PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Karev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rua's choice of entrance music: AVANTASIA-Seven Angels. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Karev
vs
Rua

193 cm
31
252 lbs
26 - 11 - 0

187 cm
33
274 lbs
26 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Mango Nutrition

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 26 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Oleg Karev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Rua!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karev wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Rua takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Karev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Karev lands a jab.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karev moves away.
Rua throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Karev counters with a solid body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab, jab by Karev - just one landing.
Rua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Karev throws out the jab.
Karev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That kick from Karev tenderised Rua's leg. Rua is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Karev.
Karev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

It looks like Lyoto Rua has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karev misses with a body kick.
Rua ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lyoto Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Rua. Beautiful body shot.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karev manages to avoid it.
Karev looks to land a left hand but Rua moved out of range nicely.
Rua misses with an uppercut. Karev saw that one coming.
Rua lands a body shot.
Karev lands a nice looking body kick.
Nice uppercut there from Rua.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Karev. Rua does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rua will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karev.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Karev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Karev dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rua. That did some damage!
Karev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Karev motions for Rua to come forward. Karev throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karev manages to avoid it.
Karev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Karev rather than just go for the knockout.
Karev gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rua lands with a nice body punch.
Karev throws a front kick aimed at Rua's knee but Rua avoids it well.
Karev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua moves away from the strike by Karev.
Rua lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Karev at a distance.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Karev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Karev misses with a body shot.
Karev throws a half hearted mid kick.
Oleg Karev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Karev looks to score with a jab to the body but Rua is just out of range.
Rua throws out a loose jab but Karev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karev misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Rua.

It looks like Oleg Karev has been cut.
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!
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karev manages to avoid it.
Rua misses with a kick to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Karev misses the target.
Karev throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Rua to counter with a crisp jab.
Rua lands a body shot.
Rua pivots, looking for a leg kick but Karev is out of range and Rua settles back down.
Rua scores with a shot to the body.
Karev will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua connects with the punch.
Karev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rua sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Karev misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lyoto Rua will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Karev is just out of range.
Karev connects with a high kick.
Rua cracks a nice hook into Karev's ribs.
Rua moves out of range as Karev strikes.
Rua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rua somewhat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua throws a push kick but Karev slaps the foot to one side.
Rua moves out of range as Karev throws a body kick.
Karev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rua looks to score with a jab to the body but Karev is just out of range.
Karev looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karev's corner calls for a 1-2. Karev obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rua feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Karev's calf.
Karev avoids the body shot from Rua.
Rua avoids a kick to the body.
Karev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karev.
Jab, jab by Rua - just one landing.
Karev stuffs the takedown.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karev throws a body kick that misses.
Rua misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karev misses with a low kick.
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!
A swing and a miss from Karev.
Rua jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karev.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karev moves away.
Karev catches Rua with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karev swivels and escapes.
Oleg Karev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rua.
Rua throws a combination. Karev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Karev connects with a leg kick. Rua looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karev thumps Rua with a low kick.
Karev misses with a two punch combination.
Karev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rua takes a swing at Karev's ribcage but misses.
Rua throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Karev to counter with a crisp jab.
Karev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Karev takes one to the chin there.
Rua with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rua fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karev manages to avoid it.
Karev misses with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua lands a jab to Karev's midsection.
Lyoto Rua seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Karev sprawls well. Karev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Karev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rua.
Rua stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Karev.
Rua takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Rua drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Karev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Karev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lyoto Rua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Karev tries a head kick but it misses.
Rua fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Karev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rua swinging wildly here.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown but Karev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rua.
Good leg kick by Karev there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Karev lands a leg kick that knocks Rua off balance momentarily.
Karev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Karev throws a solid leg kick but Rua takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Karev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karev avoids the body shot from Rua.
Sloppy strikes from Karev. Those never looked like landing.
Rua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rua somewhat.
Rua scores with a hook to the body. Karev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rua connects with a body shot that sends Karev's belly button to the back.
Karev lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rua backs up against the cage.
Karev's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rua under the eye.
Nice defenses there by Rua.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Karev.
Oleg Karev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jab from Rua.
Rua shoots for a double leg takedown but Karev sprawls well. He's pushed Rua's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Oleg Karev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Rua.
Karev lands a body shot.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Karev looks for the body kick but Rua saw that one coming.
Karev misses with a low kick.
Karev scores with a jab to the head.
Rua digs a good hook to Karev's body.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karev moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Karev on the side of the head.
Karev motions for Rua to come forward. Karev throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lyoto Rua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A shot to the liver by Rua. Beautiful body shot.
Rua with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karev moves away.
Rua thuds a left hand into Karev's body.
Rua moves out of range of the leg kick from Karev.
Rua 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.
Rua throws a series of punches but Karev moves out of range.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua dives in and grabs Karev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karev pushes down on Rua's head and hops out.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Rua misses.
Karev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karev looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rua, right into the meat.
Rua looks to land a right hand but Karev moved out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big right from Karev misses.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Oleg Karev.
Well Rua 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lyoto Rua!
Lyoto Rua thanked the fans post fight for their support.