PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mika Karalahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Fenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karalahti's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Ensiferum - Into Battle. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karalahti
vs
Fenix

199 cm
22
212 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
DC Unrivaled

Modern Wear Apparel $20 items

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mika Karalahti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marcus Fenix!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Kavanagh and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fenix misses with an uppercut.

Karalahti takes the fight into the clinch.
Fenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Fenix fails to land.
Still in the clinch, Fenix scores with a nice short uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Karalahti scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Karalahti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karalahti lands a body shot.
Karalahti scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've been informed that Fenix has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A head punch on the inside from Fenix fails to land.
Karalahti is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Fenix is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Karalahti can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Fenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fenix digs a right hand underneath Karalahti's ribcage. Karalahti let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Karalahti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Karalahti has Fenix pushed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fenix.
Karalahti blocks an uppercut.
Fenix cracks Karalahti with a nice body shot.
Fenix lands a hook to the side of the head.
Karalahti holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Karalahti tries to throw a body punch but Fenix avoids it by throwing Karalahti back against the cage.
Fenix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Fenix.
Fenix lands a left hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fenix.
Karalahti working aggressively here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Fenix.
Karalahti misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Karalahti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fenix misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fenix tries to work over Karalahti's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good body shot from Fenix.
Karalahti throws a head punch that misses.
Karalahti lands a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fenix tries to work over Karalahti's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Fenix creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Fenix creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fenix has a couple of punches blocked by Karalahti.
Karalahti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karalahti misses with a short punch on the inside.
Karalahti is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fenix's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fenix can't find room to land a body shot as Karalahti controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Fenix fails to land.
Karalahti lands a nice uppercut.

Fenix breaks the clinch.
Karalahti misses with a low kick as Fenix jumps back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fenix takes a swing at Karalahti's ribcage but misses.
Karalahti moves out of range of the strikes.
Karalahti looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A punch combination from Karalahti misses.
Karalahti looks to land a combination but Fenix avoids it well.
Karalahti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fenix throws a poor cross that misses
and Karalahti counters with an inside leg kick.
Fenix throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Fenix throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Karalahti stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Fenix tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karalahti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big right from Fenix misses.
Fenix misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karalahti.
Fenix misses the shot to the body.
Karalahti was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Karalahti avoids the body shot from Fenix.
Fenix avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fenix throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karalahti.
Karalahti throwing a counter right hand but Fenix manages to avoid it.
Karalahti scores with a sloppy right hand. Fenix should have avoided that one.
Fenix fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karalahti throws a low kick but Fenix avoids it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Karalahti.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karalahti feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Fenix's calf.
Karalahti throws a poor cross that misses
and Fenix counters with a right hand to the body.
Fenix throws a looping overhand right but Karalahti ducks down to avoid it.
Karalahti feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fenixs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fenix scores with a shot to the body.
Karalahti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karalahti misses with a right hand
and Fenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Fenix pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fenix is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Karalahti rather than just go for the knockout.
Fenix lands an overhand right.
Fenix uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Fenix dominated that round.
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.

Karalahti takes one to the side of the head.
Fenix moves out of range as Karalahti throws a body kick.
Fenix lands a nice leg kick that just misses Karalahti's sensitive parts.
Fenix misses with a looping left.
The fighters circling - Fenix throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Karalahti tries to land a body kick
and Fenix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fenix swings widly with a right hand
letting Karalahti counter with a right hand.
Fenix scores with a jab.
Karalahti on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Karalahti feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Fenix's calf.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Karalahti.
Karalahti motions for Fenix to come forward. Karalahti throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fenix misses with a looping left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fenix misses the shot to the body.
Karalahti feints and then cracks Fenix's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fenix down.
Karalahti lands with a straight right. Fenix didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fenix has Karalahti up against the cage in a clinch.
Fenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karalahti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fenix misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fenix has a couple of punches blocked by Karalahti.
Fenix misses with a body punch.
Marcus Fenix seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fenix working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Karalahti throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Fenix fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Fenix.
Fenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fenix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fenix scores with a shot to the side of Karalahti's head.
Karalahti working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Karalahti blocks a body shot from Fenix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fenix misses with the head strike.
Karalahti scores with a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karalahti blocks a body shot from Fenix.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fenix.
Karalahti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fenix's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Karalahti.
Karalahti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Karalahti tries to work over Fenix's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fenix lands with a left to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fenix.
Fenix throws a head punch that misses.
Fenix blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fenix misses with the head strike.
Fenix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fenix lands with a right to the head.
Karalahti scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fenix lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Fenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Karalahti uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Karalahti.
Karalahti gets through Fenix's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fenix throws a punch but it's blocked by Karalahti.
Fenix works on Karalahti's body with a couple of short punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Fenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karalahti lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fenix throws a head punch that misses.
Fenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Fenix misses with the head strike.
Karalahti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fenix's elbow.
Fenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Karalahti pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Karalahti stalling the fight.
Karalahti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Karalahti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fenix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fenix lands with a light punch inside.
Karalahti tries to stall but Fenix uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Karalahti blocking some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Karalahti blocks an uppercut.
Fenix working aggressively here.
Karalahti throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fenixs head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Fenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fenix just misses with a punch to the body.
A clash of legs there as Fenix blocks the low kick.

Fenix gets tackled into the cage by Karalahti. Karalahti maintains the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Fenix letting Karalahti take a breather here.
Fenix tries to throw a body punch but Karalahti avoids it by throwing Fenix back against the cage.
Karalahti misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Karalahti creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Karalahti.
Fenix throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Fenix on the inside.
Fenix misses with some punches.
Fenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Karalahti misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karalahti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fenix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fenix blocking some punches.
Fenix misses with some punches.

Fenix manages to break the clinch.
Karalahti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karalahti throws a body kick that misses
and Fenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Marcus Fenix seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karalahti scores with a shot to the body.
Karalahti throws a poor cross that misses
and Fenix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Karalahti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fenix circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fenix throws out a counter right but Karalahti avoids it with no problem.
Karalahti lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fenix throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Karalahti stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice defenses there by Karalahti.
Fenix swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karalahti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fenix.
Fenix cracks a nice hook into Karalahti's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fenix tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karalahti was well out of range. Poor timing from Fenix.
Karalahti is looking for a counter combo.
Karalahti takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Karalahti tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karalahti fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Karalahti.
Fenix throws a big shot that misses.
Fenix 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.
Karalahti lands a body shot.
Fenix works Karalahti's body with a nice hook.
Fenix lunges at Karalahti with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Karalahti's hand.
Fenix lands a right hook to the body.
Karalahti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fenix closes the distance and clinches.
Karalahti throws a punch but it's blocked by Fenix.
Fenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karalahti trying to control the position but instead, Fenix has worked for underhooks and has pushed Karalahti into the cage.
Fenix blocking some punches.
Fenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Karalahti prevents a body shot from Fenix.
Fenix lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Karalahti backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Fenix.
Fenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fenix lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fenix misses with the head strike.
Fenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karalahti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fenix tries to work over Karalahti's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fenix misses with a short punch on the inside.
Karalahti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Karalahti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Karalahti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fenix throws a head punch that misses.
Fenix misses with some punches.

Fenix escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karalahti feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Fenix's calf.
Fenix fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
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!
Karalahti tries to land a leg kick but Fenix saw it coming and moves away.
Fenix fails to land with a series of punches.
Fenix walks into a straight right hand from Karalahti.
Fenix tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karalahti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Karalahti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mika Karalahti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karalahti throws a leg kick but Fenix checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Fenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fenix 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Fenix!
In his post fight interview, Marcus Fenix started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.