PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Karatinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Verona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karatinov
vs
Verona

180 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Karatinov!
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, Jake Verona!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karatinov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Verona will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Karatinov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Verona misses with a takedown attempt
and Karatinov counters with a nice uppercut.
Verona avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Verona gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Verona gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karatinov.
Verona managing to block the knees to the body from Karatinov.
Karatinov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Verona tries for a takedown. No joy.
Alexander Karatinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Verona.

Karatinov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karatinov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karatinov tries to clinch up

and Verona counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karatinov's guard now.
Karatinov is striking from the bottom but Verona uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Karatinov throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Verona manages to pass to side control.
Verona wants to stand but Karatinov is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karatinov throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Verona stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Karatinov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Alexander Karatinov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karatinov closes the distance and clinches up with Verona, looking for a takedown. Karatinov pushes Verona against the cage but Verona circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Karatinov lands a nice hook to Verona's body. Verona takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Verona scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Karatinov is looking for a sweep.
Verona is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Karatinov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
An elbow from Verona crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Verona decides to stand back up. Verona steps back and let's Karatinov get back to his feet.
Karatinov shoots for a double leg takedown but Verona sprawls well. He's pushed Karatinov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Karatinov has his takedown stuffed

and Verona moves into the clinch.
Karatinov is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Verona breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karatinov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Verona defending well as Karatinov loads up on a big left hand.
Verona avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karatinov moves in looking to clinch but Verona pushes him off.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Verona.
Verona wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karatinov keeps working.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Verona tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Verona has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Karatinov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Karatinov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Karatinov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karatinov tries to get out of the position.

Karatinov looking for submissions off his back.
Karatinov tries to roll over but Verona keeps him under control.

Karatinov actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Karatinov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Karatinov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karatinov is looking to clinch but Verona is avoiding it.
Karatinov tries to close the distance and clinch but Verona swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karatinov misses with an uppercut. Verona saw that one coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Verona is defended easily by Karatinov.
Verona blocks a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karatinov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Verona throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Karatinov was covering up waiting for the punch and Verona finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Karatinov has an active guard here but Verona has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Verona dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick misses from Verona.
Karatinov shoots for a takedown but Verona saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karatinov wants to slow Verona down by chopping away at his legs.
Verona fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Verona misses with a takedown
and Karatinov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Verona as Karatinov shoots in.
Karatinov tries to clinch

and Verona counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Karatinov!
Karatinov is looking to improve his position but Verona isn't that keen on the idea.
Verona sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Verona in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Verona looking to control but Karatinov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Karatinov is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verona looking to secure an arm triangle but Karatinov defends it well.
Jake Verona has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karatinov is trying to escape the mount.
Verona thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Verona trying to control but Karatinov is having none of it.
Karatinov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Karatinov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Verona. What's that going to do exactly?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karatinov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Verona. What's that going to do exactly?
Verona postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Karatinov looks a forlorn figure.
Karatinov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Karatinov srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.
Verona doesn't have the hooks in and Karatinov manages to turn into his guard.
Verona wants to sweep but no luck.
Karatinov trying to control but Verona is working from the bottom.
Verona wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verona keeping full guard, as Karatinov tries to pass.

Verona is looking for a triangle here but Karatinov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Karatinov trying to control the action but Verona is working from the bottom.
Verona misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
You can see the frustration on Verona's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karatinov misses with a wild body shot.
Karatinov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Karatinov throws a series of punches but Verona avoids them all with ease.
Karatinov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Verona pinned against the cage. Verona gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Karatinov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Verona moves into the clinch.
Verona is working for takedown but Karatinov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Karatinov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Verona gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Verona showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Karatinov missing with a left hand there. Verona was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Karatinov thows a body shot but no joy.
Karatinov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Karatinov doesn't manage to clinch there - Verona circles away.

Verona shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Karatinov is not content to let Verona control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verona not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karatinov missing with punches from the bottom.
Verona trying to control the action but Karatinov is working from the bottom.
Karatinov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karatinov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verona missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Karatinov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Karatinov.
Karatinov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Verona shoots for a double leg takedown but Karatinov sprawls well. He's pushed Verona's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Karatinov is looking to clinch but Verona is avoiding it.
Verona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Karatinov throws a hook but Verona avoids it easily.
Karatinov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Verona blocks a low kick nicely.
Karatinov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karatinov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Karatinov tries to clinch there but Verona circles away.
Verona shoots in for a takedown but Karatinov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verona tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karatinov swivels and escapes.
Alexander Karatinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Verona.
Karatinov scores with a shot to the body.
Jake Verona is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karatinov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Verona sprawls well. Verona wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karatinov gets slowly back to his feet.
Verona throws a series of punches but Karatinov avoids them all with ease.
Verona bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Karatinov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some wild striking there from Karatinov.
Verona tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice takedown defense from Karatinov. No joy for Verona on that attempt.
Karatinov takes one on the button.
Karatinov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Karatinov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Verona.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verona fails in his attempt to clinch.

Karatinov moves into the clinch.
Verona blocks a body shot from Karatinov.
Verona jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Karatinov walks away with a smile on his face. Verona gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Verona changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karatinov tries to avoid it but Verona manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karatinov to the ground. Karatinov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Karatinov tries to clinch there but Verona circles away.

Karatinov pushes Verona up against the cage in a clinch.

Karatinov breaks the clinch.
Verona tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Verona moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Karatinov.
Karatinov is trying to drag Verona to the mat but Verona just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Verona manages to pull guard.
Karatinov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Verona manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karatinov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karatinov tries to strike from the bottom.
Karatinov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Alexander Karatinov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Karatinov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Verona has picked Karatinov up and slammed him! Karatinov can't keep hold of the triangle and Verona manages to pass to side control!
Verona misses with the ground and pound.
Karatinov throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Verona trying to control the action but Karatinov is working from the bottom.

Verona is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Karatinov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Karatinov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

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 Alexander Karatinov.
I think Verona has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Verona!