PBP Commentary

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

Emelianenko
vs
Knox Jr

190 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thor Emelianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johnny Knox Jr!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knox Jr gets caught napping as Emelianenko dives in and scores a takedown. Knox Jr manages to retain guard.
Emelianenko advances to half guard.
Knox Jr keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Emelianenko wants to pass the guard but Knox Jr is defending well.
Knox Jr trying to hold on to Emelianenko's head to control him but Emelianenko postures up.
Emelianenko is taking a breather. Knox Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Knox Jr is trying to maintain the position but Emelianenko is very close to passing his half guard.
Knox Jr trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Knox Jr tries to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko 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 prevents Knox Jr from getting the reversal.
Emelianenko content just to control the position here.
Knox Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox Jr wants to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knox Jr can't escape the position.
Emelianenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Knox Jr is looking to improve his position but Emelianenko isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko avoids the attempt from Knox Jr to control.
Emelianenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Knox Jr is looking to improve his position but Emelianenko isn't that keen on the idea.
Emelianenko controlling the pace for now.
Knox Jr is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emelianenko content just to control the position here.
Emelianenko trying to control but Knox Jr is having none of it.
Knox Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emelianenko controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Emelianenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Knox Jr connects with the punch.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Knox Jr napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Emelianenko controlling the position.
Knox Jr is not content to let Emelianenko control the position.
A control attempt from Knox Jr but he's now mounted!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emelianenko controlling the pace for now.
Emelianenko trying to control but Knox Jr is having none of it.
Emelianenko controlling the position easily from mount.
Emelianenko looking to control but Knox Jr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox Jr wants to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
Emelianenko looking to control and managing it successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Thor Emelianenko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A decent looking cross lands there for Knox Jr.
Emelianenko tries to clinch up but Knox Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Knox Jr feints a jab promting Emelianenko to slip. Knox Jr then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Emelianenko slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Emelianenko takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Emelianenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox Jr fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Emelianenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Knox Jr throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Emelianenko stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Knox Jr drops Emelianenko with a left right combo! Knox Jr follows him down to the ground into side control.
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!

Knox Jr tries for a kimura but Emelianenko is defending well.
Emelianenko is looking to reverse the position.
Knox Jr trying to control the position but Emelianenko is working away.
Emelianenko prevents Knox Jr from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knox Jr tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Knox Jr has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Knox Jr is looking to take a break and control but Emelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Emelianenko struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Knox Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Emelianenko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Emelianenko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Knox Jr tries to reverse the position but Emelianenko maintains control.
Emelianenko controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knox Jr tries to hold on but Emelianenko postures up.
Emelianenko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox Jr tries to hold on but Emelianenko pushes him away.
Emelianenko 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 avoids the attempt from Knox Jr to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Emelianenko trying to control but Knox Jr is having none of it.
Knox Jr tries to lock up and control but Emelianenko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Knox Jr manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knox Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Well, if Emelianenko 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.
Knox Jr wants to get back to full guard.
Thor Emelianenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Knox Jr looking for subs from the bottom but Emelianenko mounts him!
Emelianenko looking to control but Knox Jr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox Jr is looking to get to half guard.
Emelianenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Knox Jr wants to control but Emelianenko is having none of it.
Emelianenko controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox Jr is working to get back to half guard.
Emelianenko controlling the pace for now.
Knox Jr is looking to improve his position but Emelianenko isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thor Emelianenko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Emelianenko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thor Emelianenko!