PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerry Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Karellin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lawson
vs
Karellin

182 cm
20
221 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

205 cm
24
215 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Sweet-Tooth Supplements

Rusty Cage Fightwear (powered by Sabotage, Inc.)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jerry Lawson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Karellin!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawson. Karellin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Karellin misses with a body shot.
Karellin is looking to clinch.
Lawson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Karellin wants to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karellin. Lawson does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawson swats away the attempt to clinch by Karellin.
Karellin throws a hook but Lawson blocks it.
A punch combination from Karellin misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karellin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lawson.
Karellin just misses with a punch to the body.
Karellin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Lawson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lawson thows a huge punch but Karellin dodges it nicely.
Lawson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lawson works his way into side control.
Karellin is looking for a sweep.
Karellin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lawson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson throws an elbow but Karellin slips to the side and avoids it well.
Lawson advances to mount.
Lawson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Karellin defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Lawson.
Lawson unloads with some shots from mount but Karellin bucks and avoids them well.
Karellin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson throwing strikes here but Karellin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Karellin can't escape the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karellin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lawson unloads with some shots from mount but Karellin bucks and avoids them well.
Lawson with the ground and pound from mount.
Karellin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lawson scoring with strikes but Karellin is staying in there.
Karellin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lawson looking to finish with strikes here!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lawson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawson unloads with some shots from mount but Karellin bucks and avoids them well.

Lawson looking for a guillotine from mount but Karellin is having none of it.
Lawson breaks from Karellin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lawson thowing shots but they're missing.
Lawson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
BOOM! Lawson connects with a massive shot to the dome!

It looks like Alexander Karellin has been cut.
Lawson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Karellin looks a forlorn figure.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Lawson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Karellin has worked his arm free - good work by Karellin!
Karellin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lawson.

Lawson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lawson working away.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Karellin parries the strikes from Lawson easily there. Lawson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Karellin to escape.

Lawson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Lawson tries for a kimura but Karellin is defending well.
Lawson is breathing heavily.
Lawson with the ground and pound but Karellin regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Lawson is thwarting Karellin's attempts to control the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Karellin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lawson.
Lawson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karellin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Karellin leaves Lawson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Karellin just misses with a punch to the body.
Karellin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Jerry Lawson has been cut.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Karellin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lawson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lawson misses with a straight left.
Alexander Karellin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karellin moves in looking to clinch but Lawson pushes him off.
Karellin scores with a hook to the body. Lawson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lawson drops his hands momentarily and Karellin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karellin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lawson manages to avoid it.
Karellin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karellin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lawson looks to land a left hand but Karellin moved out of range nicely.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Karellin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karellin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Karellin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Karellin clobbers Lawson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Karellin misses with a double jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Karellin!
Karellin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Karellin throws the left hand but Lawson avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karellin dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Karellin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karellin throws a lazy right hand but Lawson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lawson. Karellin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Karellin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Lawson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Karellin.
Lawson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Karellin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karellin misses the shot to the body.
Lawson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lawson misses with an uppercut. Karellin saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karellin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lawson throws out a loose jab but Karellin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lawson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karellin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lawson ducks right into an uppercut from Karellin.
Karellin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lawson moves away.
Lawson misses the body punch
and Karellin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lawson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karellin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karellin throws a shot to the body.
Karellin scores with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karellin doesn't manage to clinch there - Lawson circles away.
Karellin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Karellin is looking to clinch.
Karellin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lawson momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lawson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Karellin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lawson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Karellin is avoiding damage well.

Lawson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karellin tries to improve position but can't.
Karellin pushes Lawson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lawson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lawson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Lawson wants to control but Karellin is keeping him busy.
Lawson is trying to ground and pound but Karellin uses the momentary lack of control by Lawson to regain half guard.
Lawson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karellin's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karellin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karellin slips under a jab from Lawson.
Karellin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lawson is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Karellin's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Karellin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karellin is looking to clinch.
Karellin misses with a body shot.
Karellin looks to land a right hand but Lawson moved out of range.
Lawson misses with a body shot.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Karellin does it's job there.
Karellin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lawson.
Lawson catches Karellin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lawson missing with a left hand there. Karellin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Karellin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Karellin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lawson misses the body punch
and Karellin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lawson thinking.
Karellin defending well as Lawson loads up on a big left hand.
A left and a right from Karellin both land. Nice combination.
Karellin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lawson looks to land a right hand but Karellin moved out of range.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lawson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karellin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lawson somewhat.
Karellin throws a series of punches but Lawson moves out of range.
Lawson fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerry Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karellin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawson.
Karellin moves out of range as Lawson strikes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Karellin misses with the combination.
Lawson thows a body shot but no joy.
Karellin thows a body shot but no joy.
Karellin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karellin throws a body punch but Lawson moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karellin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A jab from Karellin does it's job there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Karellin lands a slapping body shot.
Karellin misses with a straight left.
Lawson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Karellin tries to clinch there but Lawson circles away.
Lawson shoots for a takedown but Karellin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fighters circling - Karellin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lawson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lawson keeps the fight on the outside.
Karellin just misses with a punch to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Karellin sizes up Lawson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Lawson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Karellin counters with a two punch combo.
Karellin throws a sloppy body shot

and Lawson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Karellin won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The ground and pound from Lawson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Lawson is trying to get an arm triangle but Karellin is defending well.
Lawson is looking to take a break and control but Karellin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karellin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lawson throws a body punch but Karellin moves out of range.
Karellin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Karellin misses with a wild body shot.
Karellin misses with a low kick.
Karellin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lawson rather than just go for the knockout.
Karellin tries to close the distance and clinch but Lawson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karellin thows a body shot but no joy.

Lawson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lawson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lawson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawson punching from mount but Karellin doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lawson working for a submission but Karellin is keeping him at bay.
Lawson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Karellin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Jerry Lawson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lawson avoids the attempt from Karellin to control.

Lawson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Karellin has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Lawson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Karellin blocking the ground and pound.
Karellin avoids a series of strikes thrown by Lawson.

Lawson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Karellin is surviving well by controlling Lawson's body position as best he can.
Karellin is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karellin tries to hold on but Lawson pushes him away.
Lawson wants to control but instead Karellin manages to regain half guard.

Lawson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karellin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lawson takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karellin lands a with a good body shot.
Karellin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karellin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karellin cracks Lawson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Karellin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lawson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice uppercut lands for Karellin. That snapped Lawson's head back.
Karellin wants to clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Karellin connects with a body shot.
Lawson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Karellin cracks Lawson with a good jab.
Karellin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lawson moves away.
Karellin throws the left hand but Lawson avoids the punch easily.
Karellin swings for the body but Lawson moves out of range.
Karellin loads up on a big right hand but Lawson slips the punch.
Karellin tries to clinch but Lawson moves away

and Lawson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Karellin won't be happy with that.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lawson wants to control but Karellin is keeping him busy.
Lawson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Karellin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lawson cracks Karellin with a big right hand but Karellin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lawson trying to control the action but Karellin is working from the bottom.
Karellin wants to control but Lawson postures up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lawson with the ground and pound but Karellin regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Lawson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Karellin tries to get to full guard but Lawson has control of the leg.
Lawson trying to control the pace.
Lawson throwing shots but Karellin is blocking nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lawson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karellin keeps working.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karellin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawson.
Lawson throws a jab when Karellin was well out of range.
Karellin is looking to clinch.
Lawson throws the left hand but Karellin avoids the punch easily.

Karellin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lawson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Karellin holds on and takes a little breather.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lawson looking to pass the guard.

Lawson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lawson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karellin really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lawson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lawson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Karellin doesn't manage to clinch there - Lawson circles away.
Karellin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Karellin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karellin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lawson's head backwards.

Karellin darts in and clinches Lawson up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Karellin.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Karellin lands a body punch.
Karellin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lawson as Karellin tries to tie him up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karellin.
Lawson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Karellin smiles and moves away.
Karellin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Karellin throws a combination. Lawson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lawson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karellin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Karellin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Karellin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lawson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Karellin.
Karellin cracks a nice hook into Lawson's ribs.
Karellin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lawson.
Karellin lands a slapping body shot.
Karellin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lawson momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karellin catches Lawson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Karellin lands a jab to the nose.
Karellin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No joy there for Karellin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Karellin closes the distance and pushes Lawson back into the ropes.
Karellin is pressed up against the ropes. Lawson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Karellin down to the mat. Karellin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerry Lawson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karellin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karellin.
Alexander Karellin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lawson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karellin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karellin wants to clinch.
Karellin wants to clinch but Lawson slips to the side

and Lawson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Karellin!
Lawson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Lawson controlling his opponent.
Karellin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lawson throws some wild stikes that Karellin manages to avoid easily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Karellin is trying desperately to improve position.
Lawson looking to ground and pound but Karellin is blocking nicely.

Lawson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Karellin is now in Lawson's guard. A big mistake from Lawson there, giving up the dominant position!
Karellin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Karellin trying to control the position from guard on top but Lawson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karellin wanted to stand there but Lawson had control of the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Karellin won't allow Lawson to sweep him here.
Lawson looking to control.
Karellin tries to stand but Lawson is controlling from the bottom.
Karellin trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Karellin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karellin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Karellin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lawson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karellin. Lawson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Karellin instigates a clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Karellin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Karellin digs a right hand into Lawson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lawson's gas tank.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Karellin holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Karellin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lawson is keeping busy.

Lawson gets control of Karellin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lawson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Karellin wants to pass the guard but Lawson is keeping the position.
Lawson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Karellin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lawson is on top in guard.
Lawson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Karellin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lawson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lawson advances position into side control!
Karellin tries to buck Lawson off but Lawson is having none of it.

Lawson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Karellin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Karellin stops Lawson from passing to mount.
Karellin is pushing Lawson's head away, looking to escape. Lawson manages to hold on to the position though.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Lawson.
The strikes coming from Lawson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Lawson wants to take a breather but Karellin manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Lawson.
Karellin keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A leg kick checked by Lawson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karellin dominated that fourth round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Karellin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Karellin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lawson.
Karellin misses with a two punch combination.
Karellin misses with a combination

and Lawson counters with a takedown into side control.
Lawson is looking to take a break and control but Karellin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lawson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Karellin's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawson wants to control but Karellin is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Lawson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Check out the look on Lawson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Karellin holding on.
Lawson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Karellin's legs.
Karellin is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lawson tries to move to mount but Karellin blocks the move with his legs.

Lawson is trying to get an arm triangle but Karellin is defending well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Lawson throws a strike aimed at the side of Karellin's head but Karellin avoids it well.
Lawson trying to control the action but Karellin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karellin throws a series of strikes that have Lawson backpedaling.
Karellin tries to clinch up but Lawson circles away and keeps his distance.
Karellin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lawson.
Lawson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Karellin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Lawson misses its intended target.
Karellin throws a big shot that misses.
A shot to de liver by Karellin. Beautiful body shot.
Karellin misses with an uppercut.
Karellin clinches but Lawson breaks the clinch

and Lawson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
Lawson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lawson uses his free foot to push down on Karellin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Karellin.
Karellin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lawson throws some wild stikes that Karellin manages to avoid easily.
Lawson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Lawson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Karellin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Lawson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Karellin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lawson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karellin is looking to escape.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lawson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Lawson is working for a guillotine from mount but Karellin frees his head quite easily.
Lawson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Karellin wants to hold on but Lawson pushes him away.
Lawson trying to control but Karellin is having none of it.
Karellin prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Lawson scoring with strikes but Karellin is staying in there.
Lawson looking to finish with strikes here!
Jerry Lawson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karellin working to try and regain half guard.

Lawson is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Karellin is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:31 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jerry Lawson!
Jerry Lawson retains his light heavyweight title!