PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Karlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Karlov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Butler
vs
Karlov

155 cm
21
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dirk Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Karlov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Karlov defends it nicely.
Karlov misses with a takedown attempt
and Butler counters with a three punch combo that has Karlov backing up. Karlov nods at Butler to acknowledge the strikes.
Karlov misses with a series of wild punches.

Karlov shoots in and bounces Butler off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Karlov wants to get up but he can't break Butler's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Karlov throws a big elbow that misses.

Butler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Butler has his foot on Karlov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karlov works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karlov trying to control but Butler is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karlov.
Karlov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Butler is proving hard to escape from.

Butler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Karlov defends well.
Karlov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Butler is looking to reverse the position.
Karlov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Karlov trying to control the action but Butler is working from the bottom.
Butler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Butler keeps working.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Butler managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Karlov.
Butler really is a fat lump.
Butler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Karlov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Butler striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Butler avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Karlov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Butler tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Karlov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Karlov is looking to take a break and control but Butler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Karlov is trying to get an arm triangle but Butler is defending well.
Butler is working to avoid the ground and pound but Karlov connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler is looking for a sweep.
Karlov trying to control the position but Butler is working away.
Karlov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Butler takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Butler might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Karlov moves into full mount!
Karlov looking to control but Butler is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Karlov looking to finish Butler with some ground and pound. This is bad for Butler!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karlov trying to control but Butler is having none of it.
Karlov is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Karlov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Karlov shoots and misses

and Butler holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Karlov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Butler to keep the fight standing.
Butler is trying to break free.
Karlov is trying to break the clinch but Butler is controlling him.
Karlov working hard to break the clinch.
Butler jumps guard but Karlov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Butler drags the fight down to the ground.
Ivan Karlov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Butler looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Karlov passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karlov trying to control the action but Butler is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler tries to buck Karlov off but Karlov is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlov lands a few punches from side control.
Butler tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Karlov tries to stand but Butler is controlling his head.

Karlov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Butler manages to get back to half guard.
Karlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Butler keeps working.

Butler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Butler looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler is looking to improve his position.

Butler actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karlov is looking to advance position but Butler won't allow it.
Karlov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Karlov blocks the strikes from Butler.
Karlov is trying to control the action in half guard but Butler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Karlov wants to stand up but Butler is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karlov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Butler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karlov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Butler is trying to pull guard but Karlov has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Butler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Butler jumps guard.
Karlov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Butler throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Butler trying to strike off his back.

Butler looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Karlov passes into half guard.
Karlov is trying to control. Butler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlov throwing shots but Butler is blocking nicely.
Karlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Butler keeps working.
Karlov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Butler controls his leg.
Karlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Butler keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Butler is defending against the submission attempts here by Karlov.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Butler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Karlov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karlov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Butler manages to avoid it.
Butler keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Karlov tries for a takedown but Butler circles away easily

and Butler counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Butler tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Butler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Karlov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Butler working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Karlov breaks the clinch.
Karlov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Butler moves into the clinch.
Karlov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karlov throws a punch but it's blocked by Butler.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karlov successfully pulls guard.
Butler won't allow Karlov to sweep him here.
Karlov trying to control the position.
Butler engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Butler stopping the sweep attempt from Karlov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Karlov is trying to control the position but Butler postures up.
Butler stopping the sweep attempt from Karlov.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Karlov dives in and grabs Butler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Butler pushes down on Karlov's head and hops out.
Dirk Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Karlov.

Butler shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Butler was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Karlov is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlov can't do much from the bottom here.
Butler is chipping away with strikes.
Karlov is looking for a sweep.
Karlov is still trying to improve position.
Karlov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Butler working away.
A lull in the action here as Butler stalls from top position.
Karlov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Butler wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Karlov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Butler counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Butler manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Karlov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Butler fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No luck for Karlov with that takedown attempt.
Dirk Butler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Karlov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ivan Karlov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karlov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Butler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Butler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Karlov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Karlov!