PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Zarkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Erik Zarkov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Zarkov
vs
Karelin

188 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erik Zarkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Zarkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karelin.
Erik Zarkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zarkov gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Zarkov fails to land.
Zarkov scores with a shoulder strike.
Zarkov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zarkov stops a takedown attempt from Karelin.
Karelin is trying to drag Zarkov to the mat but Zarkov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Erik Zarkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Karelin.
Zarkov scores with a shoulder strike.
Zarkov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zarkov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karelin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zarkov prevents it.
Karelin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zarkov prevents it.
Zarkov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarkov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karelin.

Karelin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zarkov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Zarkov is trying to stand.

Zarkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Karelin pulls his head out easily.
Zarkov is looking for a sweep. Karelin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Zarkov actively working from the bottom here.
Zarkov tries to get to full guard but Karelin has control of the leg.

Zarkov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Zarkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Karelin controlling the action here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarkov is trying to stand up here but Karelin is controlling him well.
Karelin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zarkov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Zarkov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Karelin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Zarkov wants to control but Karelin is keeping busy.
Well, if Karelin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zarkov is looking to improve his position.
Zarkov is trying to stand back up but Karelin is controlling him

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Karelin wasn't active enough on the ground.

Zarkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Zarkov is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Zarkov darts in trying to clinch

and Karelin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Karelin decides to stand up.
Zarkov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Karelin counters with a takedown into side control.
Zarkov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zarkov is trying to improve his position.
Zarkov is working hard here to advance position.
Zarkov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Karelin is trying to control the action in half guard but Zarkov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Karelin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zarkov controlling the position for now.
Zarkov is not content to let Karelin control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarkov wants to improve his position but Karelin is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Karelin.
Horrible takedown by Karelin or perhaps it was just good defense by Zarkov which made him look bad.

Zarkov shoots in and bounces Karelin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Karelin looks gassed!

Zarkov stands up and waves to Karelin to follow him.
Karelin stuffs the takedown.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zarkov tries to clinch up.
Zarkov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karelin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zarkov somewhat.
Zarkov fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Erik Zarkov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zarkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karelin but Karelin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zarkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Karelin dives in and grabs Zarkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zarkov pushes down on Karelin's head and hops out.
Karelin swats away the attempt to clinch by Zarkov.
Karelin keeps the fight on the outside.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt.
Zarkov tries to clinch up.
Zarkov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Erik Zarkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Karelin.
Zarkov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karelin shoots in looking for a takedown but Zarkov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Karelin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zarkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Karelin circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zarkov instigates a clinch.
Zarkov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Karelin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Zarkov fails to land.
Zarkov is pressed up against the cage. Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zarkov down to the mat. Zarkov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Karelin shoots in and drives through. Zarkov sprawls well.
Karelin is breathing heavily.
Zarkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Erik Zarkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zarkov looks to clinch

so Karelin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Zarkov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karelin is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zarkov looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Karelin is defending well. Zarkov quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Karelin has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Zarkov celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Erik Zarkov!