PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aziz Karaoglu (ranked 3703 p4p, 3450 weight class) and Matthew Dean (ranked 395 p4p, 374 weight class). Matthew Dean has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Karaoglu
vs
Dean

183 cm
25
185
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
193
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aziz Karaoglu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matthew Dean!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dean darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Karaoglu manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Dean keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Dean tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dean has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Karaoglu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dean tries for a takedown. No joy.
Aziz Karaoglu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Dean.
Dean wants to take the fight to the mat but Karaoglu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Karaoglu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Dean turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dean manages to end up in side control.
Karaoglu bucks up and tries to throw Dean off but instead Dean has got his back!
Dean really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Karaoglu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dean misses with punches from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean is riding his opponent, not letting Karaoglu buck him off.
Dean controlling well, preventing Karaoglu from escaping the position.
Karaoglu is trying to get back to his feet but Dean has full control of the position and if anything, Karaoglu has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Dean looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dean is looking to control Karaoglu but Karaoglu is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Dean loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Karaoglu hold on?
Karaoglu manages to reverse the position and now he's in Dean's guard. Nice work there by Karaoglu.
Dean keeping moving, preventing Karaoglu from controlling successfully.
Dean wants to sweep here but Karaoglu controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean keeping moving, preventing Karaoglu from controlling successfully.
Dean bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Karaoglu's guard.

Karaoglu controls Dean momentarily but Dean frees himself.
Dean wants to control from the top but Karaoglu keeps moving.
Karaoglu trying to control the position.
Karaoglu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Karaoglu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karaoglu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dean working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karaoglu is trying to control the position but Dean postures up.
Karaoglu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dean is one step ahead there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Karaoglu misses the jab.
Karaoglu looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Karaoglu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dean changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Karaoglu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Karaoglu sneaks out the side door and pushes Dean away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Karaoglu misses with a lunging right hand

and Dean counters with a shoot takedown. Karaoglu fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dean wants to control from the top but Karaoglu keeps moving.
Dean working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Karaoglu's head.
Dean stopping the sweep attempt from Karaoglu.
Dean wants to control from the top but Karaoglu keeps moving.

Karaoglu is looking for a triangle but Dean pushes his legs off easily.
Dean stands up over Karaoglu, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aziz Karaoglu will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Karaoglu throws a jab but it's blocked by Dean.
Dean takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Karaoglu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Karaoglu looking for a takedown.
Karaoglu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Karaoglu is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dean is keeping busy.
Dean blocks a body shot from Karaoglu.
Karaoglu misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karaoglu.
Karaoglu throws a head punch that misses.
Dean is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Karaoglu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Dean gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Karaoglu controlling the position for now.
Dean trying to control from half guard but Karaoglu is working away.
Karaoglu wants to improve his position but Dean is controlling well.
Karaoglu wants to control but Dean is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karaoglu kicks off Dean and gets to his feet.
Jab by Karaoglu.
Karaoglu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dean swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dean is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A punch lands to the side of Dean 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dean is trying hard to land a takedown here. Karaoglu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aziz Karaoglu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Dean.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karaoglu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dean paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Karaoglu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Karaoglu throws a combination that misses

and Dean counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dean is stalling here. Karaoglu is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Dean seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Karaoglu has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Dean is looking for a sweep.
Aziz Karaoglu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean is trying to work for a sweep but Karaoglu has mounted him!
Dean is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dean tries to lock up and control but Karaoglu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Karaoglu with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Karaoglu tries to control but Dean wriggling away.
Dean slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Dean wants to improve his position but Karaoglu is controlling well.
Dean manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dean is looking to sweep but instead, Karaoglu has passed into half guard.
Dean wants to improve his position but Karaoglu is controlling well.

Karaoglu stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Dean to get to his feet.
Karaoglu throws out a loose jab but Dean uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dean takes one to the chin there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aziz Karaoglu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Karaoglu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dean counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Karaoglu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dean won't allow Karaoglu to get back to his feet.
Karaoglu keeping moving, preventing Dean from controlling successfully.
Karaoglu 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Karaoglu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Karaoglu haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Karaoglu digs a good hook to Dean's body.
Dean shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Dean scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Karaoglu sneaks out the side door and pushes Dean away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Dean is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Karaoglu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karaoglu lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Aziz Karaoglu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean closes this distance looking for a takedown but Karaoglu circles away.
Karaoglu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dean counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Karaoglu kicks Dean off and gets back to his feet.
Karaoglu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dean can do to turn this around?
Karaoglu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Aziz Karaoglu is winning the standup battle so far.
Karaoglu misses with a double jab

so Dean counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karaoglu looking for a sweep. Not yet Karaoglu, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karaoglu is trying to control the position but Dean postures up.
Dean trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karaoglu throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaoglu is trying to keep Dean in close.
Dean is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dean wants to control from the top but Karaoglu keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Dean drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Karaoglu throws a hook but Dean blocks it.
Karaoglu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dean with the counter takedown but Karaoglu avoids it easily.
Aziz Karaoglu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Donk. Karaoglu catches Dean right on the button with a cross.
Dean moves away from the strike by Karaoglu.
Dean feints the counter takedown.
Dean shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karaoglu as he avoids it easily.
Aziz Karaoglu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Dean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean swats away the attempt to clinch by Karaoglu.
Karaoglu tries to close the distance and clinch but Dean swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dean with the counter takedown but Karaoglu avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Karaoglu.
Karaoglu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Karaoglu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dean walks into a stiff left hand from Karaoglu.
Karaoglu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Karaoglu lands a slapping body shot.
Matthew Dean has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dean circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aziz Karaoglu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Karaoglu 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aziz Karaoglu!