PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Murad Ibragimov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Karaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ibragimov
vs
Karaev

183 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
266 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Murad Ibragimov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Karaev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karaev tries to sprawl but Ibragimov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ibragimov controlling the action here.

Ibragimov escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ibragimov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karaev.

Ibragimov moves into the clinch.
Ibragimov is trying to break free.

Karaev manages to break the clinch.

Karaev clinches with his opponent.
Ibragimov fails to pull guard.

Karaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karaev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ibragimov.
Karaev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ibragimov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karaev is trying to keep Ibragimov in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibragimov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ibragimov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Karaev throws a strike from the bottom but Ibragimov passes into side control!
Ibragimov is working Karaev over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ibragimov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Ibragimov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Karaev tries to clinch up.
Donk. Karaev catches Ibragimov right on the button with a cross.
Karaev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Murad Ibragimov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Karaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ibragimov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ibragimov passes into half guard.
Ibragimov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karaev defending well though.
Ibragimov wants to pass the guard but Karaev is defending well.
Ibragimov is breathing heavily.
Karaev makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Karaev.
Karaev trying to strike off his back.
Karaev looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karaev pushes Ibragimov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Karaev is looking to clinch.
Karaev misses with a takedown attempt

and Ibragimov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karaev's guard now.
Ibragimov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ibragimov 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.

Ibragimov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Karaev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ibragimov controls the pace.
Karaev wants to hit a switch here but Ibragimov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Karaev there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karaev is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Ibragimov lands with some strikes.
Karaev squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ibragimov is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Ibragimov shoots for a double leg takedown but Karaev sprawls well. He's pushed Ibragimov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murad Ibragimov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Karaev throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Ibragimov throws a body kick the misses
and Karaev counters with a head kick.
Murad Ibragimov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karaev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karaev counters with a solid body kick.
Horrible takedown by Karaev or perhaps it was just good defense by Ibragimov which made him look bad.
Ibragimov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Karaev shoots in looking for a takedown. Ibragimov tries to sprawl out of it but Karaev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ibragimov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Karaev tries to clinch up

and Ibragimov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Karaev's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ibragimov wants to stand but Karaev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Karaev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ibragimov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karaev looking for a sweep. Not yet Karaev, not yet.
Karaev keeping full guard, as Ibragimov tries to pass.
Karaev has his hands on Ibragimov's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ibragimov wants to control from the top but Karaev keeps moving.

Murad Ibragimov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Karaev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Murad Ibragimov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Karaev.
Ibragimov misses the shot to the body.
Ibragimov throws a sloppy head kick
and Karaev counters with a big head kick but Ibragimov shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Karaev.
Karaev throws a one two combo.

Ibragimov has closed the distance and engaged Karaev in a clinch.

Karaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ibragimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karaev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Karaev closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ibragimov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Ibragimov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Karaev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ibragimov is working away from the top position though.

Ibragimov is trying to work for a kimura but Karaev is defending well.
Karaev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ibragimov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibragimov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Karaev is just holding on here. Ibragimov manages to take his back.
Karaev covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Karaev tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Karaev is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karaev looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murad Ibragimov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Karaev tries for a takedown but Ibragimov circles away easily

and Ibragimov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Karaev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ibragimov passes to side control.
Ibragimov controlling the position.
Karaev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karaev is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karaev trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ibragimov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ibragimov looking to finish Karaev with some ground and pound. This is bad for Karaev!
Karaev tries to control the position but Ibragimov now has his back.
Ibragimov thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karaev tries to roll but Ibragimov sticks to his back.

Ibragimov is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Karaev knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Karaev for a finish.
Karaev manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ibragimov's guard. Nice work there by Karaev.
Ibragimov trying to keep a closed guard but Karaev is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karaev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ibragimov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karaev is aware though and is defending well.
Ibragimov has a closed guard, preventing Karaev from standing up.
Ibragimov is looking to sweep but instead, Karaev has passed into half guard.
Ibragimov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Karaev decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Karaev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibragimov throws a right hand that Karaev ducks under and follows up with a left that Karaev also avoids with ease.
Karaev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ibragimov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ibragimov wants to control from the top but Karaev keeps moving.
Ibragimov won't allow Karaev to sweep him here.

Ibragimov gets to his feet - Karaev follows without any prompting.
Karaev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ibragimov tries to avoid it but Karaev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ibragimov to the ground. Ibragimov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ruslan Karaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murad Ibragimov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Murad Ibragimov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Karaev.

Ibragimov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murad Ibragimov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ibragimov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murad Ibragimov!