PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Solomon Rosenzweig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rosenzweig comes to the cage accompanied by Stamina. Aleksandr Karelin has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rosenzweig
vs
Karelin

185 cm
28
205 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

191 cm
22
218 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Solomon Rosenzweig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karelin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rosenzweig, pushing him back against the cage.

Rosenzweig has Karelin pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rosenzweig pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Karelin tumbling to the mat - Rosenzweig dives into Karelin's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rosenzweig passes into half guard.
Rosenzweig wants to pass the guard but Karelin is defending well.
Rosenzweig is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rosenzweig works his way into full mount!
Karelin is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rosenzweig looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rosenzweig can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karelin is looking to escape.
Rosenzweig with the ground and pound from mount.
Karelin working to try and regain half guard.
Rosenzweig avoids the attempt from Karelin to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosenzweig looking to control but Karelin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Karelin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Karelin turns into Rosenzweig and is now in his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rosenzweig looking for a sweep. Not yet Rosenzweig, not yet.
Rosenzweig seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Karelin trying to move into half guard but instead Rosenzweig has managed to sweep!
Rosenzweig pushes down on Karelin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rosenzweig perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rosenzweig passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Karelin!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rosenzweig moves to back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rosenzweig's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Rosenzweig is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Rosenzweig seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Karelin for as long as he can get away with.
Karelin tries to break free.

Karelin fending off the submission attempt from Rosenzweig.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rosenzweig really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Karelin.
The referee is taking a good look at Karelin as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Rosenzweig!

Karelin preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rosenzweig.

Rosenzweig tightening his grip on Karelin, looking for the choke.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rosenzweig has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Karelin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Rosenzweig dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karelin misses with a takedown attempt
and Rosenzweig counters with a big head kick but Karelin shrugs it off.
Rosenzweig tries to clinch up.
Karelin shoots in but Rosenzweig avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rosenzweig wants to clinch

and Karelin counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rosenzweig!

Karelin tries for a kimura but Rosenzweig is defending well.
Karelin working the ground and pound but Rosenzweig is defending the strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Karelin.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karelin with the ground and pound but Rosenzweig regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Rosenzweig controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosenzweig blocking the ground and pound attempt from Karelin.
Karelin throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rosenzweig to regain full guard.
Rosenzweig is adopting a defensive guard.
Rosenzweig manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karelin manages to get himself to full guard.
Rosenzweig looking to pass the guard.
Rosenzweig pushes down on Karelin's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is refusing to be controlled, as Rosenzweig sits in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Solomon Rosenzweig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karelin tries to get to full guard but Rosenzweig has control of the leg.
Rosenzweig is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karelin can do to turn this around?
Karelin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Rosenzweig is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rosenzweig uses his free foot to push down on Karelin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Karelin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosenzweig can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karelin is looking to escape.

Rosenzweig is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Karelin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rosenzweig trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rosenzweig content just to control the position here.
Rosenzweig takes Karelin's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Karelin is in trouble.
Karelin is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Rosenzweig off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosenzweig controls the position.

Karelin won't enjoy being in this position. Rosenzweig looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Karelin is tapping - it's over boys! Rosenzweig picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Solomon Rosenzweig!