PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Zadoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gorlan Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Zadoff
vs
Karelin

180 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pablo Zadoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gorlan Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zadoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt.
Zadoff tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Karelin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zadoff's half guard.
Karelin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Zadoff to regain full guard.
Karelin tries to free his leg and advance position but Zadoff is retaining full guard.
Zadoff really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Karelin throws and elbow that misses. Zadoff uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karelin's guard. Nice move by Zadoff!

Karelin is working an open guard so Zadoff takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zadoff misses with a head kick.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zadoff as he avoids it easily.
Zadoff throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Karelin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Karelin tries to free his leg and advance position but Zadoff is retaining full guard.
Karelin won't allow Zadoff to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin throws a strike but Zadoff rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Karelin wants to sweep but no luck.
Karelin looks gassed!
Zadoff wanted to stand there but Karelin had control of the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karelin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zadoff sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Karelin's guard.

Zadoff decides to stand and escape the position.
Zadoff goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Karelin slips a jab and a cross from Zadoff.
Pablo Zadoff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karelin avoids the head kick by Zadoff.

Karelin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zadoff blocking the ground and pound attempt from Karelin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zadoff is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Karelin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Karelin's back!

Zadoff is cranking Karelin's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Karelin! He's tightened the choke and Karelin is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Pablo Zadoff!