PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Karelin (ranked 6625 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Kidman (ranked 6512 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kidman's choice of entrance music: You Can Run. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Karelin
vs
Kidman

175 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Billy Kidman!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kidman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Karelin sprawls well. Karelin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kidman gets slowly back to his feet.
Karelin throws a series of punches but Kidman moves out of range.
Kidman lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kidman throws a head kick that Karelin semi-blocks.
A right-left combo lands from Kidman.

It looks like Alexander Karelin has been cut.
Kidman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Karelin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kidman tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.

Karelin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kidman's guard.
Karelin landing with the ground and pound.
Karelin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kidman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kidman is trying to keep Karelin in close.
Kidman doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Kidman looking for a guillotine here but Karelin defends easily.
Kidman trying to keep a closed guard but Karelin is proving a slippery customer.
Karelin scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two 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.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kidman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin 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.
Karelin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kidman on the ground.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Karelin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Karelin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kidman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Kidman keeps moving.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Kidman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Karelin is working an open guard so Kidman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kidman shoots in and drives through. Karelin sprawls well.

Kidman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Kidman keeps moving.
Kidman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.
Karelin stands and throws Kidman's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karelin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Karelin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karelin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kidman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Karelin is in Kidman's guard.

Kidman is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Kidman manages to break the clinch.

Karelin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kidman tries to break the clinch but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Kidman manages to pull guard.
Kidman trying to control the position.
Karelin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kidman looking for a guillotine here but Karelin defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karelin stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Karelin has taken the fight to the clinch.

Karelin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Karelin.
Karelin throws a combination that misses
and Kidman counters with a nice uppercut.
Kidman throws a one two combo.
Kidman is breathing heavily.

Karelin clinches with his opponent.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karelin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Karelin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kidman wants to get back to his feet but Karelin is dominant here and he's now got Kidman's back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Karelin is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kidman knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kidman for a finish.
What can Kidman do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Karelin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kidman for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karelin is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kidman defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Karelin looking to break Kidman's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Kidman remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Karelin will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Kidman trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Karelin keeps control of the position as Kidman tries to break free.

Kidman fending off the submission attempt from Karelin.
Karelin really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Kidman.
Kidman wants to control his opponent's hands but Karelin gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karelin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Karelin's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Karelin moves into the clinch.
Kidman throws an elbow that misses.
Kidman landing knees to the body.

Karelin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kidman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Karelin as he jumps to the side.

Karelin drives through with a takedown into Kidman's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Karelin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Karelin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin looking to pass the guard.

Karelin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Karelin misses the shot to the body.
No luck for Karelin with that takedown attempt.
Kidman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Karelin counters by moving into the clinch.
Karelin effectively controlling the action here.
Karelin tries to pull guard but Kidman won't allow it.
Kidman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Karelin is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kidman jumps guard but Karelin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Alexander Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Kidman.
Kidman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karelin has him pressed against the cage.
Kidman wants to break free but Karelin has control.
Karelin tries to score a body lock takedown but Kidman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Karelin pulls Kidman into guard.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Kidman from controlling successfully.

Karelin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Karelin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kidman puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidman controlling the action here.
Karelin trying to get back to full guard but Kidman takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Kidman throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Karelin because Kidman loaded up on that one.
Karelin wants to hold on but Kidman pushes him away.
Karelin is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is working hard here to advance position.
Karelin tries to lock up and control but Kidman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kidman trying to control but Karelin is having none of it.
Karelin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Billy Kidman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander Karelin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kidman thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alexander Karelin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Karelin, 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Alexander Karelin!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Alexander Karelin!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Alexander Karelin!

Alexander Karelin wins by unanimous decision!
The defeated Billy Kidman had this to say: 'I'll be back'.