PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stem Cell (ranked 2296 p4p, 98 weight class) and Antti Karhu (ranked 2418 p4p, 111 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Karhu's choice of entrance music: Samuli Edelmann - Teit meistä kauniin. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Antti Karhu enters the cage!

Cell
vs
Karhu

170 cm
43
141 lbs
43 - 21 - 1

176 cm
35
138 lbs
28 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 43 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stem Cell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antti Karhu!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karhu pushes Cell up against the cage in a clinch.
Karhu working aggressively here.
Cell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cell throws a punch but it's blocked by Karhu.
Karhu misses with a punch to the body.
We've been informed that Karhu has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Cell blocks an uppercut.
Cell lands with a left to the head.
Cell digs a right hand into Karhu's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Karhu's gas tank.
Cell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Karhu misses with some punches.
Cell is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cell tries to throw a body punch but Karhu avoids it by throwing Cell back against the cage.
Cell lands a right hand.
Karhu lands a hook that snaps the head of Cell backwards.
Karhu has a couple of punches blocked by Cell.
Cell lands a nice uppercut.
Karhu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Karhu.
Cell displaying some good clinch control by pressing Karhu up against the cage.
Cell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karhu's elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cell blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cell backwards.
Karhu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Karhu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karhu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cell backwards.

Karhu manages to break the clinch.
Karhu avoids the body shot from Cell.
Cell looks to score with a jab to the body but Karhu is just out of range.
Cell looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Antti Karhu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Karhu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cell, pushing him back against the cage.
Good body shot from Karhu.
Cell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Karhu prevents a body shot from Cell.
Karhu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Karhu digs a right hand into Cell's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cell's gas tank.
Karhu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cell lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Karhu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karhu takes a swing at Cell's ribcage but misses.
Karhu throws a body shot but no joy.
Karhu moves out of range of the strikes.
A shot to the liver by Karhu. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cell closes the distance but Karhu moves to the side
and Karhu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Karhu throws a solid leg kick but Cell takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Karhu.
Cell throws a hook but Karhu avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick from Karhu misses.
Karhu is looking to chop away at Cell's legs.
Karhu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cell was well out of range. Poor timing from Karhu.
Karhu throws an overhand right that lands on Cell's shoulder, as Cell tries to avoid the shot.
Karhu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Decent striking displayed by Karhu there.
Karhu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cell was well out of range. Poor timing from Karhu.
Cell checks the leg kick nicely there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cell.
A left lands for Karhu.
Karhu moves forwards but Cell connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Karhu was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Karhu sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cell throws a shot to the body.
Karhu misses with a shot to the body
enabling Cell to counter with a crisp jab.
Karhu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cell looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cell avoids the body shot from Karhu.
Karhu throws a leg kick
and Cell counters with a right hand to the body.
A jab from Karhu finds it's way through Cell's defenses.
Karhu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cell.

Cell forces Karhu back against the cage and clinches.
Cell lands a body shot.

Karhu manages to break the clinch.
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!
Cell scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu jabs at Cell's body.
Cell moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Karhu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cell.
As Karhu tries to get set, Cell tries to push him back and clinch up but Karhu manages to avoid the attempt.
Karhu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Karhu throws an overhand right that lands on Cell's shoulder, as Cell tries to avoid the shot.

Cell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karhu swings wildly with an uppercut but Cell uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Karhu.
Still in the clinch, Cell scores with a nice short uppercut.

Karhu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karhu lands with a good body shot.
Cell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Karhu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Karhu misses with a leg kick
and Cell counters with a left to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karhu wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antti Karhu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karhu misses with a looping right.
Cell was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A shot to the liver by Karhu. Beautiful body shot.
Cell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cell is looking to wear down Karhu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Karhu throws a nice outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Cell.

Cell takes the fight into the clinch.
Cell has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Cell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cell throws a punch but it's blocked by Karhu.
Cell tries to throw a body punch but Karhu avoids it by throwing Cell back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Karhu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cell goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cell throws a punch but it's blocked by Karhu.
Cell blocks a body shot from Karhu.
Cell is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Karhu is keeping busy.
Cell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Karhu tries a body shot but Cell blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Karhu manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Karhu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Karhu tries to clinch but Cell moves out of range.
A jab from Karhu finds it's way through Cell's defenses.
A jab from Karhu misses.
A quick step to the side and Cell tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karhu throws a leg kick but Cell sees it coming and moves out of range.
Karhu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cell manages to avoid it.
Cell throws a big counter combination but Karhu scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
That kick from Karhu tenderised Cell's leg. Cell is trying to keep his angry face on.
A shot to the liver by Karhu. Beautiful body shot.

Karhu moves into the clinch.
Cell scores with a shoulder strike.
Cell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cell digs a right hand underneath Karhu's ribcage. Karhu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Karhu lands with a right to the head.
Karhu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Karhu breaks the clinch.
Cell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Karhu.
Karhu throws a leg kick but Cell sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cell defending well as Karhu loads up on a big left hand.
Cell takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karhu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karhu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cell lands a head kick!
Cell on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Karhu. Karhu obviously looking to wear him down.
Cell avoids the body shot from Karhu.
Cell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Karhu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karhu tries a body shot but Cell blocks it.
Karhu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cell seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
A head punch on the inside from Karhu fails to land.
Cell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Karhu.
Cell taking a breather.
Karhu works on Cell's body with a couple of short punches.
Cell is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Karhu is keeping busy.
Karhu lands a body shot.
Karhu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Karhu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cell can't find room to land a body shot as Karhu controls the action.
Karhu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cell backwards.
Cell looking to slow down the pace here.
Nice body punch from Karhu.
Cell lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Karhu backwards.
Karhu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cell takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cell misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cell is trying to stall.
A shot in the inside from Cell.
Karhu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Karhu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cell.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karhu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cell.
Cell stalling in the clinch but Karhu improves position.
Karhu scores with a hook to the body.

Karhu breaks the clinch.
Cell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karhu was well out of range. Poor timing from Cell.
Karhu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Karhu blocks a head kick by Cell.
Cell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Karhu digs a good hook to Cell's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Karhu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Karhu rushes Cell and presses him up against the cage.
Cell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cell dodges an elbow strike from Karhu.
Karhu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cell lands a body punch.
Cell throws a head punch that misses.
Karhu pushes Cell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cell works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Karhu is working Cell over against the cage.
Karhu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cell or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karhu.
Karhu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Karhu misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cell working aggressively here.

Karhu breaks from the clinch.
Cell defending well as Karhu loads up on a big left hand.
Cell lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cell avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cell tries to move into range but Karhu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cell swings for the body but Karhu moves out of range.
Cell uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karhu.
Cell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Karhu.
Karhu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karhu manages to avoid it.
Karhu throws out a counter right but Cell avoids it with no problem.
Cell misses the shot to the body.
A clash of legs there as Karhu blocks the low kick.
Antti Karhu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karhu moves out of range of the body kick from Cell.
Cell moves in looking to clinch but Karhu pushes him off.
Karhu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Karhu misses with an uppercut.
Cell chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Karhu can pounce on him.
Karhu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stem Cell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Karhu.
A shot to the body from Cell misses
and Karhu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cell has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Karhu.
Nice jab there from Karhu.
Karhu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cell manages to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karhu misses with a lunging right hand
and Cell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Karhu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Cell throws a head kick that misses.
Karhu throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cell counters with a stiff right hand.
Karhu misses the shot to the body.
Cell doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Karhu slips a straight right by Cell.
Karhu misses with a body shot.
Karhu misses with a wild body shot.
Karhu misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cell.
Karhu connects with the punch.
Karhu swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Cell counter with a right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Karhu.
Karhu misses with a body shot.
Karhu takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Karhu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Karhu throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cell looks to land a right hand but Karhu moved out of range.
Karhu throws a leg kick but Cell sees it coming and moves out of range.
Antti Karhu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice body punch from Karhu.
Karhu tries to clinch up.
Cell takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Karhu misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cell swats away the attempt to clinch by Karhu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cell takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Karhu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cell's calf.
Karhu lands with an overhand left.
Karhu connects with a leg kick. Cell looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cell has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Karhu finds it's way round the side to connect with Cell's head.
Karhu throws a chopping leg kick but Cell manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Karhu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Karhu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cell wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Karhu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Karhu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Karhu!
Antti Karhu decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
Stem Cell spoke after the fight, saying 'Looks like its time for apoptosis.'.