PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brendon Emerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Reese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brendon Emerson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Emerson
vs
Reese

208 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brendon Emerson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Reese!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reese fails with a takedown attempt.
Reese throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Brendon Emerson has been cut.
Nice takedown defense from Emerson. No joy for Reese on that attempt.
Emerson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Reese lands with a nice combination. Emerson backs away looking to recover.
Reese swats away the attempt to clinch by Emerson.
Emerson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Emerson misses with a takedown attempt - Reese sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Emerson shoots in and drives through. Reese sprawls well.
Emerson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Emerson tries to clinch but Reese is having none of it.
Emerson darts in looking for a takedown but Reese gets double underhooks and turns Emerson into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendon Emerson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emerson can't find room to land a body shot as Reese controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson tries to land a knee to the head but Reese blocks with his arms.
Emerson is trying to break the clinch but Reese has him pressed against the cage.

Reese manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Reese wants to sweep here but Emerson controlling him for the moment.
Reese wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Reese wants to sweep here but Emerson controlling him for the moment.
Reese controls Emerson momentarily but Emerson frees himself.
Emerson wants to control from the top but Reese keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Emerson is looking to clinch but Reese is avoiding it.
Reese closes the distance and clinches up with Emerson, looking for a takedown. Reese pushes Emerson against the cage but Emerson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Emerson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Reese avoids the head kick by Emerson.
Reese shoots for a takedown but Emerson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reese looks for a takedown but Emerson sprawls well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reese throws a right and a left that both miss.
Reese shoots in but no luck this time.
Reese looks winded!

Emerson clinches up against the cage.

Emerson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese swats away the attempt to clinch by Emerson.
No luck for Emerson with that takedown attempt.
Reese fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Reese fails to land the takedown.
Reese tries to clinch but Emerson moves out of range.
Reese will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Reese with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Emerson to score with a decent uppercut.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown but Reese shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reese fails with a takedown attempt.
Emerson stuffs the takedown.
Emerson wants to clinch.
Emerson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reese sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reese tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Emerson defends well and Reese ends up having to push Emerson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Emerson breaks the clinch.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Reese but Reese pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Emerson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reese sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Emerson somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Reese will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Brendon Emerson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Emerson takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Reese - that landed with a thud.

Reese's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reese sprawls well. Reese wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Emerson gets slowly back to his feet.
Reese tries to score a power double leg takedown but Emerson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Reese somewhat.
Reese tries to clinch

and Emerson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Reese wants to get back to striking at distance but Emerson won't allow it.

Reese breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese doesn't manage to clinch there - Emerson circles away.
Emerson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reese avoids it really well and circles away.
Reese shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Emerson as he avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Reese.
Emerson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reese sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendon Emerson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Emerson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emerson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reese is fending him off so far but Emerson persists. Nope, Reese circles away and we're back to standing.
Reese misses with the body kick

and Emerson moves into the clinch.
Reese has Emerson pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emerson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Reese jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Emerson walks away with a smile on his face. Reese gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Emerson is defended easily by Reese.
Reese darts in looking for a takedown but Emerson gets double underhooks and turns Reese into the cage.
Reese prevents Emerson from breaking the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Reese drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Emerson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Reese looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Emerson is fending him off so far but Reese persists. Nope, Emerson circles away and we're back to standing.
John Reese seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Emerson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Emerson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reese shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Emerson defends it nicely.
Reese is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reese clinches with his opponent.
Reese working hard to break the clinch.
Reese is looking to break free of the clinch but Emerson has double underhooks.
Emerson tries for a takedown but Reese manages to get underhooks.
Reese stalling.
Emerson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Reese just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reese misses with a hook from the clinch.
Emerson is trying to push Reese away but Reese has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Reese is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Emerson to keep the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Reese showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brendon Emerson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Reese shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Emerson as he avoids it easily.
Emerson stalks Reese and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Reese's face. Reese staggers backwards, shaken.
Reese shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Emerson pinned against the cage. Emerson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Emerson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reese, pushing him back against the cage.
Reese tries to circle away but Emerson has him pinned against the cage.
Emerson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Reese fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Reese as he avoids it easily.
Emerson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emerson misses with a series of wild punches.
Emerson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reese throws a quick inside leg kick.
Emerson stuffs the takedown.
Brendon Emerson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Reese.
Reese circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reese lands a body shot.
Reese fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Emerson avoids it really well and circles away.
Reese shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Emerson as he avoids it easily.
Reese looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emerson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Emerson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reese scores with a jab to the body.
Emerson shoots in but Reese avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Emerson leaves Reese with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reese sprawls well. Reese wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Emerson gets slowly back to his feet.
Brendon Emerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Emerson tries to clinch but Reese moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reese gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Reese breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Reese has a takedown stuffed.
Reese tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Emerson swivels and escapes.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reese shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Emerson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reese shoots for a takedown but Emerson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Emerson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reese looks to land a combination but Emerson avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Emerson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Reese buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Emerson slaps away a takedown attempt from Reese, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Reese.
Reese shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emerson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brendon Emerson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Reese is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Reese fails to land the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Brendon Emerson.
Well Reese has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... John Reese!