PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Karaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ulf Ivarsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruslan Karaev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Karaev
vs
Ivarsson

185 cm
21
191 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Karaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ulf Ivarsson!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karaev works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ivarsson tries to clinch up.
Ivarsson tries to clinch there but Karaev circles away.
Ivarsson tries to clinch but Karaev moves out of range.
Ivarsson wants to clinch up but Karaev keeps it at a distance.
Ivarsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karaev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ivarsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karaev moves away.
Ivarsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Karaev scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Ulf Ivarsson has been cut.
Karaev throws a series of strikes that have Ivarsson backpedaling.
Karaev throws a nice looking combination but Ivarsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ivarsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Karaev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ivarsson dodges the punch combination from Karaev.
Karaev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ivarsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karaev.
Ivarsson wants to clinch.
Ivarsson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Karaev counters with a three punch combo that has Ivarsson backing up. Ivarsson nods at Karaev to acknowledge the strikes.
Ivarsson looks to clinch
and Karaev counters with a right hand to the body.
Ivarsson thuds his right hand into Karaev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ivarsson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ivarsson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivarsson tries to clinch but Karaev moves away
and Karaev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ivarsson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Karaev counters with a series of strikes. Ivarsson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Karaev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Ivarsson is rocked!
Ivarsson darts in trying to clinch
and Karaev counters with a stiff right hand.
Ivarsson is still on wobbly legs! Can Karaev finish him?
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!
Ivarsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Karaev circles away.
Ivarsson seems to have recovered his senses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ivarsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch lands to the side of Ivarsson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Karaev misses with a double jab

and Ivarsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ivarsson.
Karaev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Karaev blocking some punches.
Ivarsson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Karaev or not.
Ivarsson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Karaevs head.
Ivarsson keeps control of Karaev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ivarsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ivarsson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ivarsson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karaev breaks the clinch.
Ivarsson tries to clinch
and Karaev counters with a stiff right hand.
Karaev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivarsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ivarsson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ivarsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ivarsson clinches up against the cage.
Ivarsson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Karaev backwards.
Karaev working hard to break the clinch.
Ivarsson lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Karaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karaev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A right-left combo lands from Karaev.
Ivarsson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Karaev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ivarsson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karaev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivarsson throws a series of punches but Karaev moves out of range.
Karaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karaev looks to land a combination but Ivarsson avoids it well.
Karaev throws a jab but it's blocked by Ivarsson.
Karaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karaev connects with a right hand. Ivarsson shakes it off.
Ivarsson moves in looking to clinch but Karaev pushes him off.
Karaev throws a lazy right hand but Ivarsson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ivarsson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Karaev throws a right and a left that Ivarsson avoids nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Karaev.
Ivarsson tries to clinch
and Karaev counters with a three punch combo that has Ivarsson backing up. Ivarsson nods at Karaev to acknowledge the strikes.
Karaev takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ivarsson wants to clinch
and Karaev counters with a left and a right that stings Ivarsson.
Karaev dips to his left and cracks Ivarsson with an uppercut!
Karaev is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Ivarsson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karaev counters with a three punch combo that has Ivarsson backing up. Ivarsson nods at Karaev to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four 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!
Ivarsson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karaev counters with a series of strikes. Ivarsson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ivarsson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karaev counters with a two punch combo.
Karaev misses with a few strikes there.

Ivarsson drives through and clinches with Karaev against the cage.
Ivarsson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Karaev backwards.
Karaev wants to get back to striking at distance but Ivarsson won't allow it.
Ivarsson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ivarsson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ivarsson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Karaev is trying to push Ivarsson away but Ivarsson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karaev can't break the clinch.
Ivarsson scores with a shoulder strike.
Ivarsson scores with a shoulder strike.
Karaev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ivarsson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Karaev is breathing heavily.
A body shot lands from Ivarsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Karaev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ulf Ivarsson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ivarsson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Karaev throws out the jab.
Karaev misses with a series of wild punches.
Left hook, right uppercut from Karaev.
Karaev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Karaev walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ivarsson wants to clinch up but Karaev keeps it at a distance.
Karaev connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ivarsson momentarily.
Karaev throws a series of punches but Ivarsson moves out of range.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Ivarsson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Ivarsson tries to clinch
and Karaev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ivarsson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karaev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Karaev is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ivarsson wants to clinch
and Karaev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Karaev is working the combinations to good effect here.
Karaev throws a series of punches but Ivarsson moves out of range.
Ruslan Karaev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karaev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ivarsson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivarsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karaev has him pressed against the cage.
Karaev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ivarsson has him pressed against the cage.
Ivarsson tries to break free but Karaev pushes him back against the cage.
Karaev tries to break free but Ivarsson pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Ivarsson.
Ivarsson misses with a punch on the inside.

Karaev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karaev swats away the attempt to clinch by Ivarsson.
Ivarsson tries to clinch but Karaev moves away
and Karaev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ruslan Karaev is winning the standup battle so far.
Karaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ivarsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ulf Ivarsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karaev tries to bum rush Ivarsson with a series of wild strikes but Ivarsson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karaev counters with a three punch combo that has Ivarsson backing up. Ivarsson nods at Karaev to acknowledge the strikes.
Ivarsson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ivarsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Karaev circles away.
Ivarsson darts in trying to clinch
and Karaev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivarsson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karaev.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karaev counters with a two punch combo.
Ivarsson closes the distance but Karaev moves to the side
and Karaev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ivarsson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karaev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ivarsson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Karaev throws a series of punches but Ivarsson avoids them all with ease.
Ivarsson wants to clinch but Karaev slips to the side
and Karaev counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Karaev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ivarsson.
Ivarsson ducks under a wild hook from Karaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karaev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Karaev throws a combination that misses

and Ivarsson counters by moving into the clinch.
Ivarsson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ivarsson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ivarsson can't find room to land a body shot as Karaev controls the action.
Ivarsson has a couple of punches blocked by Karaev.
Ivarsson misses with a punch on the inside.
Ivarsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Karaev uses good head movement to avoid it.

Karaev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ivarsson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ivarsson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Karaev.
Jab, jab by Karaev - just one landing.
Ivarsson wants to clinch but Karaev slips to the side
and Karaev counters with a stiff right hand.
Karaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ivarsson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Karaev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ivarsson tries to clinch up
and Karaev counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karaev throws a right and a left that Ivarsson avoids nicely.
Karaev throws a shot to the body.
Ivarsson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
No joy there for Karaev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ivarsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karaev throws a series of punches but Ivarsson avoids them all with ease.
Ivarsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Karaev circles away.
Karaev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ivarsson manages to avoid it.
Ivarsson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ivarsson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Karaev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Karaev to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big left from Ivarsson misses.
Ivarsson closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Karaev to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Karaev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ulf Ivarsson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karaev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Karaev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivarsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ivarsson darts in trying to clinch
and Karaev counters with a three punch combo that has Ivarsson backing up. Ivarsson nods at Karaev to acknowledge the strikes.
Ivarsson tries to clinch up
and Karaev counters with a nice uppercut.
Ivarsson moves to clinch but Karaev breaks away
letting Karaev counter with a right hand.
Karaev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ivarsson.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karaev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karaev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Karaev lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivarsson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Karaev counters with a three punch combo that has Ivarsson backing up. Ivarsson nods at Karaev to acknowledge the strikes.
Karaev throws a series of punches but Ivarsson avoids them all with ease.
A nice combination there by Karaev.

Ivarsson is rocked!
Ivarsson darts in trying to clinch
and Karaev counters with a straight right hand.
Ivarsson is still on wobbly legs! Can Karaev finish him?
Ivarsson wants to clinch.
Ivarsson seems to have recovered his senses.
Karaev throws a series of punches but Ivarsson avoids them all with ease.
Ivarsson swinging wildly here.

Ivarsson has Karaev up against the cage in a clinch.

Karaev breaks from the clinch.
Karaev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ivarsson wants to clinch
and Karaev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivarsson moves to clinch but Karaev breaks away
and Karaev counters with a stiff right hand.

Ivarsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karaev blocks an uppercut.
Ivarsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Karaev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karaev tries to break free but Ivarsson pushes him back against the cage.

Karaev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karaev misses with a wild combination.
Ivarsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karaev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Karaev.
Karaev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab lands there for Karaev.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karaev with a jab.
Karaev throws a nice looking combination but Ivarsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Karaev finds it's way through Ivarsson's defenses.

Ivarsson clinches with his opponent.
A left hand lands to the body for Ivarsson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivarsson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ivarsson is working Karaev over against the cage.
Karaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ivarsson throws a head punch that misses.
Karaev tries to circle away but Ivarsson has him pinned against the cage.
Ivarsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Karaev.
Ivarsson working aggressively here.

Karaev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karaev throws a nice looking combination but Ivarsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Karaev cracks Ivarsson with a good jab.
Karaev scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ivarsson doesn't seem bothered though.
Ivarsson wants to clinch but Karaev slips to the side
and Karaev counters with a left and a right that stings Ivarsson.
A left lands for Karaev.
Karaev takes a swing at Ivarsson's ribcage but misses.

Ivarsson rushes Karaev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ivarsson.
Ivarsson is trying to break the clinch but Karaev has him pressed against the cage.

Karaev breaks the clinch.
Ivarsson looks to clinch
and Karaev counters with a left and a right that stings Ivarsson.
Karaev misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivarsson wants to clinch
and Karaev counters with a one-two to the body.

That has opened up Ulf Ivarsson's cut even more.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karaev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ivarsson looks to clinch
and Karaev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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!
Ivarsson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Karaev thows a body shot but no joy.
Ivarsson tries to clinch but Karaev moves out of range.
Karaev staying out of range there.
Sloppy strikes from Karaev. Those never looked like landing.
Ulf Ivarsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivarsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Karaev circles away.
Karaev throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ivarsson closes the distance and clinches.
Good body shot from Ivarsson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karaev tries to break the clinch but Ivarsson is controlling the position.
Ivarsson lands a hook that snaps the head of Karaev backwards.
Karaev takes a shot to the head.
Karaev is trying to break the clinch but Ivarsson has him pressed against the cage.
Ruslan Karaev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ivarsson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ivarsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Karaev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Karaev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Karaev!