PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Zhitnik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Russian National Anthem. Zhitnik has chosen Metallica - Leper Messiah as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Karelin
vs
Zhitnik

205 cm
27
279 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

191 cm
26
280 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Zhitnik!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhitnik tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karelin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zhitnik somewhat.
Karelin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Karelin cracks Zhitnik with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nice cross by Karelin.

Zhitnik decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zhitnik throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zhitnik sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karelin defending well though.
Karelin is refusing to be controlled, as Zhitnik sits in half guard.
Karelin is trying to get back to full guard.
Zhitnik not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhitnik thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karelin's head.
Zhitnik wants to control but Karelin is keeping him busy.
Karelin manages to get to full guard.
Zhitnik trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karelin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zhitnik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Karelin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Karelin digs a good hook to Zhitnik's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zhitnik takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Karelin ducks under a wild hook from Zhitnik.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Karelin, as that shot connected.
Karelin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zhitnik looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karelin lands a lovely overhand right.
Karelin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Karelin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zhitnik takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Zhitnik steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karelin.
Zhitnik shoots in looking for a takedown. Karelin tries to sprawl out of it but Zhitnik keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Karelin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alex Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Zhitnik.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Karelin.
Nice body punch from Karelin.
Karelin lands with a cross.
Zhitnik moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhitnik manages to avoid it.
Zhitnik misses with an uppercut.
Karelin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhitnik manages to avoid it.
Karelin thuds a left hand into Zhitnik's body.
Karelin punishes Zhitnik's body with a nice straight punch.
Alex Karelin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhitnik with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Karelin to score with a decent uppercut.
Karelin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Karelin throws a hook but Zhitnik blocks it.
Karelin is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Karelin lands a nice hook to Zhitnik's body. Zhitnik takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Karelin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karelin lands a jab to Zhitnik's midsection.
Karelin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhitnik was well out of range. Poor timing from Karelin.
Karelin misses with a jab to the body

and Zhitnik counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Karelin is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhitnik throwing shots but Karelin is blocking nicely.
Karelin trying to control here.
Karelin is looking for a sweep. Zhitnik is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zhitnik throws a strike but Karelin avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Zhitnik slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zhitnik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Karelin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zhitnik shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Karelin defends it nicely.
Karelin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zhitnik looks for a takedown but Karelin sprawls well.
Zhitnik takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhitnik manages to avoid it.
Zhitnik pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhitnik takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Karelin lands a nice shot that snaps Zhitnik's head back.
Karelin ducks under a wild hook from Zhitnik.
Karelin with a jab.
Zhitnik shoots in for a double leg but Karelin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alex Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Zhitnik.
Karelin looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhitnik is just out of range.
Zhitnik is breathing heavily.
Zhitnik throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhitnik walks into a stiff left hand from Karelin.
Nice cross by Karelin.
No luck for Zhitnik with that takedown attempt.
Karelin throws a looping overhand right but Zhitnik ducks down to avoid it.
Karelin thows a body shot but no joy.
Karelin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Karelin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Karelin lands a right hook to the body.
Karelin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Karelin lands a glancing blow to the side of Zhitnik's head.
Karelin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zhitnik moves away.
Karelin scores with a hook to the body. Zhitnik takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karelin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Karelin lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin looks to throw the jab but Zhitnik is out of range.
Karelin connects with a nice looking jab.
Karelin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Karelin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Karelin misses with an uppercut. Zhitnik saw that one coming.
Zhitnik takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zhitnik takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Zhitnik displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Karelin throws out the jab.
Zhitnik has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zhitnik tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karelin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zhitnik somewhat.
Karelin digs a good body shot into Zhitnik's ribs.
Karelin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Karelin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin thows a body shot but no joy.
Karelin is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Karelin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zhitnik walks into a jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Karelin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Karelin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zhitnik.
Karelin cracks Zhitnik with a good jab.
Zhitnik drops his hands momentarily and Karelin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Karelin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zhitnik looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Karelin throws a shot to the body.
Karelin lands with a hook. Zhitnik tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karelin with a nice cross.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zhitnik manages to avoid it.
Karelin connects with the punch.
Karelin cracks Zhitnik with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin throws a good cross that connects.

Zhitnik takes the fight into the clinch.
Karelin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Karelin prevents the takedown attempt.
Zhitnik has Karelin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Karelin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Karelin breaks from the clinch.
Zhitnik takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zhitnik walks into a stiff left hand from Karelin.
Zhitnik throws a hook but Karelin avoids it easily.
Zhitnik takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zhitnik is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karelin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zhitnik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Karelin circles away.
Zhitnik takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Karelin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Karelin dominated that second round.
That's time! Karelin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zhitnik walks into a straight right hand from Karelin.
Karelin lands a nice shot that snaps Zhitnik's head back.
Zhitnik takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Karelin scores with a body shot.
Karelin connects with a nice looking jab.
Karelin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Zhitnik is rocked!
Karelin flashes Zhitnik a smile before throwing a beast of a right hand, straight down the pipe. Zhitnik's eyes follow the hand right onto his nose, taking in it's full glory... and then darkness. Zhitnik crumples to the floor! He's out cold! Karelin punches the air and yells at the top of his lungs - yeeeeeeeeeeah!!!! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Alex Karelin!