PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chubekka Chubbi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chubekka Chubbi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Karelin
vs
Chubbi

191 cm
26
285 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

225 cm
19
270 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksandr Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chubekka Chubbi!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chubbi shoots for a double leg takedown but Karelin sprawls well. He's pushed Chubbi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Chubbi moves into the clinch.

Karelin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karelin misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick misses from Karelin.
Chubbi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Chubbi misses with a kick to the body.
Karelin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Karelin tries a head kick but it misses.
Karelin could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karelin. Chubbi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chubbi avoids the body shot from Karelin.
Chubbi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karelin.
A big left from Karelin misses.
Karelin tries a head kick but it misses.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chubbi manages to avoid it.
Karelin throws a hook but Chubbi avoids it easily.
Karelin keeps the fight on the outside.
Karelin avoids the head kick by Chubbi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chubbi blocks the body kick.
Karelin swings for the body but Chubbi moves out of range.
Chubbi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Chubbi throws the kick towards the body but Karelin avoids it.
Karelin misses with a body shot.
Chubbi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chubbi tries to close the distance and clinch but Karelin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chubbi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karelin tries to bum rush Chubbi with a series of wild strikes but Chubbi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Chubbi tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.

Karelin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Chubbi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Karelin wants to stand but Chubbi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Chubbi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chubbi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karelin.
Chubbi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Karelin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Karelin landing with the ground and pound.
Karelin thows a big elbow that misses.

Chubbi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Chubbi is trying to force a seperation but Karelin has the dominant position.

Chubbi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Karelin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Chubbi to the mat. Chubbi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Chubbi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karelin.
Karelin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Karelin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chubbi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chubbi trying to keep a closed guard but Karelin is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chubbi wants to stand but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chubbi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karelin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karelin misses with a wild combination.
Chubbi tries for a takedown but Karelin circles away easily

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karelin postures up in Chubbi's guard and throws a big left but Chubbi blocks it.
Karelin throws and elbow that misses. Chubbi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karelin's guard. Nice move by Chubbi!
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Chubbi from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Karelin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Chubbi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karelin.
Karelin throws a lazy head kick

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

Karelin is working an open guard so Chubbi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Aleksandr Karelin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karelin throws a lazy head kick

and Chubbi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Chubbi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chubbi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Karelin uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Karelin is looking to wear down Chubbi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chubbi wants to clinch but Karelin slips to the side

so Karelin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karelin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Karelin postures up in Chubbi's guard and throws a big left but Chubbi blocks it.
Chubbi trying to keep a closed guard but Karelin is proving a slippery customer.
Karelin is looking to work some ground and pound but Chubbi has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is looking to work some ground and pound but Chubbi has wrist control.

Karelin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Chubbi, up you get!
Chubbi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karelin throws a head kick that misses.
Karelin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Chubbi closes the distance but Karelin moves to the side

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Karelin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Chubbi, up you get!
Chubbi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Karelin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Karelin.
Karelin misses with a double jab
and Chubbi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Karelin thinking.
Chubbi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin misses with a takedown
letting Chubbi counter with a right hand.
Chubbi is looking to clinch but Karelin is avoiding it.
Chubbi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Karelin throws a combination that misses
and Chubbi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Karelin swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Chubbi counter with a right hand.
Chubbi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Karelin counters with a shoot takedown. Chubbi fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chubbi controls Karelin momentarily but Karelin frees himself.
Karelin lands a couple of digs.
Chubbi has momentary wrist control but Karelin slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chubbi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Chubbi looking for a takedown.
Chubbi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karelin pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Chubbi breaks from the clinch.
Chubbi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karelin throws a head kick that misses
and Chubbi counters with a straight right hand.
Karelin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Karelin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Chubbi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Karelin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Chubbi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Karelin throws a combination that misses
and Chubbi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Karelin is lucky that one didn't land flush.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Chubbi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Chubbi throws a body kick that misses.
Karelin swings away with a body shot that misses
and Chubbi counters with a good, hard body kick but Karelin shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chubekka Chubbi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Karelin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Karelin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Chubbi counters with a one-two to the body.
Karelin tries a head kick but it misses.
Chubbi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Karelin misses with a double jab
and Chubbi counters with a series of strikes. Karelin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Chubbi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Karelin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Chubbi counters with a one-two to the body.
Karelin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Chubbi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Chubbi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Karelin smiles and moves away.
Karelin misses with a jab to the body
and Chubbi counters with a one-two to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chubbi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Karelin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karelin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Chubbi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Chubbi tries to clinch but Karelin moves away

and Karelin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Chubbi's guard now.
Karelin won't allow Chubbi to get back to his feet.
Karelin postures up in Chubbi's guard and throws a big left but Chubbi blocks it.
Chubbi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karelin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chubbi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chubbi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Chubbi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.
Karelin won't allow Chubbi to get back to his feet.
Karelin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karelin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Chubbi counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chubbi decides to stand back up. Chubbi steps back and let's Karelin get back to his feet.
Karelin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Chubbi counters with a left and a right that stings Karelin.
Karelin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Chubbi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karelin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Karelin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Chubbi counters with a three punch combo that has Karelin backing up. Karelin nods at Chubbi to acknowledge the strikes.
Aleksandr Karelin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karelin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karelin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Karelin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick by Karelin misses
and Karelin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Karelin throws a lazy head kick
and Chubbi counters with a left to the body.
Chubbi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chubbi moves out of range of the body kick.
Karelin keeps the fight on the outside.
Karelin misses with a double jab
and Chubbi counters with a head kick. That will keep Karelin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Chubbi misses with a low kick.
No luck for Chubbi with that takedown attempt.
Karelin misses with a double jab
and Chubbi counters with a nice leg kick.
Karelin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Chubbi counters by moving into the clinch.
Chubbi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karelin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Aleksandr Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chubekka Chubbi.

Karelin gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Karelin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karelin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Karelin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Chubbi is trying to control the position but Karelin postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin wanted to stand there but Chubbi had control of the position.

Chubbi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Karelin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Karelin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Chubbi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Chubbi closes the distance but Karelin moves to the side

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chubbi wants to stand and escape but Karelin is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin chips away with some ground and pound.
Karelin works over Chubbi with some ground and pound from guard.

Karelin stands up from guard. Let's bang!

And that's the end of the fight!
Chubekka Chubbi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Chubbi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Aleksandr Karelin!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Chubekka Chubbi!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Aleksandr Karelin!

Aleksandr Karelin wins by split decision!