PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zdravko Zdravkov (ranked 1895 p4p, 1016 weight class) and Frank Karuso (ranked 280 p4p, 152 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.

Zdravkov
vs
Karuso

185 cm
31
184
10 - 11 - 0

190 cm
22
195
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

EFC Threads

EFC Threads
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zdravko Zdravkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Karuso!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zdravkov misses with a wild combination.

Karuso has Zdravkov up against the cage in a clinch.

Zdravkov successfully pulls guard.
Zdravkov wants to improve his position but instead Karuso has moved into half guard.
Zdravkov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zdravkov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zdravkov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Zdravkov wants to improve his position but Karuso is controlling well.
Zdravkov missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zdravkov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Zdravkov lands a couple of sideways elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zdravkov punching from the bottom.
Zdravkov missing with punches from the bottom.
Zdravkov is looking for a sweep. Karuso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zdravkov trying to control from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Zdravkov manages to get to full guard.
Zdravkov has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Zdravkov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zdravkov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Karuso sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zdravkov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Karuso's coach down at EFC Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Karuso's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Zdravkov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zdravkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Karuso was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice uppercut there from Karuso.

Zdravkov moves into range and clinches up with Karuso.
Karuso doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zdravkov is trying to pull guard but Karuso has him pressed against the cage.
Zdravkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zdravkov struggles to land a body shot inside as Karuso controls his hands.
Zdravkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zdravko Zdravkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zdravkov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Karuso gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Zdravkov tries to pull guard but Karuso holds him up against the cage and eventually Zdravkov drops back down to his feet.
Karuso scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karuso lands with a short shot to the head.
Zdravkov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Karuso misses with a body punch.
Zdravkov prevents a body shot from Karuso.
Zdravkov is trying to pull guard but Karuso turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Karuso tries to throw a body punch but Zdravkov avoids it by throwing Karuso back against the cage.
Karuso lands a shot to the body.
Zdravkov prevents a body shot from Karuso.
Zdravkov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karuso.
Karuso misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Karuso is working Zdravkov over against the cage.
Karuso is working Zdravkov over against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karuso.
Karuso lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zdravkov is trying to pull guard but Karuso has him pressed against the cage.

Zdravkov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karuso bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zdravkov's guard.

Zdravkov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zdravkov is looking for a triangle here but Karuso uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Zdravkov tries to buck Karuso off but Karuso is having none of it.
Zdravkov misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Zdravkov can't do much from the bottom here.
Karuso trying to control the action but Zdravkov is working from the bottom.
Zdravkov can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Karuso dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karuso tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zdravkov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Karuso has Zdravkov up against the cage in a clinch.
Zdravkov letting Karuso take a breather here.
Karuso scores with a hook to the body.
Zdravkov jumps guard but Karuso turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Karuso struggles to land a body shot inside as Zdravkov controls his hands.
Karuso prevents the takedown attempt.
Karuso swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Karuso is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Karuso tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zdravkov's elbow.
Karuso can't find room to land a body shot as Zdravkov controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zdravkov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Zdravkov manages to end up in side control.
Zdravkov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Karuso is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The strikes coming from Zdravkov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zdravkov landing a few strikes.
Zdravkov cracks Karuso with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Zdravkov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Zdravkov working the ground and pound but Karuso is defending the strikes.
Karuso really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zdravkov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zdravkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karuso keeps working.
Zdravkov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Karuso dodges the ground and pound from Zdravkov.
Zdravkov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zdravkov working away.
Karuso parries the strikes from Zdravkov easily there. Zdravkov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Karuso to escape.
Zdravkov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Karuso's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zdravkov lands an elbow.
Zdravkov lands an elbow.
Zdravko Zdravkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zdravkov is chipping away with strikes.
Karuso dodges the ground and pound from Zdravkov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zdravkov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Zdravkov in side control, throwing shots but Karuso defends.
Zdravkov works to advance to full mount. Karuso defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zdravkov with shots to the head and body - Karuso looks very uncomfortable down there.

Karuso is rocked!
Karuso is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zdravkov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Karuso is still in real trouble! Can Zdravkov finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karuso wants to control but Zdravkov is having none of it.
Karuso seems to have recovered his senses.
Zdravkov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zdravkov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Karuso hang on?
Zdravkov looking to control but Karuso is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Karuso is trying to escape the mount.
Zdravkov with good strikes from the mount here!
Karuso takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zdravkov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Karuso hang on?
Zdravkov lands a couple of good shots and Karuso has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
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!
Zdravkov misses with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karuso tries to roll but Zdravkov sticks to his back.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Zdravkov. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Karuso is trapped and Zdravkov is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Zdravkov lands strikes from the back and Karuso isn't doing enough to escape the position. The referee steps in to end the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zdravko Zdravkov!
Zdravko Zdravkov made sure to mention his sponsor, EFC Threads in his post fight interview.