PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Petrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Karpov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karpov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Villieläin - Voittamaton. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Petrov
vs
Karpov

185 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

183 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Petrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Karpov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karpov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Petrov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Petrov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karpov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Petrov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karpov.
Petrov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karpov.
Karpov tries to pull guard but Petrov holds him up against the cage and eventually Karpov drops back down to his feet.
Petrov stops a takedown attempt from Karpov.
Ruslan Petrov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Karpov.
Karpov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Petrov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Petrov misses with a few strikes there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Karpov. That's going to slow Petrov down.

Karpov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karpov happy to just control the position for now.
I looks like Karpov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Karpov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Karpov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Petrov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karpov landing strikes.

Karpov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Petrov to his feet.

Karpov clinches.
Karpov wants to break free but Petrov has control.
Karpov tries to pull guard but Petrov won't allow it.
Karpov pushes Petrov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Karpov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karpov takes a swing at Petrov's ribcage but misses.

Karpov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Karpov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Petrov to stand up.
Karpov dodges the punch combination from Petrov.
Karpov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Karpov staying out of range there.
Karpov avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big left from Petrov misses.
Petrov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Karpov dodges the punch combination from Petrov.
Petrov misses with a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Karpov.
An elbow from Karpov crashes against the mat.
Karpov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karpov working the ground and pound.
Petrov wants to get back to his feet but Karpov drags him back down.
Petrov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Petrov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Karpov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Petrov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Karpov on the ground.
A lull in the action here as Karpov stalls from top position.
Karpov works to advance to full mount. Petrov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karpov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Petrov is squirming around, avoiding Karpov's attempts to control the action.
Karpov unloading with bombs!

Ruslan Petrov's cut is getting worse.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karpov with the ground and pound from mount.

Ruslan Petrov's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ruslan Petrov's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ivan Karpov!