PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Salman Ahmad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Karaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahmad kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Dope - Die mother f*cker die . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ahmad
vs
Karaev

180 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
191 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Salman Ahmad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Karaev!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karaev looks to throw the jab but Ahmad is out of range.
Karaev throws a series of punches but Ahmad avoids them all with ease.
Karaev misses with a double jab.
Karaev throws a right hand that Ahmad ducks under and follows up with a left that Ahmad also avoids with ease.

Ahmad closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Ahmad is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Karaev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ahmad lands an elbow.
The ground and pound from Ahmad seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ahmad tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ahmad in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Karaev tries to bench press Ahmad off him but Ahmad keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahmad looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Karaev is avoiding damage well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karaev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ahmad is putting a hurting on Karaev here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ahmad tries to advance to mount but Karaev denies him.
Karaev is trying to improve his position.
Ahmad lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Karaev down.
Ahmad trying to control the position but Karaev is working away.
Karaev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ahmad scoring with punches and elbows.
Ahmad working the head with strikes.
Ahmad is chipping away with strikes.

Ahmad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Karaev, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ahmad goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Karaev has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ahmad but great work by Karaev.
Ahmad is trying to control Karaev's posture but Karaev avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Karaev.
Ahmad is trying to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Karaev.
Karaev tries to stand but Ahmad is controlling his head.
Ahmad wants to control but Karaev postures up.
Karaev happy to just control the position for now.
Karaev trying to control the action but Ahmad is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ahmad shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Karaev tries to reverse the position but Ahmad maintains control.

Ahmad working for a submission but Karaev is keeping him at bay.
Ahmad trying to control but Karaev is having none of it.
Karaev tries to lock up and control but Ahmad gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ahmad with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahmad throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ahmad prevents Karaev from getting the reversal.
Ahmad scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Ahmad lands a heavy elbow.
Ahmad putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Karaev taking shots to the head.
Ahmad lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
BOOM! Ahmad connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Karaev is desperately trying to improve his position but Ahmad has a good base and remains in mount.
Ahmad avoids the attempt from Karaev to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ahmad working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ahmad raining down shots from the mount!
A nice elbow there by Ahmad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salman Ahmad dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Karaev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Karaev misses with a series of wild punches.
Ahmad looks for a takedown but Karaev sprawls well.
Karaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahmad was well out of range. Poor timing from Karaev.
Karaev misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Karaev.
Ruslan Karaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ahmad darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ahmad scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karaev trying to control from the bottom.
Ahmad is looking to take a break and control but Karaev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ahmad slips a nice elbow through Karaev's hands, connecting with Karaev's forehead.
Karaev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ahmad. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Karaev tries to get to full guard but Ahmad has control of the leg.
Ahmad not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ahmad is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Karaev is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ahmad scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ahmad winds up and cracks Karaev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ahmad is trying to control. Karaev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ahmad is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karaev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Well, if Ahmad is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ahmad missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ahmad thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ahmad looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ahmad connects with a nice short shot to Karaev's temple.

Ahmad is looking for a kimura but Karaev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ahmad to get the leverage.
Ahmad throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Karaev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Karaev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ahmad.
Karaev is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaev is looking to improve his position.
Ahmad thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karaev's head.
Ahmad working Karaev over with strikes.
Karaev is trying to get back to full guard.
Ahmad trying to control from half guard but Karaev is working away.
Karaev keeping his head moving to avoid 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.
Ahmad has a takedown stuffed.
Karaev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

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.
Ahmad misses with a takedown attempt - Karaev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salman Ahmad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karaev stuffs the takedown attempt from Ahmad. Ahmad gets slowly back to his feet.
Karaev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Karaev misses with a series of wild punches.
Ahmad tries for a takedown but Karaev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salman Ahmad dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ahmad avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Karaev misses.
Ahmad steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karaev.
Karaev throws a nice looking combination but Ahmad bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Karaev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karaev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karaev throws the left hand but Ahmad avoids the punch easily.
Ahmad staying out of range there.
Karaev throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Karaev!
Karaev fails to land with a series of punches.
Ahmad slips under a jab.
Ahmad moves out of range of the strikes.
Karaev misses the jab.
Karaev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Horrible takedown by Ahmad or perhaps it was just good defense by Karaev which made him look bad.
Karaev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karaev lands with a straight right. Ahmad didn't see that one coming.
Horrible takedown by Ahmad or perhaps it was just good defense by Karaev which made him look bad.
Ahmad shoots in looking for a takedown. Karaev tries to sprawl out of it but Ahmad keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Karaev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salman Ahmad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ahmad circles away quickly and effectively.
Ahmad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Karaev's waist but Karaev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ahmad off to one side.
Karaev throws a shot to the body.
Karaev misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ahmad moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Karaev throws a body punch but Ahmad moves out of range.
Karaev sizes up Ahmad with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Karaev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ahmad changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karaev tries to avoid it but Ahmad manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karaev to the ground. Karaev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Karaev tries to bum rush Ahmad with a series of wild strikes but Ahmad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Karaev.
Ahmad shoots in but Karaev avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Karaev scores with a sloppy right hand. Ahmad should have avoided that one.
Karaev misses with a series of wild punches.
Ruslan Karaev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karaev fails to land with a series of punches.
Karaev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ahmad.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karaev throws a nice looking combination but Ahmad bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ruslan Karaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ahmad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Karaev's waist but Karaev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ahmad off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Karaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ahmad has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salman Ahmad!