PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antti Karhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Chekhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Karhu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Samuli Edelmann - Teit meistä kauniin. Chekhov has chosen КАТЮШA as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Karhu
vs
Chekhov

176 cm
30
138 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

169 cm
34
142 lbs
33 - 13 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!
Spartan Nutrition 160Q with Proof

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antti Karhu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anton Chekhov!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chekhov throws out a loose jab but Karhu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karhu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chekhov. Karhu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chekhov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Karhu throws out the jab.
A little jabbing left from Chekhov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Chekhov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Karhu.
Chekhov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Karhu fails to land with a series of punches.
Karhu throws a body shot but no joy.
Donk. Karhu catches Chekhov right on the button with a cross.
Chekhov looks to land a left hand but Karhu moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chekhov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Karhu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Chekhov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Karhu moves out of range as Chekhov strikes.
Karhu throws a hook but Chekhov avoids it easily.
Chekhov throws a hook but Karhu avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu digs a good hook to Chekhov's body.
Karhu tried to score with a low kick but Chekhov checks it.
Karhu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Chekhov was well out of range. Poor timing from Karhu.
Chekhov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Karhu connects with an inside leg kick.
Anton Chekhov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chekhov throws a hook but Karhu avoids it easily.
Karhu jabs Chekhov right on the nose. Chekhov blinks but takes it well.
The crowd cheers as Karhu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Chekhov doesn't seem phased though.
Chekhov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Chekhov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Karhu.
A solid leg kick lands there for Karhu.
A swing and a miss from Karhu.
Chekhov misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu lands a glancing blow to the side of Chekhov's head.
We've been hearing reports that Karhu has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chekhov digs a good hook to Karhu's body.
Karhu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Chekhov lands with a nice body kick.
Karhu misses with a lunging right hand
and Chekhov counters with a nice uppercut.
Karhu takes a swing at Chekhov's ribcage but misses.
A big left from Chekhov misses.
Chekhov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Karhu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Chekhov throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Karhu counters with a shoot takedown. Chekhov fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karhu lands a couple of elbows.

Karhu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Chekhov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Chekhov has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karhu throws his legs up looking for a submission but Chekhov uses it to pass to side control.
Karhu is not content to let Chekhov control the position.
Chekhov slows the pace down.
Karhu is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Chekhov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Karhu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Karhu's face as Chekhov controls the position.
Karhu is trying to improve his position.
Karhu seems a little lost for a moment, as Chekhov dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Karhu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Chekhov swings for the body but Karhu moves out of range.
Karhu tries to counter with a takedown but Chekhov is quick to defend against it.
Karhu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Karhu is looking to slow Chekhov down with leg kicks.
Chekhov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Chekhov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A lazy left from Karhu finds it's target.

Karhu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Chekhov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karhu is working away from the top position though.
Karhu thows a huge punch but Chekhov dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chekhov keeping control of the position.
Karhu is thwarting Chekhov's attempts to control the position.
Karhu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karhu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Chekhov is just riding it out for now. Karhu eventually gives up the hold.
Chekhov trying to control but Karhu postures up.
Chekhov keeping control of the position.
Chekhov gets full guard.
Karhu works over Chekhov with some ground and pound from guard.
Karhu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov wants to sweep but no luck.
Chekhov trying to control the position.
Chekhov has control of Karhu's left arm, preventing Karhu from doing any damage.
Chekhov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Karhu landing with the ground and pound.
Chekhov is trying to control the position but Karhu postures up.
Karhu postures up in Chekhov's guard and throws a big left but Chekhov blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chekhov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karhu throws an elbow that misses. Chekhov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karhu's guard. Nice move by Chekhov!

Karhu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chekhov can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Karhu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Karhu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Chekhov defends it easily.
Chekhov trying to control but Karhu is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Karhu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chekhov is aware though and is defending well.
Chekhov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Chekhov looking to pass the guard.

Karhu working for a triangle but Chekhov defends it easily.
Chekhov stopping the sweep attempt from Karhu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Karhu dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Karhu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chekhov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Chekhov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chekhov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Good shot there by Karhu.
Karhu falls off balance throwing a combination
and Chekhov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karhu throws the kick towards the body but Chekhov avoids it.
Chekhov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Karhu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karhu just misses with a punch to the body.
Chekhov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chekhov moves forwards but Karhu connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Karhu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Chekhov takes a swing at Karhu's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A low kick from Karhu is predictable there
and Chekhov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Karhu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chekhov manages to avoid it.
Karhu missing with a left hand there. Chekhov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Chekhov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Karhu staying out of range there.
Chekhov checks the leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Chekhov as Karhu shoots in.
Chekhov lands a big head kick that sends Karhu to the canvas! Chekhov follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anton Chekhov!
Anton Chekhov is the new bantamweight champion!
Anton Chekhov took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Get this wet blanket off me!'.