PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rowan Albers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitaly Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Russian National Anthem. Vitaly Karelin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Albers
vs
Karelin

188 cm
25
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
284 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rowan Albers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitaly Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Albers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karelin moves away.
Albers scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like Vitaly Karelin has been cut.
Karelin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Albers falls off balance throwing a combination

and Karelin counters with a single leg into guard. Albers didn't expect that.
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Albers's brow.
Albers wants to sweep here but Karelin controlling him for the moment.
Albers controlling the position.
Karelin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Karelin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Albers is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Albers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Karelin landing a few strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Albers to see if he's OK.
Albers takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Albers takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Albers pushes Karelin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Karelin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Albers is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Karelin lands a decent elbow from side control.
Karelin lands an elbow.
Karelin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Albers is trying to get back to half guard.
Albers looking for a sweep but Karelin has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Karelin landing strikes from the mount.

Albers is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Karelin! Albers is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Vitaly Karelin!
A very excited looking Vitaly Karelin made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.