PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksanteri Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Rautapuoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is CCCP. Mikko Rautapuoli acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Karelin
vs
Rautapuoli

191 cm
18
286 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksanteri Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Rautapuoli!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rautapuoli is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Karelin's half guard.
Rautapuoli prevents Karelin from improving his position.
Karelin is holding on to half guard well.
Rautapuoli trying to control the action but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Rautapuoli performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mikko Rautapuoli wasn't active enough on the ground.

Rautapuoli gets tackled into the cage by Karelin. Karelin maintains the clinch.
Karelin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rautapuoli is trying to break the clinch but Karelin is controlling him.

Rautapuoli decides to pull guard.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Rautapuoli gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Karelin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rautapuoli is one step ahead there.
Rautapuoli pushes down on Karelin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin tries to roll over but Rautapuoli keeps him under control.
Karelin is working hard here to advance position.
Rautapuoli tries to stand but can't do so whilst Karelin controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rautapuoli trying to control the action but Karelin is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mikko Rautapuoli wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rautapuoli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rautapuoli enables Karelin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rautapuoli manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautapuoli trying to control the position.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rautapuoli looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Karelin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Karelin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rautapuoli looking for a sweep. Not yet Rautapuoli, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rautapuoli can do anything to dispel that myth.
Karelin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rautapuoli is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rautapuoli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Karelin's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rautapuoli postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mikko Rautapuoli will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rautapuoli closes the distance and clinches.
Rautapuoli is trying to break the clinch but Karelin has him pressed against the cage.
Rautapuoli looking for a takedown.
Rautapuoli has a couple of punches blocked by Karelin.
Karelin content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Karelin has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rautapuoli clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Karelin tightening his grip on Rautapuoli, looking for the choke.
Karelin lands an elbow to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rautapuoli rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rautapuoli has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karelin is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautapuoli is trying to stand up here but Karelin is controlling him well.
Rautapuoli wants to control but Karelin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rautapuoli is trying to stand up here but Karelin is controlling him well.
Rautapuoli is breathing heavily.
Karelin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Karelin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rautapuoli tries to get to full guard but Karelin has control of the leg.
Karelin lands with a punch from half guard.
Rautapuoli is trying to control but can't.
Karelin trying to mount his opponent but Rautapuoli defends it.
Karelin 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is nestled in close to Rautapuoli, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rautapuoli is looking to escape.
Karelin trying to control from half guard but Rautapuoli is working away.
Karelin wants to free his trapped foot but Rautapuoli is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Karelin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rautapuoli with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rautapuoli wants to improve his position but Karelin is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Karelin.
Karelin is looking to take a break and control but Rautapuoli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karelin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rautapuoli on the ground.
Karelin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rautapuoli on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Karelin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rautapuoli knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Karelin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rautapuoli keeps working.
Aleksanteri Karelin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karelin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rautapuoli's head.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but Rautapuoli defending well.
Karelin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Karelin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Karelin there.
Karelin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karelin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Karelin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but Rautapuoli defending well.
Rautapuoli wants to get back to his feet.
Rautapuoli has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karelin is working away from the top position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karelin uses his free foot to push down on Rautapuoli's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rautapuoli.
Karelin wants to control the pace but Rautapuoli is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksanteri Karelin dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rautapuoli ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Karelin shoots in and bounces Rautapuoli off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Rautapuoli is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Karelin frees his head nicely. Oh but Rautapuoli has switched to an armbar! Karelin is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Mikko Rautapuoli!