PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between BIG STYLE (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Karelin's choice of entrance music: Terminator 2. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

STYLE
vs
Karelin

205 cm
24
287 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

194 cm
24
279 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, BIG STYLE!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

STYLE drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Karelin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Karelin throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
STYLE creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
STYLE trying to control the position but Karelin is working away.
Karelin is looking to regain half guard here but STYLE keeps moving and retains side control.
STYLE wants to control but Karelin is keeping him busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karelin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and STYLE counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karelin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
STYLE will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Karelin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Karelin keeping full guard, as STYLE tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
STYLE trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
STYLE preventing the sweep.
Karelin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
STYLE forces his way into half guard.
STYLE is looking to advance position but Karelin won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
STYLE has his takedown stuffed

and Karelin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A body shot lands from Karelin.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karelin.
A right handed body shot lands from Karelin.
Karelin is working STYLE over against the ropes.

Karelin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, STYLE regains guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin with a nice head shot there.
STYLE is trying to keep Karelin in close.
Karelin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Karelin preventing the sweep.
STYLE is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
STYLE is breathing heavily.
Karelin missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Karelin taking some punishment here, with STYLE in his half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
STYLE blocks the strikes from Karelin.
Karelin is looking for a sweep. STYLE is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Karelin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Karelin missing with punches from the bottom.
Karelin is not content to let STYLE control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
STYLE takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Karelin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Karelin is not content to let STYLE control the position.
Karelin is looking for a sweep. STYLE is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
STYLE is looking to take a break and control but Karelin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karelin trying to hold on to STYLE's head to control him but STYLE postures up.
Karelin missing with punches from the bottom.
STYLE trying to control the action but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Karelin wants to improve his position but STYLE is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karelin tries to clinch but STYLE moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
STYLE with a lazy takedown attempt

and Karelin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karelin won't allow STYLE to sweep him here.
STYLE is trying to control the position but Karelin postures up.
STYLE throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
STYLE not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
STYLE doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Karelin wants to control from the top but STYLE keeps moving.
Karelin with a nice head shot there.
STYLE looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karelin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so STYLE counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
STYLE trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
STYLE takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Karelin will probably get the nod.
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.

STYLE darts in trying to clinch

and Karelin counters with a nice double leg into side control. STYLE won't be happy with that.
STYLE struggling a bit here.
Karelin throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
STYLE misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Karelin fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Karelin is chipping away with strikes.
STYLE manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
STYLE performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Karelin landing strikes from the bottom.
Karelin wants to control but STYLE is keeping busy.
Karelin is breathing heavily.
STYLE trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin is staying active underneath STYLE, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
STYLE takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

STYLE is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
STYLE prevents Karelin from improving his position.
STYLE wants to take a breather but Karelin is having none of it.
STYLE stalling.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karelin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Karelin wants to get back to full guard.
Karelin moves into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells STYLE's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing STYLE from controlling successfully.
Karelin throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Karelin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
STYLE cracks Karelin with a solid left hand.
STYLE working some strikes from top position.
STYLE forces his way into half guard.
Karelin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
STYLE works his way into side control.
STYLE is looking to take a break and control but Karelin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karelin is trying to improve his position.
STYLE lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
STYLE is working Karelin over with some ground and pound from side control.
STYLE trying to control the position but Karelin is working away.
Karelin tries to bench press STYLE off him but STYLE keeps the position.
Karelin misses with an elbow from the bottom.
STYLE scoring with punches and elbows.

STYLE tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no STYLE has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
STYLE blocks the strikes from Karelin.
STYLE is working Karelin over with some ground and pound from side control.
STYLE lands a few punches from side control.
Karelin is looking for a sweep.
BIG STYLE overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

STYLE working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
STYLE scoring with punches and elbows.
STYLE 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.
You can see the frustration on Karelin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Karelin is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but STYLE is staying active.
STYLE is looking to take a break and control but Karelin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karelin tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BIG STYLE dominated that second round.
That's time! STYLE's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Karelin is looking to clinch.
Karelin misses with a takedown attempt

and STYLE counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karelin's guard now.
Karelin working a defensive guard here.
STYLE stands and throws Karelin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
STYLE trying to control the position but Karelin is working away.

STYLE is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Karelin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Karelin is trying to get back to half guard.
Karelin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Karelin wants to control but STYLE postures up.
STYLE working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin is looking for a sweep.
STYLE trying to control the position but Karelin is working away.
STYLE cracks Karelin with a big elbow.
Karelin keeps STYLE under control for a moment.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Karelin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
STYLE takes a little break here. Karelin wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Karelin taking a bit of punishment here - STYLE scoring with strikes.
STYLE controls the position.
STYLE landing a few strikes.
STYLE controlling the position.
STYLE trying to control the position but Karelin is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
STYLE landing a few strikes.
Karelin tries to bench press STYLE off him but STYLE keeps the position.

STYLE is trying to get an arm triangle but Karelin is defending well.
STYLE wants to control but Karelin is keeping him busy.
Karelin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
STYLE lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is trying to get back to half guard.
Karelin is trying to escape the position but STYLE is controlling the position.
STYLE wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karelin keeps working.
Karelin throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Karelin lands with an elbow strike from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

STYLE shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Karelin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Karelin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Karelin working the head and body with strikes.
Karelin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with STYLE. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Karelin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
STYLE is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Karelin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Karelin's back!
STYLE scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
STYLE tries to get the hooks in deep but Karelin pushed the leg off.
Karelin rolls, trying to escape but STYLE keeps control of the position.
Karelin is trapped and STYLE is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin looking very determined here, making life difficult for STYLE.
Karelin grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Karelin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
STYLE landing with strikes.
STYLE throwing damaging strikes from the back! Karelin could be in trouble here!
STYLE connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Karelin to escape the position.
Karelin rolls, trying to escape but STYLE keeps control of the position.
STYLE not allowing Karelin to control his hands.
STYLE scores with strikes from the back.
STYLE biding his time, looking for the opening.
Karelin wants to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
BIG STYLE showed his dominance in that final round.
I think STYLE has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BIG STYLE!