PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Rav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Karelin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nick Rav's chin.

Karelin
vs
Rav

209 cm
22
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, 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 St Petersburg, Nick Rav!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karelin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Rav's brow.
Karelin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rav keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Karelin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Karelin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rav wants to stand but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelin stops Rav from standing up.
Karelin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rav's head.
Karelin is working Rav over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin landing some decent shots from guard.
Karelin working some strikes from top position.
Rav wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.
Karelin is working Rav over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin scoring with some ground and pound.
Karelin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karelin chips away with some ground and pound.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Rav keeps moving.
Karelin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rav's head.
Karelin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rav is looking to stand up but Karelin isn't so interested in that idea.
Karelin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rav is looking to stand up but Karelin isn't so interested in that idea.
Karelin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Karelin trying to control but Rav is working from the bottom.
Rav has momentary wrist control but Karelin slips an elbow through the middle.
Karelin works over Rav with some ground and pound from guard.
Rav wants to stand but Karelin is controlling the position.
Rav looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin cracks Rav with a solid left hand.
Rav keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rav is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Karelin connects with a couple of short punches.
Karelin landing some decent shots from guard.
Karelin chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Karelin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Karelin prevents Rav from getting back to his feet.
Karelin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Karelin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rav is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rav is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karelin is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Karelin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rav has hold of Karelin's hands but Karelin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rav is trying to escape back to his feet but Karelin uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Karelin cracks Rav with a big elbow.
Karelin is putting a hurting on Rav here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rav takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Karelin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Karelin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rav taking punishment in the form of punches.
Karelin looks up at the clock and then as Rav takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Karelin smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rav gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Karelin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Karelin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Karelin with shots to the head and body - Rav looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rav wants to try and get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Karelin landing strikes from the mount.
Karelin pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Karelin landing strikes from the mount and Rav is in trouble!
Rav is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Karelin dominating with strikes here.
Karelin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Karelin landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karelin with the ground and pound from mount.
Karelin looking to finish Rav with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rav!
Karelin scoring with strikes but Rav is staying in there.
Karelin putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karelin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rav tries to clinch but Karelin is having none of it.
Rav tries to close the distance and clinch but Karelin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rav moves in looking to clinch but Karelin pushes him off.

Karelin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Karelin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rav wants to stand and escape but Karelin is having none of it.
Karelin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Karelin works over Rav with some ground and pound from guard.
Karelin landing some decent shots from guard.
Karelin works over Rav with some ground and pound from guard.
Karelin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rav's head.
Karelin won't allow Rav to get back to his feet.
Karelin lands a couple of elbows.
Karelin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Karelin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rav's head.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karelin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Karelin with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Rav keeps moving.
Karelin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Rav's brow.
Karelin works over Rav with some ground and pound from guard.
Karelin scoring with punches to the head and body.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Karelin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Karelin has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rav's face.
Karelin is landing with some decent strikes but Rav is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rav is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Karelin is landing with some decent strikes but Rav is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
You get the feeling that Rav really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Rav is in a horrible position here. Karelin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rav trying desperately to get to his feet.
Karelin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Karelin with a couple of short strikes.
Alexander Karelin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rav can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Karelin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Karelin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
You get the feeling that Rav really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Rav is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Karelin is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Karelin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Karelin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rav hang on?
Rav really wants to buck Karelin off and get back to his feet.
Karelin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
A nice elbow there by Karelin.
Karelin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Karelin has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rav's face.
Karelin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rav is bucking up trying to escape but Karelin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Karelin trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Karelin.
Karelin with good strikes from the mount here!
Karelin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Karelin punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! Karelin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Karelin tries to control but Rav wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Karelin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rav really wants to buck Karelin off and get back to his feet.
Karelin lands with some strikes.
Karelin working the ground and pound effectively.
A nice elbow there by Karelin.
Rav really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Karelin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rav is bucking up trying to escape but Karelin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Karelin with a couple of short strikes.
Rav is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Karelin with shots to the head and body - Rav looks very uncomfortable down there.
Karelin landing shots from mount.
Karelin working the ground and pound effectively.
Karelin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Karelin lands a heavy elbow.
Rav's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice elbow there by Karelin.
Karelin lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Karelin working the ground and pound effectively.
Karelin putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Karelin dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rav wants to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Karelin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rav fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Karelin keeps the fight on the outside.
Rav tries to clinch but Karelin moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Karelin has hold of one of Rav's legs. Rav is fighting the takedown attempt but Karelin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Karelin prevents Rav from getting back to his feet.
Karelin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karelin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rav wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.
Karelin is working Rav over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Karelin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Rav's brow.
Karelin with a nice head shot there.
Karelin distracts Rav with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rav wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rav tries to keep at a distance but Karelin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rav avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rav misses with a hook from the clinch.

Karelin gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Karelin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karelin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Karelin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Karelin is working Rav over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Karelin scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rav has momentary wrist control but Karelin slips an elbow through the middle.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

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.
Karelin stands up over Rav, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Karelin works over Rav with some ground and pound from guard.
Karelin connects with a couple of short punches.
Rav is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Karelin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Karelin prevents Rav from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Karelin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Karelin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rav can do to turn this around?
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Rav's brow.
Karelin chips away with some ground and pound.
Karelin won't allow Rav to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rav's head.
Karelin scoring with some ground and pound.
Rav has momentary wrist control but Karelin slips an elbow through the middle.
Rav is looking to stand up but Karelin isn't so interested in that idea.
Karelin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Karelin feints and as Rav raises his hands in defense, Karelin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Karelin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Rav keeps moving.
Karelin lands a couple of digs.
Karelin landing with the ground and pound.
Karelin postures up and lands a big shot to Rav's brow.
Rav wants to stand but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Karelin distracts Rav with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karelin blocks a head kick by Rav.

Karelin clinches.
Rav wants to break free but Karelin has control.
Rav misses with a punch on the inside.
Karelin has Rav pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rav manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rav avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Karelin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rav prevents it.
Rav wants to break the clinch but can't.

Karelin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Karelin lands with a punch from half guard.
Rav is looking to escape.
Karelin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Karelin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Karelin prevents Rav from standing back up.
Nick Rav has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karelin working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Karelin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Karelin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26

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