PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yohan Francis (ranked 1090 p4p, 937 weight class) and Ruslan Karelin (ranked 129 p4p, 112 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Francis
vs
Karelin

196 cm
36
249
22 - 14 - 0

190 cm
28
256
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Core Combat
Voodoo Nutrition

Core Combat

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 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yohan Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Ruslan Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin shoots in for a double leg but Francis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Francis was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Francis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Francis connects with a body shot that sends Karelin's belly button to the back.
Francis connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Ruslan Karelin has been cut.
Horrible takedown attempt by Karelin or perhaps it was just good defense by Francis, which made it look bad.
Karelin looks to score with a jab to the body but Francis is just out of range.
Karelin closes the distance and clinches up with Francis, looking for a takedown. Karelin pushes Francis against the cage but Francis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yohan Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Karelin.
Jab, jab by Francis - just one landing.
Francis missing with a left hand there. Karelin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown but Francis shows good takedown defense.
Karelin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Francis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karelin moves away.
Karelin ducks right into an uppercut from Francis.
Karelin looks for a takedown but Francis sprawls well.
A little feinted left hand from Francis on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin ducks under a wild hook from Francis.

Francis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Karelin did well to prevent Francis getting side control.

Karelin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Francis pulls his head out easily.
Karelin tries to get to full guard but Francis has control of the leg.
Francis wants to stand but Karelin has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Karelin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Francis pulls his head out easily.

Karelin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Francis pulls his head out easily.
Karelin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling the position.
Francis trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Francis decides to return to a standing position.
Francis throws a lazy uppercut
and Karelin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Francis as Karelin shoots in.
Francis swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Karelin with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Francis counter with a right hand.
Francis lands a right hook to the body.
Francis throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Karelin looks winded!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Francis throws a hook to the side of Karelin's head but Karelin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It seemed like Karelin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A good leg kick by Francis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karelin shoots in and bounces Francis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Francis wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Karelin manages to pass to side control.

Karelin throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Francis to regain full guard.
Francis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karelin throwing strikes but missing.
Francis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Francis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin throws an elbow that misses. Francis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karelin's guard. Nice move by Francis!

Karelin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Karelin tries to free his leg and advance position but Francis is retaining full guard.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Karelin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Karelin throws a big right hand that misses.
Karelin slips nicely into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yohan Francis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ruslan Karelin's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Karelin fails with the takedown
and Francis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Francis is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Karelin checks the leg kick.
Karelin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Francis throwing a counter right hand but Karelin manages to avoid it.
Yohan Francis is winning the standup battle so far.
Karelin tries for a takedown but Francis circles away easily
and Francis counters with a stiff right hand.

That has opened up Ruslan Karelin's cut even more.
Yohan Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Karelin.
Francis lands a jab to the nose.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis dips to his left and cracks Karelin with an uppercut!
Francis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karelin can do to turn this around?

Francis moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Karelin goes down! Can Francis finish him!?

Karelin is rocked!

The cut above Ruslan Karelin's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Francis is looking to stand up but Karelin won't let him.
Karelin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Francis is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin is pulling down on Francis's head. It's preventing any offense from Francis, at least for the moment.

Francis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Karelin, up you get!
Francis misses the shot to the body.
Francis walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Karelin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Francis misses the target.
Francis misses with a hook.
Francis lands a lovely overhand right.

Ruslan Karelin's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Francis leaves Karelin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Francis seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis connects with a good right hand that stumbles Karelin. Karelin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ruslan Karelin's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Yohan Francis!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Yohan Francis waved his t-shirt featuring Core Combat's logo in front of the cameras.