PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karpo Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kauko Kaarna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kaarna's choice of entrance music: Rolling Stones - Paint it black. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Karelin
vs
Kaarna

184 cm
21
222 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
206 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Takomo

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Karpo Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kauko Kaarna!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kaarna wants to clinch.
Kaarna shoots for a takedown but Karelin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kaarna throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kaarna tries to clinch up.

Kaarna moves into the clinch.
Karelin slowing the pace effectively.
Kaarna gets underhooks to prevent Karelin's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin dodges an elbow strike from Kaarna.
Kaarna is working for takedown but Karelin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Karelin managing to block the knees to the body from Kaarna.
Kaarna stalling the fight.
Karelin blocks the elbow strike.
Kaarna trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaarna lands a nice elbow.
Kaarna stalling in the clinch but Karelin improves position.
Kaarna lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Karelin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karelin takes a knee right on the jaw!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kaarna takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kaarna lands a knee to the head.
Kaarna drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karpo Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kauko Kaarna.
Kaarna working Karelin over with knees to the body.

Karelin has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kaarna is trying to keep an underhook but Karelin manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Karelin prevents Kaarna from improving his position.
Karelin working over Kaarna with some ground and pound. Kaarna looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaarna is looking to control Karelin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kaarna avoid being mounted?
Karelin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kaarna tries to kick Karelin off but Karelin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Karelin prevents Kaarna from improving his position.
Kaarna is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Karelin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Karelin is looking to take a break and control but Kaarna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kaarna moves into full guard.
Kaarna trying to control the position.
Kaarna bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Karelin's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kaarna advances to half guard.
Kaarna wants to control but Karelin is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaarna seems to be working for a kimura but Karelin defends the submission attempt.

Kaarna is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Karelin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kaarna.
Kaarna looks gassed!
Karelin is not content to let Kaarna control the position.
Kaarna seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Karelin tries to get to full guard but Kaarna has control of the leg.
Karelin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Karelin is pressing down on Kaarna's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kaarna trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kaarna is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kaarna gets caught flat footed, as Karelin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Kaarna gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kaarna trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karelin throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kaarna wants to control from the top but Karelin keeps moving.

Kaarna stands and steps away. Karelin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kaarna doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Karelin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kaarna thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karpo Karelin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Karelin looks to throw the jab but Kaarna is out of range.
Kaarna swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kaarna scores with a jab. Karelin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Kaarna closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Karelin did well to prevent Kaarna getting side control.
Kaarna tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Kaarna wants to pass the guard but Karelin is defending well.
Karelin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Karelin wants to control but Kaarna is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Kaarna stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Karelin to get to his feet.
Kaarna clinches but Karelin breaks the clinch
and Karelin counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaarna tries to clinch

and Karelin counters with a takedown into side control.
Karelin prevents Kaarna from escaping the position.
Kaarna is not content to let Karelin control the position.
Karelin cracks Kaarna with a big right hand but Kaarna just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Karelin lands an elbow.
Kaarna is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kaarna is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Karelin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Karelin working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kaarna is trying to get back to full guard.
Kaarna is looking to control Karelin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kaarna avoid being mounted?
Kaarna might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Karelin kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kaarna is trying to stand.
Kaarna has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karelin is working away from the top position though.
Kaarna is trying to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kaarna tries to clinch but Karelin moves away

and Karelin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaarna is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Karelin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin working some strikes from top position.
Kaarna is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Karelin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Karelin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kaarna has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Karelin has managed to get both his arms back between Kaarna's legs - danger averted.
Karelin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Karelin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kaarna working a defensive guard here.
Kaarna is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Karelin dives into side control.
Karpo Karelin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karelin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kaarna down.
Kaarna is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Karelin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kaarna to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kaarna wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kaarna taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kaarna struggling a bit here.
Karelin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Karelin prevents Kaarna from escaping the position.
Karelin working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karelin throws a sloppy body shot
and Kaarna makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kaarna lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karpo Karelin dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Kaarna swings away with a body shot that misses
and Karelin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karelin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kaarna misses with a takedown attempt

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kaarna won't be happy with that.
Karelin wants to control but Kaarna is keeping him busy.
Karelin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kaarna wants to control but Karelin postures up.
Karelin tries to score with some ground and pound. Kaarna controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kaarna tries to escape but Karelin is in control.
Kaarna taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kaarna can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaarna pushes Karelin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Karelin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kaarna with a lazy takedown attempt
and Karelin counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin clobbers Kaarna with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Karelin sizes up Kaarna with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kaarna tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karelin counters with a straight right hand.

Kaarna looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Karelin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Karelin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kaarna lands strikes from half guard.
Karelin is looking for a sweep. Kaarna is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaarna sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kaarna is trying to control the action in half guard but Karelin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kaarna trying to pass the guard but Karelin defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kaarna tries for a takedown but Karelin circles away easily

and Karelin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karpo Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kauko Kaarna.
Karelin chips away with some ground and pound.
Karelin won't allow Kaarna to get back to his feet.
Karelin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaarna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin postures up.
Karelin throwing strikes but missing.

Kaarna working for a triangle but Karelin defends it easily.
Kaarna is looking to stand back up but Karelin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kaarna.
Kaarna tries to kick Karelin off but Karelin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ground and pound from Karelin.
Kaarna wants to control but Karelin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Karelin working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kaarna regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kaarna keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Kaarna wants to stand but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin won't allow Kaarna to sweep him here.

Kaarna has his foot on Karelin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karelin works his way back into a safe position though.
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Kaarna's brow.
Kauko Kaarna has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kaarna is striking off his back. Karelin thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Karelin prevents Kaarna from standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karelin misses with a hook. Kaarna ducked under it nicely.
Kaarna fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Karelin is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karpo Karelin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Karelin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for Karpo Karelin!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Karpo Karelin!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Karpo Karelin!

Karpo Karelin wins by unanimous decision!