PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksanteri Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Galat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Karelin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to CCCP. Leon Galat told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Karelin
vs
Galat

191 cm
21
286 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

193 cm
24
241 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksanteri Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leon Galat!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Karelin shoots in and gets a takedown into Galat's guard.
Karelin postures up.
Galat is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Galat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Galat had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Karelin defends it easily.
Galat tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karelin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galat keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelin is in close to Galat's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Karelin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Galat is keeping the position for now.
Karelin is looking to work some ground and pound but Galat has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Galat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Galat has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karelin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karelin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Karelin 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.
Galat wants to stand but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karelin postures up in Galat's guard and throws a big left but Galat blocks it.
Karelin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Galat working for a triangle but Karelin defends it easily.
Karelin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin scoring with some ground and pound.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Galat keeps moving.
Karelin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karelin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Galat is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Karelin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Galat's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin sitting in guard here, content to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karelin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Galat's brow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karelin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Karelin postures up.
Galat keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Galat thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksanteri Karelin dominated that round.
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.

Karelin throws a shot to the body.
Galat tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Galat working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Karelin has passed into half guard!
Galat trying to control here.
Ground and pound from Karelin.
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 passes to full mount!
Karelin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Karelin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin drops a big elbow. That's hurt Galat! More shots from Karelin and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aleksanteri Karelin!
After the fight, Aleksanteri Karelin was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.