PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Orlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lennox Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Orlov comes to the cage accompanied by Only The Wind Remembers My Name. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Orlov
vs
Karelin

185 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Orlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lennox Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin misses with a few strikes there.
Karelin throws a nice looking combination but Orlov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Horrible takedown by Orlov or perhaps it was just good defense by Karelin which made him look bad.
Orlov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Orlov wants to clinch.
Karelin throws a right and a left that Orlov avoids nicely.
Orlov moves in looking to clinch but Karelin pushes him off.

Orlov feints and as Karelin raises his hands in defense, Orlov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin wants to stand up but Orlov is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Orlov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Orlov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Orlov trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.

Karelin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin fails to pull guard.
Karelin can't break the clinch.
Orlov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Orlov is trying to break free.
Orlov tries to pull guard but Karelin holds him up against the cage and eventually Orlov drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Orlov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orlov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karelin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Orlov misses with a punch on the inside.

Karelin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Orlov actively working from the bottom here.
Orlov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Orlov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin lands strikes from half guard.
Karelin is trying to control the action in half guard but Orlov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Karelin in particular looking to stall.
Orlov wants to improve his position but Karelin is controlling well.
Orlov is working hard here to advance position.
Orlov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Karelin looks gassed!
Karelin wants to control but Orlov is keeping him busy.
It looks like Karelin is going to stand back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Orlov, right into the meat.
Orlov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Orlov closes the distance and clinches up with Karelin, looking for a takedown. Orlov pushes Karelin against the cage but Karelin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Karelin on the side of the head.
Orlov doesn't manage to clinch there - Karelin circles away.
Orlov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Orlov doesn't manage to clinch there - Karelin circles away.
Karelin stuffs the takedown attempt from Orlov. Orlov gets slowly back to his feet.
Orlov wants to clinch up but Karelin keeps it at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Karelin as Orlov shoots in.
Orlov dives in and grabs Karelin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karelin pushes down on Orlov's head and hops out.
Lennox Karelin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Orlov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Karelin leaves Orlov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Orlov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
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 Yuri Orlov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Karelin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Karelin misses with a wild combination.
Karelin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Orlov misses with a takedown attempt - Karelin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Karelin is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Orlov.

It looks like Lennox Karelin has been cut.
Orlov fails with the takedown.
A solid body kick from Orlov.
Karelin is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Karelin. No joy for Orlov on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Orlov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orlov is looking to clinch but Karelin is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Karelin wants it to stay on the feet.
Orlov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Orlov.
Orlov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Karelin stuffs the takedown.
Orlov doesn't manage to clinch there - Karelin circles away.
Orlov closes the distance and clinches up with Karelin, looking for a takedown. Orlov pushes Karelin against the cage but Karelin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Orlov fails in his attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Orlov is defended easily by Karelin.
Karelin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Orlov counters with a good low kick that Karelin was not able to check.
Karelin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.
Orlov wants to clinch up but Karelin keeps it at a distance.
Orlov shoots for a takedown but Karelin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karelin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Orlov.
Nice sprawl there from Karelin as Orlov shoots in.
Karelin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Karelin wants it to stay on the feet.
Orlov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Orlov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Orlov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Orlov shoots in and drives through. Karelin sprawls well.
Yuri Orlov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karelin misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Orlov fails to land the takedown.
Karelin with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Orlov to score with a decent uppercut.
Karelin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Orlov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Orlov tries for a takedown but Karelin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Karelin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Orlov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Orlov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Karelin stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karelin but Karelin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Karelin keeps the fight on the outside.
Orlov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Karelin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Orlov counters with a one-two to the body.
Karelin stuffs the takedown attempt from Orlov. Orlov gets slowly back to his feet.
Orlov lands a really nice looking cross but Karelin seems unphased.
Orlov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karelin tries to avoid it but Orlov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karelin to the ground. Karelin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Orlov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Karelin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Orlov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Orlov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lennox 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. This is the final round!

Orlov shoots in and drives through. Karelin sprawls well.
Orlov shoots for a double leg takedown but Karelin sprawls well. He's pushed Orlov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Karelin throws a combination that misses
and Orlov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Karelin circles away from the clinch attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Orlov.
Karelin falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Orlov to counter with a crisp jab.
Karelin swinging wildly here.
Orlov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karelin swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Orlov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Orlov.
Orlov throws a good cross that connects.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov throws a series of strikes that have Karelin backpedaling.
Orlov fails with a takedown attempt.
Karelin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A head kick from Orlov lands but Karelin takes it in his stride.
Orlov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karelin is fending him off so far but Orlov persists. Nope, Karelin circles away and we're back to standing.
Orlov tries for a takedown but Karelin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Karelin misses with a double jab
and Orlov counters with a thumping low kick.

Orlov clinches up with Karelin and pushes him back against the cage.
Orlov is trying to stall.
Orlov tries to score a body lock takedown but Karelin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov tries to pull guard but Karelin holds him up against the cage and eventually Orlov drops back down to his feet.
Orlov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karelin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Orlov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karelin avoids it.

Orlov breaks from the clinch.
Karelin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Orlov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Karelin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Orlov circles away quickly and effectively.

Orlov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Orlov prevents Karelin from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karelin makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Orlov wants to clinch up but Karelin keeps it at a distance.
Orlov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Karelin's waist but Karelin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Orlov off to one side.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Karelin in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Orlov tries to clinch there but Karelin circles away.
Karelin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Orlov.
Orlov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Orlov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Orlov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Karelin, who protects the arm well.
Orlov prevents Karelin from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Orlov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Karelin is pushing Orlov's head away, looking to escape. Orlov manages to hold on to the position though.
Orlov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Karelin tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Lennox Karelin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yuri Orlov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Orlov is riding his opponent, not letting Karelin buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Orlov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Orlov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Orlov!