PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Johns (ranked 3273 p4p, 2700 weight class) and Karl Karjalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Johns
vs
Karjalainen

191 cm
40
220
19 - 18 - 0

187 cm
25
211
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Don Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Karjalainen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johns lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Karl Karjalainen has been cut.
Johns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karjalainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Johns.
Johns throws a body kick that misses
and Karjalainen counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Don Johns has been cut.
Karjalainen throws out a loose jab but Johns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johns lands with a nice body punch.
Johns walks into a stiff left hand from Karjalainen.
Don Johns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karjalainen throws a low kick but Johns avoids it.
Johns is looking to counter punch.
Johns on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Johns throws the left hand but Karjalainen avoids the punch easily.
A little jabbing left from Karjalainen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Karjalainen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Johns pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Karjalainen! But no joy.
Johns has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Johns digs a good hook to Karjalainen's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johns pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karjalainen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Karjalainen throws a hook to the side of Johns's head but Johns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns throws a poor cross that misses
and Karjalainen counters with a left and a right that stings Johns.
Johns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johns lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Karjalainen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Karjalainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Karjalainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johns.

Johns drops Karjalainen with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Karjalainen looks back up at him and smiles so Johns waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karjalainen moves out of range of the body kick from Johns.
Johns lets his hands go wild with a nice combination. Left! Right! Uppercut! Spinning backfist! Karjalainen goes down and covers up as Johns starts wailing on him! The ref watches the action closely before stepping in and putting a stop to the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Don Johns!