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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Creed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Karelin's choice of entrance music: Russian National Anthem. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!
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| 198 cm
25
272 lbs
10 - 2 - 0 |
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190 cm
24
275 lbs
5 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apollo Creed!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksandr Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Creed tries to clinch but Karelin is having none of it.
Creed works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
It looks like Aleksandr Karelin has been cut.
Apollo Creed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Creed misses with a few strikes there.
Nice takedown defense from Creed. No joy for Karelin on that attempt.
Karelin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Creed was covering up waiting for the punch and Karelin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Creed is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Nice elbow from Creed.
Creed misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Karelin fails to land.
Karelin swings wildly with an uppercut but Creed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Creed lands a nice uppercut.
Karelin stalling.
Creed working aggressively here.
A short left from Creed.
Karelin tries to score a body lock takedown but Creed shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Karelin has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Creed clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Creed has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin is throwing strikes by Creed counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Creed regains half guard.
Karelin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Creed's head.
Creed makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Creed moves into range and clinches up with Karelin.
Creed tries to throw a body punch but Karelin avoids it by throwing Creed back against the cage.
Karelin has hold of one of Creed's legs. Creed is fighting the takedown attempt but Karelin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Karelin stops Creed from standing up.
Karelin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karelin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Creed wants to stand and escape but Karelin is having none of it.
Karelin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karelin working some strikes from top position.
Karelin throws a strike but Creed rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karelin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Karelin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Creed.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Creed from controlling successfully.
Karelin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch but Karelin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Creed connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice sprawl there from Creed as Karelin shoots in.
Apollo Creed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Karelin.
Karelin throws a nice looking combination but Creed bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Karelin looks gassed!
The fight stays on the outside here - Creed looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Creed throws a series of punches but Karelin moves out of range.
Creed scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karelin.
Creed fails to land with a series of punches.
Creed fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karelin moves into the clinch successfully.
Creed comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Creed lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creed lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Creed lands a nice uppercut.
Creed comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Karelin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Karelin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karelin throws a head punch that misses.
Creed swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Creed looking to slow down the pace here.
Creed prevents a body shot from Karelin.
Karelin presses Creed against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Karelin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Creed lands with a short shot to the head.
Karelin blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Karelin.
Karelin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Karelin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Karelin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karelin has Creed pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Creed manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Karelin lands a right hand.
Karelin working aggressively here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Karelin misses with some punches.
Creed scores with a shot to the side of Karelin's head.
Creed gets underhooks to prevent Karelin's takedown attempt.
Creed blocking some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Karelin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Creed is pressed up against the cage. Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Creed down to the mat. Creed avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Creed scores with a decent looking hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Apollo Creed dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aleksandr Karelin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Creed has managed to clinch.
Karelin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Karelin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Karelin blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Creed - that landed with a thud.
Karelin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karelin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Karelin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karelin misses with a punch on the inside.
Karelin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Creed fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Creed scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Creed lands a lovely overhand right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Creed lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Karelin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Creed clinches up with Karelin and pushes him back against the cage.
Karelin trying to control the position but instead, Creed has worked for underhooks and has pushed Karelin into the cage.
Creed lands a shoulder strike.
Creed working aggressively here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karelin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Creed - that landed with a thud.
Nice elbow from Creed.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Creed scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Karelin tries a body shot but Creed blocks it.
Creed lands a right hand that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Creed has a couple of punches blocked by Karelin.
Karelin lands a body shot.
Karelin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Apollo Creed has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Karelin gets through Creed's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Karelin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Creed prevents it.
Creed softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Creed lands a nice elbow.
Karelin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Creed gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Apollo Creed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Karelin.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Creed creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Creed comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice body punch from Creed - that landed with a thud.
Creed lands an elbow that stopped Karelin in his tracks for a moment.
Karelin swings wildly with an uppercut but Creed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Creed lands a nice shot to the body.
Creed scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Karelin can't find room to land a body shot as Creed controls the action.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Creed pushes Karelin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Creed lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Creed lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short left from Creed.
Creed lands an elbow inside.
Creed lands a body shot.
Creed lands an elbow just above Karelin 's eye.
Creed lands an elbow that stopped Karelin in his tracks for a moment.
Karelin wants a takedown.
Creed comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Creed throws a head punch that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Creed.
Creed working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right handed body shot lands from Creed.
Creed landing knees to the body.
Creed lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short right from Creed on the inside.
Karelin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Karelin swings wildly with an uppercut but Creed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karelin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Creed comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Creed throws a punch but it's blocked by Karelin.
A nice right hand lands inside from Creed.
A nice left hand lands by Creed.
Karelin tries for a takedown but Creed manages to get underhooks.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed misses with a punch on the inside.
Karelin blocking some punches.
Karelin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Creed blocking some punches.
Karelin scores with a hook to the body.
Creed works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Karelin throws a punch but it's blocked by Creed.
Creed blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Karelin blocking some punches.
Creed is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Creed blocking some punches.
Karelin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Creed throws a head punch that misses.
Creed lands an elbow that stopped Karelin in his tracks for a moment.
Creed lands a nice uppercut.
Karelin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Creed scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A hook to the body from Creed.
Creed looking to slow down the pace here.
Creed is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Creed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Creed.
Creed pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Karelin tries to score a body lock takedown but Creed shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Creed blocks a punch to the side of the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creed works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Creed lands with a left to the head.
Creed lands an elbow just above Karelin 's eye.
Karelin throws a punch but it's blocked by Creed.
Creed lands with a short shot to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Karelin as Creed tries to tie him up.
Creed is pressed up against the cage. Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Creed down to the mat. Creed avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A combination from Creed does no damage.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Creed as he jumps to the side.
Karelin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Creed's waist but Creed gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karelin off to one side.
Creed wants to clinch.
A big right from Creed misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Creed thows a left - swing and a miss!
Creed throws an overhand right that lands on Karelin's shoulder, as Karelin tries to avoid the shot.
Creed is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Karelin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karelin swings away with a body shot that misses
and Creed counters with a stiff right hand.
Creed fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Apollo Creed dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aleksandr Karelin's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Karelin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Creed swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Apollo Creed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Creed lands a nice hook to Karelin's body. Karelin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fighters circling - Karelin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Karelin throws a jab but it's blocked by Creed.
Creed waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Karelin.
Karelin shoots for a takedown but Creed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A big right from Creed misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Creed looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Creed throws a lazy right hand but Karelin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Creed wants to clinch.
Creed fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Creed throws a predictable looking body shot
and Karelin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Karelin throws a strike but Creed avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Creed wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Creed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karelin.
Karelin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karelin wants to pass the guard but Creed is keeping the position.
Creed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karelin.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karelin scores with a shot to the body.
Apollo Creed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karelin lands a head shot.
Karelin scores with a decent looking hook.
Creed is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Karelin cracks Creed with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Creed's half guard.
Karelin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Creed regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Karelin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Creed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin prevents Creed from getting back to his feet.
Creed has momentary wrist control but Karelin slips an elbow through the middle.
Karelin trying to move into half guard but instead Creed has managed to sweep!
Creed slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed working away.
The ground and pound from Creed seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Karelin struggling a bit here.
Creed tries to score with some ground and pound. Karelin controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Karelin wants to control but Creed postures up.
Karelin is trying to get back to half guard.
Creed lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Creed in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Creed gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Karelin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Karelin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Creed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karelin.
Aleksandr Karelin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Creed is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karelin is controlling him.
Karelin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Karelin prevents Creed from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Creed trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Creed fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karelin scores with a takedown into Creed's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Aleksandr Karelin really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aleksandr Karelin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!
Creed displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karelin.
A big left from Creed misses.
Karelin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Karelin's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Creed wants to get back to his feet but Karelin drags him back down.
Karelin scoring with punches from side control.
Creed on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Creed tries to get out of the position.
The ground and pound from Karelin seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Karelin throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Creed is working to avoid the ground and pound but Karelin connects with a decent elbow.
Creed takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Creed is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin is trying to ground and pound but Creed uses the momentary lack of control by Karelin to regain half guard.
Creed pushes Karelin off looking to stand but Karelin dives back in and keeps control.
Karelin stalling away here and it's allowed Creed to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Karelin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Creed is keeping the position for now.
Creed kicks Karelin off and gets to his feet.
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.
A jab from Karelin does it's job there.
Creed takes the fight into the clinch.
Karelin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karelin.
Karelin scores with a shoulder strike.
Creed gets underhooks to prevent Karelin's takedown attempt.
Creed is leaning against Karelin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Creed as Karelin tries to tie him up.
Creed lands an elbow just above Karelin 's eye.
Karelin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Creed or not.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Creed.
Creed misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Creed.
Karelin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Karelin pushes Creed back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Karelin - that landed with a thud.
Karelin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Creed backwards.
Karelin lands a right hand.
Creed blocks an uppercut.
Karelin is leaning against Creed and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Creed gets underhooks to prevent Karelin's takedown attempt.
Apollo Creed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Karelin.
Creed stops a takedown attempt from Karelin.
Karelin throws a punch but it's blocked by Creed.
Karelin misses with a body punch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Creed throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Karelins head.
A short left from Creed.
Creed lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Creed.
Creed throws an elbow that misses.
Karelin lands with a short shot to the head.
Karelin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Karelin.
Karelin gets through Creed's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Karelin lands with a light punch inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Karelin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Creed lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Karelin taking a breather.
Creed lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Creed misses with an elbow strike.
Creed lands a hook that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Karelin tries for a takedown but Creed manages to get underhooks.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Creed.
Creed blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Creed lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Creed lands with a light punch inside.
Creed throws a head punch that misses.
Creed misses with a punch on the inside.
Karelin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creed misses with a body punch.
Karelin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Karelin wants a takedown but no success here.
Creed cracks Karelin with a nice body shot.
Karelin has a couple of punches blocked by Creed.
Karelin presses Creed against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Creed blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Creed.
Creed digs a right hand underneath Karelin's ribcage. Karelin let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karelin. Creed does a little dance to reset his feet.
Creed looks to clinch
letting Karelin counter with a right hand.
Karelin walks into a jab.
Karelin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Karelin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A telegraphed right hand from Creed misses the target.
Creed takes a swing at Karelin's ribcage but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin tries to move into range but Creed moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Karelin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Creed's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karelin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Creed napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sloppy strikes there by Karelin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Aleksandr Karelin dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Aleksandr Karelin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Creed is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Creed wants to clinch up but Karelin keeps it at a distance.
Karelin has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Creed misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karelin.
Karelin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Creed walks into a left hand.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch but Karelin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Creed moves into the clinch.
Karelin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Creed tries a body shot but Karelin blocks it.
Karelin can't get the takedown.
Creed lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Karelin swings wildly with an uppercut but Creed uses good head movement to avoid it.
Creed works on Karelin's body with a couple of short punches.
Creed lands an uppercut.
Karelin misses with a punch on the inside.
Creed throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stalling in the clinch from Creed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karelin.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Come on Karelin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Creed misses with a hook from the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed lands a body punch.
Karelin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Creed misses with a short punch on the inside.
Creed lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Creed scores with a nice short uppercut.
Creed lands a nice elbow.
Karelin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Creed gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Apollo Creed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Karelin.
A shot in the inside from Creed.
Creed misses with a short punch on the inside.
Karelin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Creed gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Creed lands a hook to the side of the head.
Creed stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Creed is looking to control Karelin's arms but Karelin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Creed has his back to the cage.
Karelin takes a knee to the side of the body.
Karelin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Creed lands a right hand that snaps the head of Karelin backwards.
Karelin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Creed pushes Karelin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Creed lands with a left to the head.
Karelin scores with a shot to the side of Creed's head.
A right hand to the body from Creed.
Creed lands a shoulder strike.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Creed misses with a punch on the inside.
Creed misses with some punches.
Creed is fighting off a takedown attempt but Karelin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Creed to the mat. Creed regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Creed has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Karelin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Decent striking displayed by Creed there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Karelin!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karelin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Creed.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Karelin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Creed doesn't seem bothered though.
Creed blocks a jab.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch but Karelin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karelin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Creed is trying to defend but Karelin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Creed wants to get back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Creed tries to kick Karelin off but Karelin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Karelin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Creed defending well though.
Creed is refusing to be controlled, as Karelin sits in half guard.
Karelin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Karelin trying to control the action but Creed is working from the bottom.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Creed pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Creed sprawls well. Creed wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karelin gets slowly back to his feet.
Karelin scores with a jab to the body.
Karelin misses with a looping right.
Jab, jab by Creed - just one landing.
Karelin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Karelin rushes Creed and presses him up against the cage.
Creed working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Creed misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Karelin throws a head punch that misses.
Karelin lands a nice uppercut.
Karelin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karelin tries to stall but Creed uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Karelin takes a knee to the side of the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Creed lands a shoulder strike.
Creed lands an elbow inside that Karelin shrugs off.
Karelin misses with a punch on the inside.
Creed has a couple of punches blocked by Karelin.
Creed lands an elbow just above Karelin 's eye.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Apollo Creed.
I think Creed has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 48:48
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:48
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 47:48
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Aleksandr Karelin!
Aleksandr Karelin is the new heavyweight champion!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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