PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niklas Lidstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin comes to the cage accompanied by Aleksandr Karelin Intro. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Karelin
vs
Lidstrom

160 cm
23
218 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
206 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexander Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Niklas Lidstrom!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lidstrom slaps away a takedown attempt from Karelin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lidstrom stuffs the takedown.

Lidstrom clinches.
Lidstrom gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karelin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lidstrom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lidstrom throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Karelin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lidstrom lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Alexander Karelin has been cut.
Lidstrom lands with a nice combination. Karelin backs away looking to recover.
Karelin is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt.
Lidstrom dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice shot by Lidstrom.
Lidstrom connects with the punch.
Lidstrom defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Karelin.
Lidstrom lands with a right hand.
Lidstrom cracks Karelin with an open hand slap.
Lidstrom works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Lidstrom stuns Karelin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Karelin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A punch lands to the side of Karelin 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Alexander Karelin's cut is getting worse.
Lidstrom bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Karelin's head backwards.
Lidstrom throws a combination. Karelin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lidstrom drives through and clinches with Karelin against the cage.
Lidstrom is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lidstrom.
Lidstrom creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Karelin's defenses.
Lidstrom has Karelin pushed against the cage.
Karelin wants a takedown.

Lidstrom manages to break the clinch.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Karelin. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Karelin feints and as Lidstrom raises his hands in defense, Karelin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Karelin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Lidstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lidstrom is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lidstrom wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Karelin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Karelin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin throwing strikes from guard but Lidstrom blocks nicely.
Karelin throws a big right hand that misses.
Karelin pushes down on Lidstrom's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Karelin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lidstrom defending well though.
Karelin prevents Lidstrom from improving his position.
Lidstrom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Karelin. 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 four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Karelin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Karelin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lidstrom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Karelin is looking for a kimura but Lidstrom is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Karelin to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lidstrom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Lidstrom dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander 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.

Jab, jab by Lidstrom - just one landing.

Lidstrom pushes Karelin up against the cage in a clinch.
Karelin is working for takedown but Lidstrom is calmly controlling the position for now.
Karelin tries to score a body lock takedown but Lidstrom shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Lidstrom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karelin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lidstrom fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lidstrom keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lidstrom dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Lidstrom closes the distance and clinches.
Lidstrom lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lidstrom lands a damaging elbow.
Lidstrom works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lidstrom will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Karelin up against the cage.
Karelin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lidstrom is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lidstrom avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Lidstrom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lidstrom scores with a hook to the body. Karelin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin walks into a jab.

Alexander Karelin's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Lidstrom lands with an uppercut that bounces Karelin off the cage and back into rage.
Niklas Lidstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lidstrom lands a lovely overhand right.
Lidstrom lands a jab to the nose.
Alexander Karelin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karelin drops his hands momentarily and Lidstrom takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lidstrom's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Lidstrom duly obliges.

Lidstrom closes the distance and clinches.
Karelin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A nice left hand lands by Lidstrom.

Jeez, Alexander Karelin's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Lidstrom's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Lidstrom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karelin throws a head kick that misses.

Lidstrom clinches up against the cage.
Karelin is working for takedown but Lidstrom is calmly controlling the position for now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lidstrom creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lidstrom gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karelin.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!

Lidstrom moves into the clinch.
Lidstrom lands with a left to the head.
Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lidstrom avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lidstrom lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Lidstrom breaks from the clinch.
Lidstrom connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lidstrom dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lidstrom lands with a nice body punch.
Lidstrom comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lidstrom has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lidstrom throws a shot to the body.
Jab, jab by Lidstrom - just one landing.

Lidstrom pushes Karelin up against the cage in a clinch.
Lidstrom lands a left hand that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Lidstrom lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Karelin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lidstrom lands on the inside with an uppercut.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Niklas Lidstrom!