PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Emelyanenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Williams
vs
Emelyanenko

195 cm
25
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
250 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fedor Emelyanenko!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Williams.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Williams is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Emelyanenko knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Williams wants to stand but Emelyanenko has his arm trapped.

Williams has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Williams.
Williams throws a head kick that misses.

Williams closes the distance and pushes Emelyanenko back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams prevents the takedown attempt.
Williams slows down the pace here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Williams.

It looks like Fedor Emelyanenko has been cut.
Williams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Williams stalling in the clinch.

Williams pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Emelyanenko keeps the fight on the outside.

Williams closes the distance and pushes Emelyanenko back into the cage.
Williams gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Emelyanenko.

Williams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Williams closes the distance and pushes Emelyanenko back into the cage.
Williams taking a breather.
Williams is trying to break free.
Emelyanenko prevents Williams from breaking the clinch.
Williams wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Williams lands a damaging elbow.
Williams fails to pull guard.
Emelyanenko prevents Williams from breaking the clinch.
Williams is trying to break the clinch but Emelyanenko has him pressed against the cage.
Emelyanenko keeps control of Williams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Williams stops a takedown attempt from Emelyanenko.
John Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelyanenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
Williams plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Williams has taken the fight to the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Williams - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Williams lands with a slapping head kick.
Williams tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelyanenko avoids the head kick by Williams.
Emelyanenko has a takedown stuffed.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Emelyanenko gets tackled into the cage by Williams. Williams maintains the clinch.
Emelyanenko letting Williams take a breather here.
Williams landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Emelyanenko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Williams is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Emelyanenko looks gassed!

Williams breaks the clinch.

Williams clinches up with Emelyanenko and pushes him back against the cage.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Emelyanenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Williams instigates a clinch.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Williams dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emelyanenko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Williams has a takedown stuffed.

Williams forces Emelyanenko back against the cage and clinches.
Williams missing with knees to the body.
Williams looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Williams has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Emelyanenko uses from the top position.

Emelyanenko has gone for a leg lock! Williams slips out almost immediately though and dives into Emelyanenko's guard.

Williams gets to his feet. Emelyanenko looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Emelyanenko blocks a head kick by Williams.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Emelyanenko's head.
Williams scores with a head kick. Emelyanenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Williams will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Williams tries a head kick but it misses.
Emelyanenko blocks a head kick by Williams.
Williams pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Williams tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Williams throws a head kick but Emelyanenko moves out of range.
Williams misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Williams lands but Emelyanenko takes it in his stride.
Emelyanenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Williams tries to sprawl out of it but Emelyanenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Williams manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Williams lands a head kick. Emelyanenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Williams throws a head kick that misses.
Williams wants to clinch.

Williams gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams lands an elbow inside that Emelyanenko shrugs off.
Williams tries to circle away but Emelyanenko has him pinned against the cage.
Williams wants to get back to striking at distance but Emelyanenko won't allow it.

Williams pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Emelyanenko blocks a head kick by Williams.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Emelyanenko has Williams pressed against the cage, preventing Williams from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Emelyanenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Williams's efforts to push away.
Emelyanenko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Williams prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Williams's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emelyanenko shoots for a takedown but Williams saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
John Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Emelyanenko.

Williams moves into the clinch.

Williams ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Williams no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Emelyanenko prevents Williams from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Emelyanenko being controlled here momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because John Williams just wasn't active enough.
Williams pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Williams dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Emelyanenko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Williams throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Emelyanenko.
Williams throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Emelyanenko tries to keep at a distance but Williams has taken the fight into the clinch.
Emelyanenko blocks the elbow strike.

Williams breaks the clinch.
Williams throws a head kick but Emelyanenko moves out of range.
John Williams is winning the standup battle so far.
Williams misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Emelyanenko.

Williams has Emelyanenko up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams lands an elbow inside that Emelyanenko shrugs off.
Williams jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Emelyanenko walks away with a smile on his face. Williams gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
John Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Williams throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Williams tries to clinch

and Emelyanenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Emelyanenko.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Williams is on top in guard.

Emelyanenko has his foot on Williams's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Williams works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Emelyanenko is working an open guard so Williams takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Williams is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Emelyanenko can do to turn this around?
Williams stalks Emelyanenko and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Emelyanenko's face. Emelyanenko staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Williams drives through and clinches with Emelyanenko against the cage.
Williams gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Williams lands a damaging elbow.
Williams utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Williams tries to break free but Emelyanenko pushes him back against the cage.

Williams breaks the clinch.
Emelyanenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Williams throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Emelyanenko's head.
Williams lands a head kick. Emelyanenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Williams has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is pushing Emelyanenko up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
Williams throws a head kick that Emelyanenko semi-blocks.
Williams misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Williams scores with a head kick. Emelyanenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Williams scores with a head kick. Emelyanenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Williams closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Emelyanenko fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams lands with a kick to the temple. Emelyanenko shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Williams throws a head kick that misses.
Williams misses with a head kick.

Williams clinches up with Emelyanenko and pushes him back against the cage.
Williams with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Williams breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Williams closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Williams lands in his opponent's guard.
Fedor Emelyanenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Williams is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Williams throws a strike but Emelyanenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Williams showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Williams 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Williams!