PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gundar Thorsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Thorsen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Thunder struck- ACDC. Karelin has chosen Russian National Anthem as his entrance music. Gundar Thorsen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Thorsen
vs
Karelin

201 cm
24
273 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

190 cm
27
275 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ka-POW Clothing

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gundar Thorsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksandr Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin throws a jab but it's blocked by Thorsen.
Karelin needs to keep his hands up - Thorsen had a free shot at his head there.
An inside leg kick lands from Thorsen.
Thorsen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Karelin misses with a wild combination.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thorsen.
Thorsen throws a leg kick that misses.
Karelin tries to move into range but Thorsen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Karelin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thorsen throws out the jab.
Karelin looks to throw the jab but Thorsen is out of range.
Thorsen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Thorsen slips under a jab.

Thorsen moves into the clinch successfully.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thorsen scores with a jab to the body.
Karelin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thorsen throws a series of punches but Karelin moves out of range.
Thorsen lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin missing with a left hand there. Thorsen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Karelin misses.
Thorsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thorsen tries to score with a low kick but Karelin moves his leg out of the way.
Thorsen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thorsen tries to bum rush Karelin with a series of wild strikes but Karelin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thorsen stuns Karelin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Karelin gets tackled into the cage by Thorsen. Thorsen maintains the clinch.
Thorsen blocks an uppercut.
Karelin tries for a takedown but Thorsen manages to get underhooks.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thorsen.
Karelin looks gassed!
Thorsen can't break the clinch.
Thorsen lands a nice shot to the body.

Thorsen breaks from the clinch.
Thorsen throws a right hand that Karelin ducks under and follows up with a left that Karelin also avoids with ease.
Thorsen throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Karelin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Thorsen thuds a left hand into Karelin's body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thorsen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen stuns Karelin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Thorsen connects with a body shot.
Thorsen misses with a two punch combination.
Thorsen scores with a shot to the body.
Thorsen scores with a nice right hand.

Thorsen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Karelin, pushing him back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Thorsen.
Thorsen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Thorsen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thorsen throws a head kick that Karelin semi-blocks.
Thorsen lands a high kick!
Both fighters circling a little - Thorsen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Thorsen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Karelin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thorsen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gundar Thorsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thorsen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen lands with an uppercut that bounces Karelin off the cage and back into rage.
Thorsen misses with a two punch combination.
Karelin misses with a wild body shot.
Karelin misses with a shot to the body
and Thorsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick from Thorsen lands but Karelin takes it in his stride.
Karelin misses with an uppercut.
Karelin misses with the combination.
Thorsen wants to clinch up but Karelin keeps it at a distance.
Thorsen connects with a nice looking jab.
Thorsen lands a nice shot to the body.
Thorsen lands a really nice looking cross but Karelin seems unphased.
Thorsen scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen lands a right hook to the body.
Karelin is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thorsen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thorsen with a nice cross.
Thorsen looks to land a combination but Karelin avoids it well.
Karelin throws an overhand right that lands on Thorsen's shoulder, as Thorsen tries to avoid the shot.
Thorsen looks to land a combination but Karelin avoids it well.
Thorsen scores with a head kick.
Thorsen lands a leg kick that knocks Karelin off balance momentarily.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thorsen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karelin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Thorsen.
Thorsen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A nice combination there by Thorsen.
Thorsen is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
No joy there for Thorsen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gundar Thorsen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A jab from Karelin misses.
Gundar Thorsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thorsen throws a series of punches but Karelin avoids them all with ease.
Thorsen scores with a jab to the body.
Karelin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thorsen looks to land a combination but Karelin avoids it well.
Karelin walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thorsen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Thorsen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thorsen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thorsen scores with a head kick.
Nice cross by Thorsen.
Gundar Thorsen is winning the standup battle so far.
An inside leg kick lands from Thorsen.
Karelin is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karelin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A left lands for Thorsen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Thorsen.
A left and a right from Thorsen both land. Nice combination.
Thorsen cracks Karelin with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Karelin misses with a body punch
enabling Thorsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Karelin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thorsen, as that shot connected.
Thorsen scores with a hook to the body. Karelin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thorsen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A good leg kick by Thorsen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thorsen scores with a hook to the body. Karelin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thorsen throws a series of strikes that have Karelin backpedaling.
Karelin walks into a jab.
Thorsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen lands with a hook. Karelin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gundar Thorsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorsen misses with a wild combination.
Karelin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Karelin throws a right and a left that Thorsen avoids nicely.
Thorsen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thorsen misses with a double jab.
Thorsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karelin can do to turn this around?
Thorsen digs a good hook to Karelin's body.
Karelin avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Thorsen misses.
Nice straight punches there by Thorsen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thorsen.
Karelin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Thorsen misses with a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thorsen. Karelin does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karelin.
Karelin throws a hook but Thorsen blocks it.
Karelin throws the left hand but Thorsen avoids the punch easily.
Karelin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thorsen can pounce on him.
Karelin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Karelin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thorsen scores with a jab to the head.
Thorsen throws a nice head kick!
Thorsen connects with a leg kick. Karelin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Thorsen is working the combinations to good effect here.

Thorsen has closed the distance and engaged Karelin in a clinch.
Karelin misses with a body punch.
Good body shot from Karelin.

Thorsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thorsen throws a head kick that half lands.
Nice straight punches there by Thorsen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thorsen.
Thorsen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen misses with a wild combination.
Thorsen wants to slow Karelin down by chopping away at his legs.
Thorsen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karelin.
Karelin misses with a few strikes there.
Thorsen digs a good body shot into Karelin's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thorsen scores with a sloppy right hand. Karelin should have avoided that one.
Some wild striking there from Thorsen.
Karelin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thorsen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thorsen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thorsen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gundar Thorsen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thorsen lands a nice hook to Karelin's body. Karelin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Karelin takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thorsen connects with a looping right hand.
Karelin moves out of range of the body kick from Thorsen.
Thorsen throws a series of punches but Karelin moves out of range.
Karelin looks to land a combination but Thorsen avoids it well.
Thorsen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Thorsen throws a good cross that connects.
Good leg kick by Thorsen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thorsen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Karelin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thorsen throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karelin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Karelin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thorsen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Karelin's calf.
Thorsen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Thorsen - just one landing.
Thorsen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Thorsen duly obliges.
Karelin misses with a shot to the body
and Thorsen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thorsen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thorsen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Thorsen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Karelin's head.
Thorsen is looking to clinch but Karelin is avoiding it.
Thorsen lands a nice looking body shot.
Thorsen scores with a head kick. Karelin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorsen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Karelin takes a swing at Thorsen's ribcage but misses.
Karelin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Karelin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Karelin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thorsen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin shoots in and drives through. Thorsen sprawls well.
Thorsen is looking to slow Karelin down with leg kicks.
Karelin misses with a double jab
and Thorsen counters with an outside leg kick.
Thorsen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Thorsen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Karelin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Thorsen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Karelin.

Thorsen has Karelin up against the cage in a clinch.

Thorsen manages to break the clinch.
Thorsen scores with a kick to the body.
Thorsen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Karelin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thorsen throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin walks into a straight right hand from Thorsen.
Karelin avoids the head kick by Thorsen.
Thorsen scores with a jab to the head.
Thorsen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Karelin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thorsen lands a really nice looking cross but Karelin seems unphased.
Thorsen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thorsen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Karelin's head.
A solid body kick from Thorsen.
Thorsen staying out of range there.
Thorsen connects with a leg kick. Karelin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Thorsen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Thorsen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thorsen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Karelin.
Thorsen throws a head kick but Karelin moves out of range.
A left and a right from Thorsen both land. Nice combination.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thorsen. That's going to slow Karelin down.
Thorsen connects with a body shot.
Thorsen tests Karelin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thorsen scores with a nice head shot.
Thorsen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Karelin's hands.
Karelin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karelin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Thorsen counters with a good low kick that Karelin was not able to check.
Thorsen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Thorsen gets a clinch.
Aleksandr Karelin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gundar Thorsen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karelin tries to work over Thorsen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gundar Thorsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thorsen 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight for Gundar Thorsen!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Gundar Thorsen!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Gundar Thorsen!

Gundar Thorsen wins by unanimous decision!