PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Burdyalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Karlo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burdyalov's entrance music is To The Metal. A fine choice. Mario Karlo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Burdyalov
vs
Karlo

185 cm
21
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
212 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

VICIOUS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Burdyalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mario Karlo!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlo just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab lands there for Burdyalov.
Burdyalov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Burdyalov scores with a sloppy right hand. Karlo should have avoided that one.

It looks like Mario Karlo has been cut.
Burdyalov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Karlo.
We've been told by Burdyalov's head coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Karlo throws a leg kick that misses.
Burdyalov feints a jab promting Karlo to slip. Burdyalov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Karlo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Karlo lands with a nice body punch.
A combination from Burdyalov does no damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karlo misses with a low kick.

Karlo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Karlo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Burdyalov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Karlo trying to control the position but Burdyalov is working away.
Burdyalov stops Karlo from passing to mount.
Karlo staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burdyalov is trying to control Karlo's posture but Karlo avoids it.
Karlo looking to control but instead Burdyalov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Karlo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burdyalov keeps working.
Karlo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Burdyalov is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karlo misses with a series of wild punches.
Burdyalov swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
No joy there for Burdyalov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karlo slips a jab and a cross from Burdyalov.
Karlo ducks under a wild hook from Burdyalov.
Burdyalov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Burdyalov misses with a looping left.
Burdyalov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Burdyalov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burdyalov tries to bum rush Karlo with a series of wild strikes but Karlo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Karlo slips a straight right by Burdyalov.
A combination from Karlo does no damage.
Burdyalov throws a lazy right hand but Karlo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A left and a right from Karlo both land. Nice combination.
Burdyalov thuds a left hand into Karlo's body.
Karlo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A leg kick checked by Burdyalov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nikolay Burdyalov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karlo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Burdyalov.
Karlo looks to throw the jab but Burdyalov is out of range.
Burdyalov scores with a three punch combo!
Burdyalov throws a jab but it's blocked by Karlo.
Burdyalov misses with a right hand

and Karlo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nice body punch from Karlo - that landed with a thud.
Burdyalov wants to get back to striking at distance but Karlo won't allow it.
Karlo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Karlo working aggressively here.
Burdyalov takes a shot to the head.
Karlo throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karlo misses with the head strike.
Karlo struggles to land a body shot inside as Burdyalov controls his hands.

Karlo has hold of one of Burdyalov's legs. Burdyalov is fighting the takedown attempt but Karlo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Burdyalov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Burdyalov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Karlo is stalling in the full guard.
Karlo won't allow Burdyalov to sweep him here.
Karlo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mario Karlo wasn't active enough on the ground.
Karlo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Burdyalov.
Karlo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Karlo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burdyalov was well out of range. Poor timing from Karlo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karlo slips under a jab.
Burdyalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karlo.
Karlo avoids the body shot from Burdyalov.
Karlo scores with a sloppy right hand. Burdyalov should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Karlo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mario Karlo's cut.
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.

Karlo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Burdyalov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Burdyalov connects with a body shot.
Burdyalov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A cross from Karlo lands.
Karlo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Burdyalov was well out of range. Poor timing from Karlo.
Karlo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Burdyalov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Karlo.
Nikolay Burdyalov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burdyalov lands a head shot.
Burdyalov misses with a double jab

and Karlo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burdyalov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Karlo controls the pace.
Burdyalov keeping moving, preventing Karlo from controlling successfully.
Karlo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Karlo trying to control but Burdyalov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mario Karlo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A lazy left from Burdyalov finds it's target.
Karlo tries to clinch there but Burdyalov circles away.
Burdyalov misses with a double jab

and Karlo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Burdyalov wants to stand and escape but Karlo is having none of it.
Burdyalov keeping moving, preventing Karlo from controlling successfully.
Burdyalov wants to stand but Karlo is controlling the position.
Karlo controlling from the top position.
Burdyalov wants to sweep but no luck.
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!
Karlo postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Burdyalov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Burdyalov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burdyalov throws a right hand that Karlo ducks under and follows up with a left that Karlo also avoids with ease.
Burdyalov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Karlo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Karlo loads up on a big right hand but Burdyalov slips the punch.
Burdyalov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Burdyalov lands the left hand.
Burdyalov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Karlo backs up against the cage.
Burdyalov throws a right and a left that Karlo avoids nicely.
Nikolay Burdyalov is winning the standup battle so far.
Burdyalov leaves Karlo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nikolay Burdyalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karlo connects with a leg kick. Burdyalov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Karlo throws a right and a left that Burdyalov avoids nicely.
Karlo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Karlo lands with a straight right. Burdyalov didn't see that one coming.
Burdyalov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov lands a right hook to the body.
Karlo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Karlo there as he acknowledges the shot.
Karlo connects with an inside leg kick.
Karlo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Burdyalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karlo.
Burdyalov throws a series of punches but Karlo moves out of range.
Burdyalov throws a one two combo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karlo moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Karlo throws a big shot that misses.
Burdyalov misses with the combination.
A left and a right from Burdyalov both land. Nice combination.

That has opened up Mario Karlo's cut even more.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Burdyalov throws a right and a left that Karlo avoids nicely.
Burdyalov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Burdyalov walks into a straight right hand from Karlo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov takes a swing at Karlo's ribcage but misses.
Burdyalov lands a jab-cross combination.
Karlo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Burdyalov is able to avoid easily.
A slow jab from Burdyalov misses its intended target.
Karlo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Burdyalov.
Burdyalov throws the left hand but Karlo avoids the punch easily.
Burdyalov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karlo throws a lazy right hand but Burdyalov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Burdyalov misses with a wild combination.
A slow jab from Burdyalov misses its intended target.
Karlo misses with a double jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karlo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Karlo scores with the left hand. Burdyalov knows he should have avoided that one.
Karlo throws a leg kick that misses.
Burdyalov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
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 Nikolay Burdyalov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Karlo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Burdyalov misses with a straight right.
Burdyalov thuds his right hand into Karlo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Karlo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Burdyalov if he has to take too many more of those.
Burdyalov throws a right hand that Karlo ducks under and follows up with a left that Karlo also avoids with ease.
Burdyalov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Karlo scores with a jab to the body.
Karlo thows a body shot but no joy.
Burdyalov thuds a left hand into Karlo's body.
Karlo slips a jab and a cross from Burdyalov.
Karlo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A swing and a miss from Burdyalov.
Karlo throws a shot from downtown. Burdyalov moves away and avoids it.
Burdyalov blocks a head kick by Karlo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burdyalov stuffs the takedown.
Karlo has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Burdyalov misses with a hook

and Karlo counters by clinching up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Burdyalov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burdyalov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fighters circling - Burdyalov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Burdyalov with a hook.
Karlo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A left and a right from Burdyalov both land. Nice combination.
Burdyalov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Karlo misses with an uppercut.
Karlo moves out of range of the strikes.
Burdyalov throws a jab but it's blocked by Karlo.
Good leg kick by Karlo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sloppy strikes from Burdyalov. Those never looked like landing.
Burdyalov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Karlo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nice cross by Burdyalov.
Burdyalov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Burdyalov lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burdyalov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karlo.
Karlo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A jab from Burdyalov finds it's way through Karlo's defenses.
Karlo lands a nice looking body shot.
Karlo slips under a jab.
Burdyalov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karlo.
Burdyalov misses with a body shot.
Burdyalov lands a jab to the head.
Karlo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Burdyalov.
Karlo throws a leg kick that misses.
Burdyalov misses with an uppercut.
Burdyalov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Burdyalov swings for the body but Karlo moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlo throws a wild body kick that Burdyalov sees coming a mile off.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Burdyalov enables Karlo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Burdyalov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Burdyalov looking for a sweep. Not yet Burdyalov, not yet.
Karlo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burdyalov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karlo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karlo trying to control but Burdyalov is working from the bottom.
Karlo throwing strikes but missing.
Karlo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mario Karlo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A combination from Burdyalov does no damage.
Karlo tries to work over Burdyalov's front leg with a kick but Burdyalov checks it.
Burdyalov looks to land a left hand but Karlo moved out of range nicely.
Burdyalov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burdyalov missing with a left hand there. Karlo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Burdyalov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A bone on bone clash there as Burdyalov blocks the leg kick.
Burdyalov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Burdyalov throws a nice looking combination but Karlo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karlo misses with a series of wild punches.
Karlo throws a push kick but Burdyalov slaps the foot to one side.

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 Nikolay Burdyalov.
I think Burdyalov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mario Karlo!