PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zaid Abdul Karim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Lavronenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Lavronenko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Zaid Abdul Karim's chin.

Abdul Karim
vs
Lavronenko

185 cm
24
215 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

186 cm
24
212 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zaid Abdul Karim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Lavronenko!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lavronenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abdul Karim manages to avoid it.

Abdul Karim shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abdul Karim is thwarting Lavronenko's attempts to control the position.
Abdul Karim thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Abdul Karim not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Abdul Karim thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lavronenko's head.
Abdul Karim throwing shots but Lavronenko is blocking nicely.
Lavronenko won't allow Abdul Karim to pass to mount.
Abdul Karim missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul Karim missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Abdul Karim thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lavronenko's head.
Lavronenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Abdul Karim's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Abdul Karim's back!

Lavronenko is looking for a choke. Abdul Karim gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Abdul Karim manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Lavronenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Abdul Karim postures up.
Lavronenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Lavronenko, not yet.
Abdul Karim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lavronenko wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lavronenko is trying to keep Abdul Karim in close.
Abdul Karim throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Abdul Karim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Abdul Karim stopping the sweep attempt from Lavronenko.
Abdul Karim throws a strike but Lavronenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Abdul Karim keeping moving, preventing Lavronenko from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim trying to control the position here.

Ivan Lavronenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Lavronenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abdul Karim moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Lavronenko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Lavronenko passes into side control, despite Abdul Karim's attempt to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim is trying to get back to half guard.

Lavronenko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lavronenko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lavronenko working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Lavronenko will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lavronenko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Abdul Karim avoids it really well and circles away.
Abdul Karim misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Lavronenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Abdul Karim tries for a takedown but Lavronenko circles away easily

and Lavronenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Ivan Lavronenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lavronenko working the body and head with strikes.
Abdul Karim being controlled for a moment.
Abdul Karim is not content to let Lavronenko control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavronenko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Lavronenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Abdul Karim keeps working.
Lavronenko working the ground and pound.
Abdul Karim tries to improve position but can't.
Lavronenko controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ivan Lavronenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Abdul Karim dives in and grabs Lavronenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lavronenko pushes down on Abdul Karim's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zaid Abdul Karim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abdul Karim has his takedown stuffed
and Lavronenko counters with a two punch combo.
Abdul Karim tries for a takedown but Lavronenko circles away easily
and Lavronenko counters with a three punch combo that has Abdul Karim backing up. Abdul Karim nods at Lavronenko to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavronenko lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Abdul Karim fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lavronenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lavronenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lavronenko looks to land a combination but Abdul Karim avoids it well.
Abdul Karim shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lavronenko pinned against the cage. Lavronenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lavronenko lands with a nice combination. Abdul Karim backs away looking to recover.
Lavronenko lands a slapping body shot.
Lavronenko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lavronenko wants it to stay on the feet.
Abdul Karim closes the distance and clinches up with Lavronenko, looking for a takedown. Abdul Karim pushes Lavronenko against the cage but Lavronenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Abdul Karim takes one on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Abdul Karim fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lavronenko stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lavronenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lavronenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lavronenko.
Abdul Karim fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Abdul Karim shoots in but no luck this time.
Lavronenko feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Abdul Karim's calf.
Lavronenko's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lavronenko duly obliges.

Lavronenko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Abdul Karim did well to prevent Lavronenko getting side control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lavronenko wants to control but Abdul Karim is keeping him busy.
Lavronenko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Lavronenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lavronenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Abdul Karim looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lavronenko is fending him off so far but Abdul Karim persists. Nope, Lavronenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Lavronenko misses with a double jab.
Lavronenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Lavronenko misses.
Abdul Karim doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Lavronenko counter with a right hand.
Lavronenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lavronenko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Abdul Karim backs up against the cage.

Lavronenko gets caught flat footed, as Abdul Karim shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lavronenko is adopting a defensive guard.
Lavronenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdul Karim landing some decent shots from guard.
Abdul Karim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lavronenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Abdul Karim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Abdul Karim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lavronenko trying to keep a closed guard but Abdul Karim is proving a slippery customer.
Abdul Karim throws a strike but Lavronenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lavronenko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim keeping moving, preventing Lavronenko from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ivan Lavronenko.
Abdul Karim tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lavronenko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Abdul Karim somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zaid Abdul Karim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lavronenko misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Lavronenko.
Abdul Karim shoots in for a double leg but Lavronenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Lavronenko feints and as Abdul Karim raises his hands in defense, Lavronenko changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lavronenko prevents Abdul Karim from getting back to his feet.
Lavronenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Abdul Karim keeping moving, preventing Lavronenko from controlling successfully.
Lavronenko looking to sit in guard and control but Abdul Karim gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ivan Lavronenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdul Karim throwing strikes from guard but Lavronenko blocks nicely.
Lavronenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Abdul Karim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Abdul Karim postures up in Lavronenko's guard and throws a big left but Lavronenko blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abdul Karim throws an elbow that misses. Lavronenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Abdul Karim's guard. Nice move by Lavronenko!
Lavronenko sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Lavronenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lavronenko 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Lavronenko!
Ivan Lavronenko took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I want a rubber match with Nakano!'.