PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitaly Karelin (ranked 451 p4p, 19 weight class) and Al Hallick (ranked 282 p4p, 10 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Karelin
vs
Hallick

183 cm
40
282 lbs
35 - 17 - 0

193 cm
38
218 lbs
32 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitaly Karelin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Al Hallick!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin misses with a takedown attempt
and Hallick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Vitaly Karelin has been cut.
Hallick throws a nice head kick!
Hallick bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Karelin misses the target.
Hallick keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Karelin avoids the body shot from Hallick.
Karelin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hallick moves out of range as Karelin strikes.
Karelin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hallick looks to land a left hand but Karelin moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karelin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Karelin shoots in but Hallick avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaly Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Karelin misses with a takedown
and Hallick counters with a stiff right hand.
Karelin digs a good hook to Hallick's body.
Karelin throws a sloppy body shot
and Hallick counters with a stiff right hand.

Vitaly Karelin's cut is getting worse.
Karelin seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Karelin throws a big shot that misses.
A low kick from Hallick is predictable there

and Karelin counters with a takedown into side control.

Hallick explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hallick, right into the meat.
Karelin fails with the takedown
and Hallick counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karelin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hallick looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hallick tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hallick struggling a bit here.
Hallick takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Karelin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hallick is avoiding damage well.
An elbow from Karelin crashes against the mat.
Karelin grinds an elbow into Hallick's temple.
An elbow from Karelin crashes against the mat.
Hallick is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Karelin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hallick keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Karelin working Hallick over with strikes.
Karelin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Karelin is stalling here. Hallick is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Karelin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hallick has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Karelin is trying to improve his position.
Karelin is not content to let Hallick control the position.

Hallick decides to stand up, so the ref orders Karelin to his feet.
Karelin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hallick sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've been informed that Hallick has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
An inside leg kick lands from Hallick.
Karelin misses with a wild body shot.
Karelin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hallick avoids it really well and circles away.
Hallick let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Karelin swings widly with a right hand
letting Hallick counter with a right hand.
Karelin throws a body punch but Hallick moves out of range.
Hallick has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Karelin cracks Hallick with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karelin misses with a lunging right hand
and Hallick counters with a low kick, right behind Karelin 's knee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A swing and a miss from Karelin.
Al Hallick seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karelin throws the left hand but Hallick avoids the punch easily.
Hallick moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Karelin misses with a looping right.
Hallick uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karelin.
A nice side step and Hallick releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Good exchange - Karelin coming out on top.
A head kick misses from Hallick.
Karelin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hallick enables Karelin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hallick manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hallick keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Hallick controlling the position.
Hallick is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin is working Hallick over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vitaly Karelin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karelin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karelin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Karelin postures up in Hallick's guard and throws a big left but Hallick blocks it.
Karelin throws a big right hand that misses.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Hallick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hallick tries to free his leg and advance position but Karelin is retaining full guard.
Karelin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallick is looking to work some ground and pound but Karelin has wrist control.
Hallick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karelin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hallick gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hallick has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Good standup being displayed there by Hallick as he connects with a hook.
Al Hallick is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hallick moves out of range of the strikes.
Karelin fails to land the takedown.
Hallick appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Karelin misses with a body punch
letting Hallick counter with a right hand.
Hallick walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Karelin misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hallick doesn't seem bothered though.
Karelin works the jab nicely.
Karelin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hallick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hallick.
Karelin misses with a wild body shot.
Vitaly Karelin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hallick avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A punch lands to the side of Karelin 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Vitaly Karelin's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Karelin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hallick.
Hallick slips a jab from Karelin.
Karelin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaly Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karelin with a poor takedown
and Hallick counters with a good low kick that Karelin was not able to check.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hallick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Karelin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hallick avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hallick misses with an uppercut. Karelin saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Karelin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Karelin scores with a sloppy right hand. Hallick should have avoided that one.
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!
Hallick looks to land a left hand but Karelin moved out of range nicely.
Hallick missing with a left hand there. Karelin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hallick throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Karelin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hallick throws a hook but Karelin blocks it.
Hallick connects with an inside leg kick.
Karelin blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Hallick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vitaly Karelin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hallick missing with a left hand there. Karelin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hallick connects with a solid leg kick.
Hallick throws a poor cross that misses
and Karelin counters with a right hand to the body.
Karelin misses with a right hand
and Hallick counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Karelin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hallick swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Karelin tries to counter with a takedown but Hallick is quick to defend against it.
Karelin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Karelin misses with an uppercut
and Karelin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Karelin misses with a body shot
and Hallick cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hallick loads up on a big right hand but Karelin slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hallick stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hallick keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karelin.
Karelin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hallick throws a big counter head kick but Karelin avoids it with no problem.
Karelin with a poor takedown
and Hallick counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Karelin thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin scores with a jab to the body.
Hallick loads up on a big right hand but Karelin slips the punch.
Hallick tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hallick misses with a straight left.
Karelin throws a big counter combination but Hallick scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Karelin just misses with a punch to the body.
Hallick feints a counter leg kick.
A shot to the body from Karelin misses
letting Hallick counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheers as Karelin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hallick doesn't seem phased though.
Karelin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hallick throws out the jab.
Karelin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hallick.
Karelin appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Karelin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hallick.
Karelin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin misses with a body shot.
Hallick loads up on a big right hand but Karelin slips the punch.
Karelin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Karelin throws a hook but Hallick avoids it easily.
Hallick moves away from the strike by Karelin.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hallick.
Hallick thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karelin throws a poor cross that misses
and Hallick counters with a nice uppercut.
Karelin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karelin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hallick.
Karelin lands a body shot.
A big left from Karelin misses.
Hallick scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallick moves away from the strike by Karelin.
Hallick throws a leg kick which misses Karelin's front leg but catches the back leg as Karelin tries to avoid it.
Karelin misses with a hook to the body
and Hallick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Jeez, Vitaly Karelin's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Karelin looks for a takedown but Hallick sprawls well.
Hallick tries a quick counter leg kick but Karelin is wise to it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karelin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hallick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaly Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hallick scores with a punch to the head.
Karelin avoids the head kick by Hallick.
Karelin defending well as Hallick loads up on a big left hand.
Karelin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hallick throws out the jab.

Karelin gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karelin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hallick keeps working.
Karelin in side control, throwing shots but Hallick defends.
Karelin 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.
Karelin wants to control but Hallick is keeping him busy.
Karelin working the strikes but Hallick uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hallick is holding on to half guard well.
Karelin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karelin throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hallick to regain full guard.
Karelin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Hallick really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vitaly Karelin's cut.
That's time! Karelin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hallick looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hallick throws a jab but it's blocked by Karelin.
Karelin misses the jab.
Karelin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Karelin tries for a takedown but Hallick circles away easily
and Hallick counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hallick goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hallick misses with a straight left.
Karelin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hallick manages to avoid it.
Hallick lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hallick.
Hallick lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Karelin misses with a shot to the body
and Hallick makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Karelin misses the shot to the body.
Hallick slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Vitaly Karelin's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Al Hallick!
Al Hallick is the new super heavyweight champion!
A relieved looking Al Hallick thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.