PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chang Cobb (ranked 23954 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Karelin (ranked 5015 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cobb
vs
Karelin

180 cm
26
279 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

193 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chang Cobb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karelin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cobb looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Cobb is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karelin won't allow Cobb to sweep him here.
Karelin distracts Cobb with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Karelin looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin passes Cobb's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Karelin wants to take a breather but Cobb is having none of it.
Cobb could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cobb tries to roll over but Karelin keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cobb looking for a sweep. Not yet Cobb, not yet.

Karelin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cobb fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karelin wants to counter with a clinch but Cobb pushes him away.

Karelin drives through with a takedown into guard.

Cobb scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Karelin scores with a takedown into Cobb's guard.
Cobb is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Karelin dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Karelin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Karelin cracks Cobb with a big right hand but Cobb just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cobb is looking for a sweep.
Karelin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cobb taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb is trying to get back to half guard.

Karelin decides to stand back up. Karelin steps back and let's Cobb get back to his feet.
Cobb fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Karelin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Cobb looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karelin is fending him off so far but Cobb persists. Nope, Karelin circles away and we're back to standing.

Karelin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Karelin decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cobb to his feet.

Karelin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cobb is looking to stand back up but Karelin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cobb.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karelin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cobb is not content to let Karelin control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Karelin dominated that round.
That's time! Cobb's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Karelin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cobb sprawls well. Cobb wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karelin gets slowly back to his feet.
Cobb is looking for a counter combo.

Cobb moves into the clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Karelin. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Karelin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cobb tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karelin doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Karelin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cobb keeping full guard, as Karelin tries to pass.
Cobb is wriggling around but Karelin manages to pass to half guard.
Karelin content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cobb moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cobb 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.
Cobb is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cobb wants to get back to his feet but Karelin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cobb might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Cobb keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cobb looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Karelin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cobb looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.
Karelin sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Cobb is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cobb managing to control the position.
Cobb keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Karelin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cobb tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Karelin drives through with a takedown into Cobb's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cobb is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karelin is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobb is trying to keep Karelin in close.
Karelin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cobb swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb 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.
Karelin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Karelin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cobb is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

That's two 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.
Cobb is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karelin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karelin is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Cobb shoots for a double leg takedown but Karelin sprawls well. He's pushed Cobb's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Karelin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cobb manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Cobb is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Karelin presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karelin has hold of one of Cobb's legs. Cobb is fighting the takedown attempt but Karelin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Cobb is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin works over Cobb with some ground and pound from guard.
Karelin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cobb wants to get back to his feet but Karelin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Cobb keeps moving.
Cobb controls Karelin momentarily but Karelin frees himself.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Karelin stops Cobb from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cobb tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karelin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cobb somewhat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Karelin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Karelin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Karelin!