PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Makers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksanteri Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. CCCP kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Makers
vs
Karelin

200 cm
35
275 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

191 cm
28
286 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

GREEN!160

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 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Makers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Aleksanteri Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makers slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Makers thuds his right hand into Karelin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Makers takes a swing at Karelin's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Makers misses.
Karelin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Makers misses with an uppercut. Karelin saw that one coming.
Karelin misses with an uppercut. Makers saw that one coming.
Karelin just misses with a punch to the body.
Makers tries to clinch there but Karelin circles away.
Karelin misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makers misses with an uppercut.
Makers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Makers throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Makers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Makers.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karelin. Makers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Makers tries to close the distance and clinch but Karelin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karelin walks into a straight right hand from Makers.
Makers throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Makers throws the left hand but Karelin avoids the punch easily.
The crowd cheers as Makers lands an impressive looking overhand right. Karelin doesn't seem phased though.
Karelin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karelin counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karelin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Karelin has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Makers takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Karelin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Makers sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Karelin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Makers lands with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karelin misses with a straight left.

Karelin feints and as Makers raises his hands in defense, Karelin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Makers looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Makers wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Makers keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Makers has control of Karelin's left arm, preventing Karelin from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin landing some decent shots from guard.
Makers keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Makers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karelin throws a big elbow that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Karelin connects with a single shot there.
Makers throws a lazy right hand but Karelin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Makers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Karelin.
Makers missing with a left hand there. Karelin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Karelin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Makers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karelin just misses with a punch to the body.
Mark Makers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makers swings for the body but Karelin moves out of range.
Makers throws a series of punches but Karelin avoids them all with ease.
Karelin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Makers's hands.
Karelin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Makers misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aleksanteri Karelin will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karelin moves out of range as Makers strikes.
Karelin takes a swing at Makers's ribcage but misses.
Karelin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Makers finds it's way round the side to connect with Karelin's head.
Makers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice cross by Makers.
Makers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters circling - Makers throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Makers's jab looks to have found its range, popping Karelin under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makers cracks a nice hook into Karelin's ribs.
Karelin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Makers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Karelin wants a takedown.
Makers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makers scores with an uppercut up the middle.

It looks like Aleksanteri Karelin has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Makers.
Makers lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Makers misses with some punches.
Karelin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Makers misses with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Karelin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Makers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karelin's elbow.
Karelin wants to get back to striking at distance but Makers won't allow it.
Makers tries to work over Karelin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Karelin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Makers creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Karelin's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makers lands a hook that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Makers has Karelin pressed against the cage, preventing Karelin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Makers makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Karelin stalling in the clinch.
Karelin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Makers fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Makers cracks Karelin with a good jab.
Makers misses with an uppercut. Karelin saw that one coming.
Karelin lands a nice shot to the body.
A big right from Karelin misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Makers throws a right hand that Karelin ducks under and follows up with a left that Karelin also avoids with ease.
Makers fails to land with a series of punches.
Karelin swings away with a body shot that misses

and Makers moves into the clinch.

Karelin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Makers throws an off balance right hand
and Karelin counters with a straight right hand.
Mark Makers is winning the standup battle so far.
Makers throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Karelin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Makers.
Karelin throws a hook but Makers blocks it.
Makers swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Karelin.
Makers connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Karelin momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karelin lands with a hook. Makers tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karelin just misses with a punch to the body.
Makers throws the left hand but Karelin avoids the punch easily.
Makers takes a swing at Karelin's ribcage but misses.
Makers scores with a jab to the head.
Makers swings away with a body shot that misses

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karelin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Karelin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Makers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aleksanteri Karelin's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Karelin throws a big shot that misses.
Karelin misses with a looping left.
Karelin throws a body shot but no joy.
Karelin misses the jab.
Karelin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Makers.
Makers lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Karelin at a distance.
Makers moves into range and connects with a jab.
Makers catches Karelin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Makers avoids the body shot from Karelin.
Makers looks to land a left hand but Karelin moved out of range nicely.
Makers throws an off balance right hand
letting Karelin counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makers wants to clinch up but Karelin keeps it at a distance.
Karelin swats away the attempt to clinch by Makers.
Makers slips a straight right by Karelin.
Karelin blocks a jab.
Makers closes the distance but Karelin moves to the side
and Karelin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Makers throws a hook but Karelin avoids it easily.
Makers moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Karelin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Makers.
Karelin misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makers jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Makers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karelin.
Karelin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Karelin looks for a takedown but Makers sprawls well.
Makers cracks a nice hook into Karelin's ribs.
Makers connects with a right hand. Karelin shakes it off.
Makers tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karelin was well out of range. Poor timing from Makers.
Makers doesn't manage to clinch there - Karelin circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karelin throws a shot from downtown. Makers moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makers connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Karelin momentarily.
Karelin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Makers is looking to clinch but Karelin is avoiding it.
Makers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Karelin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Makers slips a jab from Karelin.
Makers scores with a crisp jab that stopped Karelin in his tracks.
Makers stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Makers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karelin.
Makers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Makers stuns Karelin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Makers staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makers stalks Karelin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Karelin's face. Karelin staggers backwards, shaken.
Makers cracks Karelin with an open hand slap.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Makers misses with a straight left.
Mark Makers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Makers moves into the clinch successfully.
Karelin is looking to break free of the clinch but Makers has double underhooks.
Karelin is trying to force a seperation but Makers has the dominant position.
Karelin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Makers misses with a short punch on the inside.
Makers prevents Karelin from breaking the clinch.
Makers lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Karelin blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Makers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Makers 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Makers!
After winning the bout, Mark Makers thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.