PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santa Clause (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Karkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Clause
vs
Karkov

195 cm
22
275 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Santa Clause!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Karkov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Clause shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Clause is looking for a kimura here.

Clause looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Clause is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Karkov keeping full guard, as Clause tries to pass.

Clause has gone for a leg lock! Karkov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Clause's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karkov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karkov wants to get up but he can't break Clause's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Clause bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Karkov's guard.
Clause preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Clause accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Clause trying to control the position from guard on top but Karkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clause drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Karkov dives on top into guard.
Karkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Clause is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karkov wants to stand but Clause has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Karkov wants to control from the top but Clause keeps moving.

Karkov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Clause, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karkov rushes Clause and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Karkov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Clause tries for a takedown. No joy.
Karkov trying to stall but Clause improves his position.

Clause turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Clause is breathing heavily.
Karkov is pushing Clause's head away, looking to escape. Clause manages to hold on to the position though.

Clause looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Karkov dodges the ground and pound from Clause.
Karkov is looking to reverse the position.

Clause working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Karkov wants to get back to his feet.
Clause working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karkov is trying to get back to half guard.

Clause decides to stand back up.

Clause shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Clause pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karkov is keeping the position for now.
Clause works over Karkov with some ground and pound from guard.
Clause passes Karkov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Clause has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Clause is working for a kimura but Karkov is defending it quite comfortably.
Clause works his way into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clause passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Karkov!
Clause lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clause postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Karkov looks a forlorn figure.

Clause is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Karkov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The referee warns Karkov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Clause landing punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karkov is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Clause wants to finish this one by submission but Karkov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Clause.
Karkov is desperately trying to improve his position but Clause has a good base and remains in mount.
Clause looking to control but Karkov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Clause working for a submission but Karkov is keeping him at bay.
Karkov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santa Clause dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Karkov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Karkov can't keep his opponent in guard - Clause advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Clause thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karkov's head.
Clause winds up and cracks Karkov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Karkov is in trouble now - Clause has advanced to mount!
Clause looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Clause looking to control but Karkov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Karkov is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Clause has taken his back.

Clause is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Karkov is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Santa Clause!