PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Karelin (ranked 5685 p4p, 6175 weight class) and Russel Crow (ranked 540 p4p, 572 weight class). Russel Crow will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Karelin
vs
Crow

194 cm
23
281
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
250
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 New York, Aleksandr Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russel Crow!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crow clinches up with Karelin and pushes him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Crow.
Karelin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Crow misses with a punch to the body.
Karelin blocks the elbow strike.
Crow misses with a punch to the body.
Karelin can't find room to land a body shot as Crow controls the action.
Crow tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karelin just stands there and leans against the cage.

Karelin has hold of one of Crow's legs. Crow is fighting the takedown attempt but Karelin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Crow throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Karelin wanted to stand there but Crow had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crow can't keep his opponent in guard - Karelin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crow is looking to control Karelin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Crow avoid being mounted?
Karelin throwing shots but Crow is blocking nicely.
Karelin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Karelin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Karelin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Crow sees it coming and defends easily.

Karelin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Crow doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Karelin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Karelin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Karelin has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Crow works to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Crow's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Karelin is looking to clinch but Crow is avoiding it.
No luck for Crow with that takedown attempt.
Crow throws a sloppy head kick and Karelin moves out of range easily.

Karelin shoots in and bounces Crow off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Crow wants to get back to his feet but Karelin passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karelin controlling the action here.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but Crow defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Karelin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crow defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Karelin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crow displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karelin.
Crow is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Karelin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Crow bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Nice body kick from Crow.

Karelin rushes Crow and presses him up against the cage.
Crow is trying to push Karelin away but Karelin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Karelin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Crow throws a head kick that misses.

Crow has closed the distance and engaged Karelin in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karelin is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Crow can't fight it off and eventually Karelin manages to take the fight to the floor. Crow looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Crow pushes Karelin off and scrambles back to his feet.
Karelin lands a nice shot that snaps Crow's head back.
Crow misses with a head kick.

Crow clinches with his opponent.
Karelin takes a knee to the side of the body.
Karelin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crow smiles and moves away.
Crow plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Crow is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crow fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Crow lands a head kick!
Karelin wants to clinch but Crow slips to the side
and Crow counters with a one-two to the body.
Aleksandr Karelin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crow moves out of range as Karelin throws a body kick.
Crow is looking for the big counter here.

Karelin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Crow was covering up waiting for the punch and Karelin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Crow is trying to control the position but Karelin postures up.
Karelin controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin lands a couple of digs.

Karelin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Crow is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Karelin, into his guard.

Karelin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Aleksandr Karelin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karelin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is working Crow over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Crow throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Karelin controls from within his opponent's guard.

Karelin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Crow looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Crow looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Crow!

Karelin manages to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Crow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Crow gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Karelin can't break the clinch.
Karelin is looking to control Crow's arms but Crow gets an underhook and turns him. Now Karelin has his back to the cage.
Crow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crow fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Crow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Crow scoring well with a low kick there.
Crow throws a nice head kick!
Karelin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Crow is out of range.
Despite the aggression on Crow's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Karelin throws a leg kick that misses.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Crow. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Crow defends well and Karelin ends up having to push Crow into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Karelin misses with a punch on the inside.
Crow comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Aleksandr Karelin has been cut.
Crow changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karelin fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin tries to clinch up.

Karelin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Crow tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Karelin is in Crow's guard.
Crow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Crow is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karelin is controlling him.
Karelin is stalling in the full guard.
Karelin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Karelin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Karelin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin looking to pass the guard.
Karelin distracts Crow with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Crow keeping full guard, as Karelin tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crow scores with a spinning back kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crow turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Crow scores with a head kick.
Crow looks for a takedown but Karelin sprawls well.
Aleksandr Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russel Crow.
Crow tries to clinch there but Karelin circles away.

Karelin darts in and clinches Crow up against the cage.
Karelin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karelin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Crow is pressed up against the cage. Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Crow down to the mat. Crow avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Karelin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Crow manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Karelin keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crow lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin tries to land a knee to the head but Crow blocks with his arms.

Karelin is trying to trip Crow. He has hold of a leg but Crow is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Karelin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Crow wants to sweep here but Karelin controlling him for the moment.
Karelin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Crow is proving hard to escape from.
Karelin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Crow wants to get back to his feet but Karelin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russel Crow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crow 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russel Crow!