PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Monte Zuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksanteri Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin has chosen CCCP as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zuma
vs
Karelin

190 cm
28
255 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

191 cm
39
286 lbs
32 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Monte Zuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksanteri Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuma throws a sloppy head kick and Karelin moves out of range easily.
Zuma with a jab.
Karelin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Monte Zuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karelin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zuma gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Karelin to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Monte Zuma has been cut.
Karelin slips under a jab.

Zuma shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Karelin makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karelin takes one to the side of the head.
Zuma connects with a solid leg kick.
Zuma lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zuma fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Karelin.
Zuma lands a head shot.
Zuma throws a wild body kick that Karelin sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Zuma misses.

Karelin clinches up with Zuma and pushes him back against the cage.

Karelin breaks the clinch.
Karelin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zuma.
Zuma throws a jab when Karelin was well out of range.
Karelin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zuma.
Zuma has been working on his boxing with his coaches at FORBIDDEN VIOLENCE WARRIORS in the buildup to the fight.
Aleksanteri Karelin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zuma fails with a takedown attempt.
Zuma scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zuma tries a head kick but it misses.
Zuma throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Karelin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zuma can pounce on him.

Karelin has closed the distance and engaged Zuma in a clinch.
Zuma lands a right hand.

Zuma lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zuma is taking a breather. Karelin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is looking to escape.
Zuma seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Karelin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zuma trying to mount his opponent but Karelin defends it.

Zuma is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zuma stops Karelin from getting back to his feet.
Zuma wants to take a breather but Karelin is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zuma seems to be working for a kimura but Karelin defends the submission attempt.
Zuma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karelin keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is trying to stand back up but Zuma is controlling him

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Karelin misses with a looping left.
Karelin just misses with a punch to the body.
Karelin loads up on a big right hand but Zuma slips the punch.
Zuma misses with a hook. Karelin ducked under it nicely.
Karelin walks into a jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Karelin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zuma throws a head kick that half lands.
Karelin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zuma.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monte Zuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zuma lands a glancing blow to the side of Karelin's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuma throws a leg kick but Karelin moved away.
A big right from Karelin misses.
Zuma tries a head kick but it misses.
Karelin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Karelin throws a good cross that connects.
Zuma throws the left hand but Karelin avoids the punch easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zuma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zuma connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Karelin momentarily.
Zuma has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zuma there as he acknowledges the shot.
Zuma lands with a straight right. Karelin didn't see that one coming.
Zuma tries a head kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Zuma.
Karelin misses with a series of wild punches.
Zuma throws a poor cross that misses
and Karelin counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monte Zuma dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Monte Zuma's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Karelin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Karelin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zuma keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karelin.
Zuma connects with a right hand. Karelin shakes it off.
Karelin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zuma moves away.
Zuma is looking to counter the offense by Karelin and move into the clinch.
Karelin avoids the head kick by Zuma.
Karelin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zuma throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Karelin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zuma thinking.
Karelin looks to score with a jab to the body but Zuma is just out of range.
Zuma throws a poor cross that misses
and Karelin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That kick from Zuma tenderised Karelin's leg. Karelin is trying to keep his angry face on.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nice straight punches there by Karelin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Karelin.
Karelin defending well as Zuma loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zuma manages to avoid it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zuma.
Zuma misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Zuma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuma throws a nice outside leg kick.
Karelin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zuma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zuma throws a hook to the side of Karelin's head but Karelin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zuma misses with a low kick.
Zuma misses with a head kick.
Karelin is looking for the big counter here.
Zuma is looking to land body kicks.
Karelin swings for the body but Zuma moves out of range.
Zuma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zuma throws a jab when Karelin was well out of range.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zuma manages to avoid it.
Zuma misses with a looping left.
Zuma throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zuma has his takedown stuffed
and Zuma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Karelin looks to score with a jab to the body but Zuma is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuma looks to land a right hand but Karelin moved out of range.
Zuma moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zuma tries to move into range but Karelin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Zuma rushes Karelin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karelin blocks an uppercut.

Zuma lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Karelin has one foot on Zuma's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Karelin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zuma throws a quick inside leg kick.
Karelin throws a body shot but no joy.
Zuma throws a head kick but Karelin moves out of range.

Zuma has closed the distance and engaged Karelin in a clinch.
Zuma is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karelin can do to turn this around?
Karelin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zuma.
Karelin trying to control the position but instead, Zuma has worked for underhooks and has pushed Karelin into the cage.
Zuma lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuma working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Zuma lands a left hand that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Karelin controlling the action here for a moment.
Zuma lands with a light punch inside.
Zuma keeps control of Karelin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Karelin wants to stall.
Zuma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Karelin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karelin misses with a wild body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zuma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zuma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karelin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Monte Zuma is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin scores with a shot to the body.
Karelin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Karelin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Karelin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zuma scores with a decent looking hook.
Karelin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zuma misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zuma misses with a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Karelin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Karelin throws a body shot but no joy.
Zuma ducks under a wild hook from Karelin.
Karelin walks into a straight right hand from Zuma.
Karelin misses with a body shot.
Zuma scores with a leg kick.
Karelin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Karelin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
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 Monte Zuma will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Monte Zuma's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Karelin takes one to the chin there.
Zuma misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Zuma darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zuma connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Karelin's hands.
Zuma throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Karelin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Karelin. Those never looked like landing.
Zuma tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Karelin manages to circle out of the way.
Zuma tries for a takedown but Karelin circles away easily
and Karelin counters with a straight right hand.
Karelin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Zuma counters with a straight right hand.
Zuma lands with a straight right. Karelin didn't see that one coming.
Zuma throws a sloppy head kick and Karelin moves out of range easily.
Zuma connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karelin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zuma.
Zuma pushes Karelin away with a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Karelin misses the shot to the body.
Zuma thows a leg kick but Karelin checks it
and Karelin counters with a nice uppercut.
Karelin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zuma.
Zuma connects with a leg kick. Karelin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zuma connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zuma fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Karelin checks it well.
Zuma throws a sloppy head kick and Karelin moves out of range easily.
Zuma misses with a hook
and Karelin counters with a nice uppercut.
Zuma lands an overhand right.
Zuma fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Karelin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Karelin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Karelin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zuma.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice defenses there by Karelin.
Karelin doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Monte Zuma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Zuma finds it's target.
Zuma lands with an overhand left.
Zuma catches Karelin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zuma misses with an uppercut.
Zuma ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
An inside leg kick lands from Zuma.
Nice uppercut there from Zuma.
Karelin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zuma.
Zuma feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Zuma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karelin throws out a counter right but Zuma avoids it with no problem.
Zuma tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Karelin misses with a wild body shot.
Zuma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zuma dips to his left and cracks Karelin with an uppercut!
Zuma tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karelin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zuma somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little jabbing left from Karelin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zuma throws a wild body kick that Karelin sees coming a mile off.
The fighters circling - Zuma throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zuma throws a jab when Karelin was well out of range.
Zuma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Karelin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Aleksanteri Karelin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zuma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karelin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zuma rather than just go for the knockout.
Karelin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Karelin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zuma - the referee stops the clock and Karelin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zuma. Karelin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Zuma misses with an uppercut.

Zuma ducks straight into an uppercut from Karelin and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Zuma manages to regain guard straight away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karelin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuma is trying to control the position but Karelin postures up.
Zuma is adopting a defensive guard.
Karelin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zuma pulls Karelin in to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monte Zuma showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zuma, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monte Zuma!
An out of breath Monte Zuma thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.