PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jiu Jitsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kostas Karelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelis is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sail - AwolNation. Kostas Karelis acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Jitsu
vs
Karelis

183 cm
28
214 lbs
22 - 9 - 1

182 cm
22
222 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jiu Jitsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Kostas Karelis!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karelis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jitsu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jitsu is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Karelis.
Karelis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jitsu feinted with a counter takedown.

Karelis clinches.

Jitsu tightens his grip and picks Karelis up, before dumping him to the ground. Karelis manages to land in guard.
Karelis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jitsu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jitsu misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Karelis struggling a bit here.

Jitsu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jitsu working away.

Jitsu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelis controls the position for a moment.
We've been hearing good reports from Jitsu's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Jitsu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jitsu goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Karelis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jitsu but great work by Karelis.
Karelis landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Jitsu is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Karelis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Karelis trying to control the action but Jitsu is working from the bottom.
Jitsu tries to get to full guard but Karelis has control of the leg.
Karelis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Jitsu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Karelis is looking to take a break and control but Jitsu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Karelis controlling the pace.
Karelis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jitsu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jitsu works his way to full guard. Good work.

Jitsu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Karelis's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Jitsu working for a triangle but Karelis defends it easily.

Jitsu looking for a guillotine here but Karelis defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelis chips away with some ground and pound.
Karelis sitting in guard here, content to control.

Jitsu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Karelis trying to control the position from guard on top but Jitsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jitsu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Jitsu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karelis is aware though and is defending well.

Jitsu is looking for a triangle but Karelis pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Jitsu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Karelis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jitsu's head.
Jitsu keeping moving, preventing Karelis from controlling successfully.
Karelis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jitsu haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Karelis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Karelis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Jitsu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Jitsu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karelis landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jiu Jitsu will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jitsu swats away the attempt to clinch by Karelis.
Jitsu shoots in but Karelis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Karelis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jitsu was well out of range. Poor timing from Karelis.
Karelis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Jitsu drives through with a takedown into Karelis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Karelis is looking to stand up but Jitsu isn't so interested in that idea.
Karelis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Jitsu stops Karelis from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Karelis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Karelis pushes Jitsu off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Karelis throws a head kick but Jitsu moves out of range.
Jitsu half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Jitsu as Karelis shoots in.
Karelis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jitsu sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Karelis somewhat.
A big left from Karelis misses.

Jitsu gets a double leg takedown into Karelis's guard.

Jitsu drops back looking for a leg! Karelis is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karelis manages to kick Jitsu off! Jitsu jumps back into Karelis's guard.
Karelis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Jitsu preventing the sweep.
Karelis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Our spies down at at Montreal Fighter's Gym (5* Sparring) inform us that Karelis has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Jitsu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karelis is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karelis has his foot on Jitsu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jitsu works his way back into a safe position though.
Jitsu stops Karelis from standing up.
Jitsu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karelis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karelis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jitsu is controlling him.
Jitsu connects with a couple of short punches.
Jitsu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Jitsu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Jitsu throws a big right hand that misses.
Jitsu makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karelis wants to stand but Jitsu is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jitsu advances position into side control!

Jitsu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jitsu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Jitsu working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Karelis struggling a bit here.

Jitsu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jitsu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Karelis tries to bench press Jitsu off him but Jitsu keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu working the ground and pound.

Jitsu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Karelis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Jitsu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Karelis sneaks out the side door and pushes Jitsu away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Karelis stuffs the takedown attempt from Jitsu. Jitsu gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karelis swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jitsu takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Karelis misses with a hook.
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!
Jitsu circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jiu Jitsu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jitsu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Karelis avoids it really well and circles away.
Karelis tries to close the distance and clinch but Jitsu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Karelis.
Karelis throws a big shot that misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jitsu or perhaps it was just good defense by Karelis, which made it look bad.
Jitsu misses with a takedown attempt - Karelis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jiu Jitsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jitsu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kostas Karelis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karelis moves in looking to clinch but Jitsu pushes him off.
Jitsu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Karelis defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelis misses with a looping left.
Jitsu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Karelis drives through and clinches with Jitsu against the cage.
Karelis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Jitsu has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Karelis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jitsu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karelis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Karelis with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jitsu is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Karelis to keep the fight standing.
A short left from Karelis.
Karelis is pressed up against the cage. Jitsu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Karelis down to the mat. Karelis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Karelis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jitsu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Karelis throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Karelis throws a series of punches but Jitsu avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu blocks a jab.
Karelis throws a hook but Jitsu blocks it.
Jitsu shoots in but Karelis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Karelis rushes Jitsu and presses him up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karelis stops a takedown attempt from Jitsu.

Jitsu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Karelis moves into the clinch.
Jitsu has Karelis pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Karelis manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Jitsu breaks from the clinch.
Karelis misses the shot to the body.
Jitsu slips a straight right by Karelis.
Jitsu is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Karelis.
Karelis swings for the body but Jitsu moves out of range.
Kostas Karelis seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karelis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Karelis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jitsu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Karelis throws a shot from downtown. Jitsu moves away and avoids it.
Karelis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jitsu in his tracks.

Karelis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Karelis.
Jitsu is looking for a takedown.
Karelis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jitsu is trying to drag Karelis to the mat but Karelis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jitsu wants a takedown but no success here.
Karelis scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Jiu Jitsu has been cut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Karelis.
Karelis digs a right hand into Jitsu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jitsu's gas tank.

Karelis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karelis scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Karelis darts in and clinches Jitsu up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Karelis as the two fighters clinch.
Karelis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karelis misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karelis.
Kostas Karelis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Karelis lands with a right to the head.
Jitsu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Karelis smiles and moves away.
Karelis misses with a hook. Jitsu ducked under it nicely.
Jitsu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice uppercut lands for Karelis. That snapped Jitsu's head back.
Jitsu takes one to the side of the head.

Jitsu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Karelis gets full guard.
Karelis controls Jitsu momentarily but Jitsu frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Karelis really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jiu Jitsu's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown attempt by Jitsu or perhaps it was just good defense by Karelis, which made it look bad.
Karelis bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Karelis is looking to clinch.
Jitsu tries to counter with a takedown but Karelis is quick to defend against it.
A big right from Karelis misses.

Karelis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jitsu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Karelis after a bit of a struggle.
Karelis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jitsu prevents a body shot from Karelis.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jitsu gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Karelis regains guard.
Jiu Jitsu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karelis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jitsu passes Karelis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelis is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelis is looking to escape.
Karelis gets back to full guard.
Karelis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Jitsu prevents Karelis from getting back to his feet.
Jitsu with a nice head shot there.
Jitsu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Karelis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Jitsu stopping the sweep attempt from Karelis.
Karelis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Karelis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karelis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jitsu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Karelis defends well.
Karelis is working Jitsu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Karelis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Jitsu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Karelis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Karelis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karelis with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Karelis is working Jitsu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jitsu wants to sweep but no luck.

Jitsu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karelis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karelis landing with the ground and pound.
Karelis trying to control but Jitsu is working from the bottom.
Jitsu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karelis manages to get himself to full guard.

Karelis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Karelis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Karelis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jitsu is looking to work some ground and pound but Karelis has wrist control.
Karelis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jitsu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karelis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Karelis is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Jitsu presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Karelis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jitsu tries for a takedown but Karelis manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jiu Jitsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karelis misses with a knee strike.
Jitsu fails to pull guard.
Karelis pushes Jitsu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jitsu tries to score a body lock takedown but Karelis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Jitsu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Karelis stops a takedown attempt from Jitsu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karelis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Karelis breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Karelis dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Jiu Jitsu's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Karelis closes the distance and clinches.
Karelis lands a body shot.

Jitsu has picked Karelis up - he's going for a ride! Jitsu dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Karelis trying to control but Jitsu postures up.
Karelis controlling the position well.
Karelis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jitsu is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jitsu is working for a submission of some sort.

Jitsu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelis is controlling Jitsu's trapped leg to prevent Jitsu from advancing to side control.
Karelis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jitsu.
Karelis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jitsu is working away from the top position though.

Karelis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jitsu pulls his head out easily.
Karelis is trying to stand.
Karelis is trying to maintain the position but Jitsu is very close to passing his half guard.

Jitsu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Karelis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Karelis wants to control but Jitsu is keeping busy.

Jitsu is trying for a kimura here. Karelis looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Jitsu wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jiu Jitsu!
After the big win, Jiu Jitsu made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Urban Fighter and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.