|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danjuma Legba (ranked 1394 p4p, 1329 weight class) and Ruslan Karelin (ranked 199 p4p, 194 weight class). Legba comes to the cage accompanied by Dez Only 1 - Witchdoctor . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
 |
|
 |
| 178 cm
32
223
22 - 12 - 2 |
|
190 cm
34
206
18 - 13 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
|
Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
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 22 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Danjuma Legba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ruslan Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karelin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Legba closes the distance and clinches.
Legba misses with a body punch.
Karelin misses with an elbow over the top.
Karelin misses with a punch on the inside.
Legba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Legba misses with a double jab.
Karelin shoots in looking for a takedown. Legba tries to sprawl out of it but Karelin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Legba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legba has managed to clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin prevents a body shot from Legba.
Karelin stops a takedown attempt from Legba.
Legba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Legba blocks an elbow strike from Karelin.
Karelin lands a good knee to the midsection. Legba won't want to take too many of those.
A right hand to the body from Karelin.
Legba gets through Karelin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Karelin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Legbas head.
Legba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karelin drives through with a takedown into Legba's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Karelin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Karelin passes Legba's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Legba tries to get to full guard but Karelin has control of the leg.
Karelin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to mount his opponent but Legba defends it.
Karelin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Legba tries to roll over but Karelin keeps him under control.
Legba trying to control here.
Karelin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Legba tries to get to full guard but Karelin has control of the leg.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba trying to hold on to Karelin's head to control him but Karelin postures up.
Legba is not content to let Karelin control the position.
Legba wants to get back to full guard.
Karelin is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Karelin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Legba wants to hold on but Karelin pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Legba is looking to escape.
Legba tries to hold on but Karelin pushes him away.
Karelin controlling from the full mount.
Karelin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karelin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ruslan Karelin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Karelin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
As Legba backs off Karelin throws a huge counter combo but Legba manages to avoid it all.
Legba swings for the body but Karelin moves out of range.
Legba clinches up against the cage.
Legba is looking to break free of the clinch but Karelin has double underhooks.
Legba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Legba gets the takedown into side control.
Karelin is pushing Legba's head away, looking to escape. Legba manages to hold on to the position though.
Legba controls the position from side control.
Legba working the ground and pound from side control.
We've been hearing that Legba has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin is looking to regain half guard here but Legba keeps moving and retains side control.
Karelin keeps trying to improve his position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin prevents Legba from improving position.
Karelin is looking for a sweep.
Karelin is looking to get back to his feet here but Legba is keeping cool and he's managed to take Karelin's back.
Karelin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Legba.
Karelin is trying to break free.
Karelin prevents Legba from getting a body triangle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Karelin hold on?
Karelin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Legba tries to get the hooks in deep but Karelin pushed the leg off.
Legba has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Karelin.
Karelin wants to escape the position.
Legba looking for the RNC.
Karelin tries to escape the position.
Legba has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Karelin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Legba really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Karelin.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin tries to break free.
Legba wants to control but Karelin is keeping busy.
Legba looking for the RNC.
Karelin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Legba.
Karelin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Karelin working to try and regain half guard.
Legba trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Legba is trying to control. Karelin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Karelin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Legba is working Karelin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Legba can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karelin looking for a guillotine here but Legba defends easily.
Our spies down at at HELLCADEMY inform us that Karelin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karelin has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Legba is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Karelin.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Danjuma Legba dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Legba has his takedown stuffed
and Karelin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Legba turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Legba throws a left and a right that both miss
and Legba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Karelin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Legba bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Karelin is not content to let Legba control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Karelin is staying active underneath Legba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin tries to kick Legba off but Legba keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Karelin wants to get back to full guard but Legba has passed into side control.
Legba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karelin keeps working.
Danjuma Legba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Legba tries to advance to mount but can't.
Karelin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Legba's best efforts.
Legba trying to control the pace.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karelin wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Karelin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Legba slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Karelin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Legba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Legba has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Karelin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Karelin looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Legba has picked Karelin up and slammed him! Karelin can't keep hold of the triangle and Legba manages to pass to side control!
Karelin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Legba's best efforts.
Karelin looking for submissions off his back.
Legba prevents Karelin from improving his position.
Karelin looking for submissions off his back.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Karelin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Legba working some strikes from top position.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karelin has his foot on Legba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Legba works his way back into a safe position though.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Legba from controlling successfully.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ruslan Karelin.
I think Karelin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ruslan Karelin!
Ruslan Karelin spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
30% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
