Emelianenko over with some ground and pound from side control.
Da Cat controls the position from side control.
Da Cat working the ground and pound.
Emelianenko is trying to control Da Cat's posture but Da Cat avoids it.
Da Cat just content to control the position.
Emelianenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Da Cat scores with a couple of short elbows.
Da Cat lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Emelianenko down.
Emelianenko tries to improve position but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Emelianenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Emelianenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Da Cat circles away quickly and effectively.
Emelianenko misses with a low kick.
Emelianenko throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Da Cat.
Emelianenko drops his hands momentarily and Da Cat takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Da Cat blocks a head kick by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko throws a hook but Da Cat avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Da Cat circles away quickly and effectively.
Da Cat blocks a head kick by Emelianenko.
Emelianenko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Da Cat lands with a hook. Emelianenko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Da Cat shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Emelianenko is trying to defend but Da Cat finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Da Cat content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Emelianenko wants to improve his position but Da Cat is controlling well.
Emelianenko is pressing down on Da Cat's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Emelianenko uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Da Cat.
Emelianenko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Da Cat wants to slow Emelianenko down by chopping away at his legs.
Da Cat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ivan Emelianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Da Cat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Emelianenko's waist but Emelianenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Da Cat off to one side.
Emelianenko swinging wildly here.

Da Cat drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Da Cat looking to pass the guard.
Tif Da Cat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Da Cat sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tif Da Cat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Da Cat 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tif Da Cat!