PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaki Seljo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Karelin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Seljo
vs
Karelin

191 cm
18
241 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

205 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jaki Seljo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Seljo shoots in but Karelin avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Karelin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Karelin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Seljo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Karelin's guard.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Seljo from controlling successfully.
Seljo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Seljo stops Karelin from standing up.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Seljo from controlling successfully.

Karelin pushes Seljo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Karelin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karelin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Seljo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seljo working a defensive guard here.
Seljo pulls Karelin in close to his closed guard and prevents Karelin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Karelin wanted to stand there but Seljo had control of the position.
Karelin stopping the sweep attempt from Seljo.
Karelin wants to stand but Seljo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Karelin looks gassed!
Seljo controls Karelin momentarily but Karelin frees himself.
Karelin is looking to stand up but Seljo won't let him.
Seljo thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Seljo closes the distance but Karelin moves to the side
and Karelin counters with a series of strikes. Seljo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Seljo wants to clinch but Karelin slips to the side

and Karelin counters with a takedown into side control.
Seljo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Karelin's best efforts.
Seljo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Seljo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Karelin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Seljo trying to control the position here.
Seljo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Seljo 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.

Seljo 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.
Seljo is trying to control the position but Karelin postures up.
Karelin preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Seljo tries for a takedown but Karelin circles away easily
and Karelin counters with a series of strikes. Seljo will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaki Seljo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karelin misses with a wild body shot.
Karelin thows a body shot but no joy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Seljo.
Seljo with a poor takedown

and Karelin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Seljo's guard.
Seljo is trying to keep Karelin in close.
Karelin wants to stand but Seljo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Seljo 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.

Seljo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Karelin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Karelin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Karelin stands up and waves to Seljo to follow him.
Seljo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seljo has his takedown stuffed

and Karelin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Seljo's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Seljo looking to control.
Seljo striking off his back but it's not causing Karelin any problems.
Seljo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Karelin stands up from Seljo's guard - Karelin perhaps looking for a knockout.

Karelin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Seljo, pushing him back against the cage.

Karelin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karelin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Seljo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Karelin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Seljo swings wildly with an uppercut but Karelin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karelin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Seljo wants to stall.
Karelin is working Seljo over against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Karelin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Karelin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Karelin moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Karelin takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Seljo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Karelin breaks from the clinch.

Seljo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Karelin!
Karelin tries to hold on but Seljo postures up.
Karelin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Karelin wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Seljo lands strikes from half guard.
Seljo is keen to just control but Karelin is a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karelin is trying to stand.
Karelin is doing well to control the position and prevent Seljo from advancing to side control.
Seljo 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.
Karelin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Seljo. 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 one minute gone in the round.
Karelin wants to get back to his feet.

Seljo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Karelin defends it well.
Seljo is thwarting Karelin's attempts to control the position.
Karelin taking some punishment here, with Seljo in his half guard.
Seljo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karelin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Seljo is working hard here to advance position.
Karelin wants to improve his position but Seljo is controlling well.
Seljo is looking to take a break and control but Karelin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Seljo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Seljo is thwarting Karelin's attempts to control the position.
Seljo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karelin connects with a single shot there.

Karelin drives through and clinches with Seljo against the cage.

Karelin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Seljo gets caught flat footed, as Karelin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Karelin postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Karelin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Karelin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Seljo's guard.
Seljo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Seljo is keeping the position for now.
Seljo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karelin is controlling him.
Karelin wants to stand and escape but instead Seljo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Karelin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Seljo is one step ahead there.
Seljo with a nice head shot there.
Karelin wants to get back to his feet but Seljo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Seljo fails with the takedown

and Karelin counters by moving into the clinch.
Seljo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Karelin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaki Seljo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karelin gets through Seljo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Karelin lands an elbow that stopped Seljo in his tracks for a moment.
Karelin stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Karelin lands a takedown into guard.
Karelin is looking to stand up but Seljo won't let him.
Seljo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Seljo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karelin manages to get himself to full guard.
Seljo wants to pass the guard but Karelin is keeping the position.
Karelin wants to stand up but Seljo is controlling him.
Seljo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Seljo advances position into side control!

Karelin throws Seljo to one side and escapes!
Seljo shoots in and drives through. Karelin sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Karelin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Seljo is looking to clinch.
Seljo tries for a takedown but Karelin circles away easily

and Karelin moves into the clinch.
Karelin avoiding damage.
Seljo tries to score a body lock takedown but Karelin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Seljo wants to get back to striking at distance but Karelin won't allow it.

Karelin breaks from the clinch.

Karelin rushes Seljo and presses him up against the cage.

Karelin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Seljo gets back to full guard.
Alex Karelin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karelin wants to stand but Seljo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Karelin preventing the sweep.
Karelin wants to stand but Seljo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Karelin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Seljo is working an open guard so Karelin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seljo fails with the takedown

and Karelin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karelin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaki Seljo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Karelin gets to his feet. Seljo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Seljo tries to land a body kick

and Karelin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Seljo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Karelin wants to stand but Seljo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Seljo looking to control.
Seljo is really struggling to control Karelin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Karelin won't allow Seljo to sweep him here.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Seljo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Seljo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Karelin!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karelin is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin throwing hammer fists to the chest of Seljo. What's that going to do exactly?
Karelin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Seljo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Karelin turns into him and now he's in Seljo's guard.
Karelin stopping the sweep attempt from Seljo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin tries to stand but Seljo is controlling from the bottom.
Karelin preventing the sweep.
Seljo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Karelin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Seljo is proving hard to escape from.
Seljo lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Seljo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Karelin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Karelin breaks from the clinch.
Seljo fails with the takedown
and Karelin counters with a left to the body.

Karelin has closed the distance and engaged Seljo in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karelin gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Karelin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Seljo.
Seljo tries to roll over but Karelin keeps him under control.
Seljo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jaki Seljo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Seljo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Seljo wants to stand and escape but Karelin is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Seljo has a closed guard, preventing Karelin from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Seljo walks into a straight right hand from Karelin.
Jaki Seljo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Seljo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Seljo thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Karelin to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Karelin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Karelin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Karelin!