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). Karelin has chosen Russian National Anthem as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Aleksandr Karelin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Creed
vs
Karelin

198 cm
25
272 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

190 cm
24
275 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Einherjer RAW Nutrition

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 - 3 - 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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksandr Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Creed misses.
Creed smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Karelin is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Creed.

It looks like Aleksandr Karelin has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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 sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Creed defending well though.
Karelin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karelin wants to advance to full mount but Creed doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Karelin throws a strike but Creed rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Creed postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Creed decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Karelin, up you get!
Creed connects with a single shot there.
Creed misses with an uppercut. Karelin saw that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Creed.
Creed walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Creed misses.
Karelin walks into a jab.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Creed but Creed pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Creed throws a hook to the side of Karelin's head but Karelin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Creed swings for the body but Karelin moves out of range.
Karelin moves away from the strike by Creed.
A combination from Creed does no damage.
Karelin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Karelin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Creed.
A left and a right from Creed both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karelin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Creed.

Creed lands a left and a right that send Karelin crashing to the mat, dazed. Creed thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Karelin is rocked!
Creed is breathing heavily.
Creed jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Karelin drops Creed with a big left hand and mounts him. Creed is in big trouble!

Creed is rocked!

It looks like Apollo Creed has been cut.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Karelin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Oh Creed is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
A nice elbow there by Karelin.
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.
Creed is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Creed seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Creed is trying to stand.
Karelin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
You get the feeling that Creed really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Karelin pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Karelin controlling the position easily from mount.
Karelin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Creed looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin working Creed over with strikes here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Creed trying desperately to get to his feet.
Karelin thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Karelin landing punches.
Karelin connects with a bit shot that sees Creed covering up! More strikes from Karelin and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Karelin is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aleksandr Karelin! Aleksandr Karelin retains his heavyweight title!