PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hillman Schaub (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksanteri Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin has chosen CCCP as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Schaub
vs
Karelin

191 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
286 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hillman Schaub!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksanteri Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin throws out a loose jab but Schaub uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schaub shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Karelin pinned against the cage. Karelin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Karelin throws a nice looking combination but Schaub bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Schaub slips a jab and a cross from Karelin.
Schaub has his takedown stuffed
and Karelin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Schaub gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karelin counters with a beautiful punch that sends Schaub to the canvas!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hillman Schaub. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Karelin postures up in Schaub's guard and throws a big left but Schaub blocks it.
Schaub keeping full guard, as Karelin tries to pass.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Schaub is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin throws a big right hand that misses.
Karelin cracks Schaub with a solid left hand.
Karelin looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schaub trying to control the position.
Schaub tries to strike from the bottom.
Karelin tries to free his leg and advance position but Schaub is retaining full guard.
Schaub lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Karelin!

Schaub jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Karelin manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Schaub working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaub looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Karelin is avoiding damage well.
Schaub postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Schaub throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Karelin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Schaub.
Schaub working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Karelin is looking for a sweep.
Karelin is not content to let Schaub control the position.
Schaub throws a strike aimed at the side of Karelin's head but Karelin avoids it well.
Karelin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schaub tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
An elbow from Schaub crashes against the mat.
Schaub cracks Karelin with a big right hand but Karelin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sloppy strikes there by Schaub.
Karelin wants to control but Schaub postures up.

Schaub thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Schaub is breathing heavily.
Schaub creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Karelin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schaub working away.
Karelin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Schaub works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Karelin regains half guard, as Schaub was trying to land strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karelin won't allow Schaub to pass to mount.
Schaub working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Schaub throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Schaub not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Schaub 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.
Schaub trying to pass the guard but Karelin defending well.
Schaub is thwarting Karelin's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aleksanteri Karelin will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Karelin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Schaub doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Karelin counters with a takedown into side control.
Schaub is trying to improve his position.
Schaub regains half guard there - taking advantage of Karelin's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Hillman Schaub overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schaub manages to get to full guard.
Karelin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Schaub is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schaub works over Karelin with some ground and pound from guard.
Schaub is looking to work some ground and pound but Karelin has wrist control.
Schaub missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Schaub throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Schaub missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Schaub throwing strikes but missing.
Karelin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schaub. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Schaub looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karelin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Karelin trying to keep a closed guard but Schaub is proving a slippery customer.
Karelin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaub cracks Karelin with a solid left hand.
Schaub throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Schaub loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Schaub wants to pass the guard but Karelin is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin controlling the position.
Schaub throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karelin working a defensive guard here.
Karelin wants to stand up but Schaub is controlling 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!
Karelin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin looking for a sweep. Not yet Karelin, not yet.
Karelin looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aleksanteri Karelin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Schaub tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Schaub drives through with a takedown into guard.
Schaub is looking to work some ground and pound but Karelin has wrist control.
Karelin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Schaub loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Schaub throws a big elbow that misses.
Karelin keeping full guard, as Schaub tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin looking for a sweep. Not yet Karelin, not yet.
Karelin trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Aleksanteri Karelin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Karelin looks to land a right hand but Schaub moved out of range.
Schaub misses with a takedown attempt - Karelin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hillman Schaub is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Karelin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schaub won't allow Karelin to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hillman Schaub will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Schaub fails with the takedown

and Karelin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Schaub's guard.
Schaub thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Karelin lands a couple of digs.
Karelin throws a strike but Schaub rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Schaub throws a big right hand that misses.
Schaub preventing the sweep.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Schaub trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Schaub looking to sit in guard and control but Karelin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Schaub keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin wants to pass the guard but Schaub is keeping the position.
Karelin throws a strike but Schaub rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Schaub throws a big elbow that misses.
Schaub trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schaub lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaub is pushing down on Karelin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Karelin is fighting to maintain full guard but Schaub has managed to sneak the leg through.
Schaub not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Schaub missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Schaub thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karelin's head.
Karelin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Karelin wants to stand but Schaub is controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Karelin is on top in guard.
Karelin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schaub looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Schaub manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karelin manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schaub missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Karelin wants to sweep here but Schaub controlling him for the moment.
Schaub in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Schaub throws a big right hand that misses.
Karelin working a defensive guard here.
Karelin wants to stand but Schaub is controlling the position.
Schaub wants to pass the guard but Karelin is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Karelin wants to sweep here but Schaub controlling him for the moment.

Aleksanteri Karelin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Schaub misses the target.
Schaub takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Aleksanteri Karelin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Schaub.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schaub shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karelin counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksanteri Karelin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Karelin 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksanteri Karelin!
A relieved looking Aleksanteri Karelin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.