PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Van Der Moot (ranked 6131 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Karelin (ranked 6154 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Van Der Moot has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Van Der Moot
vs
Karelin

189 cm
25
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Van Der Moot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Der Moot wants to break free but Karelin has control.
Van Der Moot tries to break the clinch but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin is trying to push Van Der Moot away but Van Der Moot has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Karelin takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Alexander Karelin has been cut.
Van Der Moot throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Van Der Moot lands a left hand.
Van Der Moot using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Van Der Moot lands with a short shot to the head.
Van Der Moot misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karelin is struggling to control the position.
Van Der Moot is struggling to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Van Der Moot.
Karelin can't break the clinch.
Karelin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Der Moot misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Der Moot landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Karelin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Van Der Moot walks away with a smile on his face. Karelin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Van Der Moot connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Van Der Moot moves into the clinch.
Van Der Moot misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karelin.
Van Der Moot tries to circle away but Karelin has him pinned against the cage.

Van Der Moot manages to break the clinch.
Karelin avoids a punch combination nicely.

Karelin moves into range and clinches up with Van Der Moot.
Van Der Moot tries to land a knee to the head but Karelin blocks with his arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Van Der Moot pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Karelin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Van Der Moot's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karelin stops Van Der Moot from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Van Der Moot knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Karelin on the ground.
Van Der Moot is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karelin is controlling him.
Van Der Moot wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Karelin manages to pass to side control.
Karelin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but Van Der Moot defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karelin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Van Der Moot is just riding it out for now. Karelin eventually gives up the hold.
Van Der Moot is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Karelin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Let's hope that Karelin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Karelin wants to control but Van Der Moot is keeping him busy.
Van Der Moot is looking for a sweep. Karelin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Karelin stands up from half guard.
Van Der Moot doesn't manage to clinch there - Karelin circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Karelin.
Rafael Van Der Moot is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Der Moot moves in looking to clinch but Karelin pushes him off.
Karelin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Van Der Moot defends it well.
Van Der Moot throws a nice inside leg kick.
Van Der Moot lands a jab to the head.
Van Der Moot is looking to clinch.
Karelin is looking for the big counter here.

Van Der Moot closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Der Moot pushes Karelin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Der Moot can't find room to land a body shot as Karelin controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Van Der Moot dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Karelin's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karelin is keeping his hands low and just asking to be knocked out. Van Der Moot Raises his leg and lands a stunning axe kick! Karelin is out cold, face down on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Rafael Van Der Moot!