PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iwao Wada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kostas Karelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wada's entrance music is Kickstart My Heart. A fine choice. Karelis has chosen Sail - AwolNation as his entrance music. Kostas Karelis has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Iwao Wada's chin.

Wada
vs
Karelis

180 cm
24
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
222 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Iwao Wada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kostas Karelis!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelis throws a looping overhand right but Wada ducks down to avoid it.

Karelis has closed the distance and engaged Wada in a clinch.
Karelis prevents Wada from breaking the clinch.
Karelis misses with some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Wada.
Wada is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Karelis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Karelis lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Karelis on the inside.
Karelis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Wada backwards.
Karelis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Karelis as the two fighters clinch.
Wada looking for a takedown.
Karelis stops a takedown attempt from Wada.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iwao Wada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wada swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wada misses with a punch to the body.
Karelis lands a body punch in the clinch.
Karelis landing knees to the head.

It looks like Iwao Wada has been cut.
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!
Wada's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A shot in the inside from Karelis.
Karelis can't find room to land a body shot as Wada controls the action.
Wada misses with a punch on the inside.
I was talking to Wada's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Karelis connects with a knee to the head.
Wada blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelis scores with a shot to the side of Wada's head.
Wada tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karelis's elbow.

Karelis manages to break the clinch.
Wada misses with a straight right.
Wada throws out a loose jab but Karelis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karelis moves away from the strike by Wada.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Karelis! But no joy.
Karelis misses with a wild body shot.
Wada shoots in but Karelis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wada misses with a left hand
and Karelis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Karelis.
Karelis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Karelis ducks under a wild hook from Wada.
Karelis throws a hook but Wada blocks it.

Karelis closes the distance and clinches.
Wada tries to circle away but Karelis has him pinned against the cage.
A short left from Karelis.
Wada misses with a hook from the clinch.

Karelis breaks the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Wada as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wada avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wada throws a right hand that Karelis ducks under and follows up with a left that Karelis also avoids with ease.
Karelis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wada appears to be looking for a big counter.
Karelis lands the left hand.
Karelis stuffs the takedown attempt from Wada. Wada gets slowly back to his feet.

Wada scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Wada is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Karelis has escaped the position, nice work there.

Wada tries for a kimura but Karelis is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Karelis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelis controls the position for a moment.

Wada is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Karelis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
What's Karelis going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Wada tries to advance to mount but Karelis denies him.
Wada working away.

Wada working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Karelis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Karelis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Karelis is trying to get back to full guard.
Karelis has his hands clasped together around Wada's back. He's all about the action.

Wada in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Karelis tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Wada!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Iwao Wada!
Iwao Wada seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.