PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirosvaldo Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Rasic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Karelin
vs
Rasic

185 cm
20
255 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
245 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mirosvaldo Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Denis Rasic!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rasic but Rasic pushes him off and we're back to square one.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Karelin enables Rasic to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Karelin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rasic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karelin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rasic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Karelin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rasic defends well.
Karelin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Rasic from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasic stands up over Karelin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rasic distracts Karelin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Rasic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rasic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Karelin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rasic wants to pass the guard but Karelin is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Karelin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karelin tries to get out of the position.
Rasic trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Rasic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Karelin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rasic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karelin wants to sweep here but Rasic controlling him for the moment.
Karelin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rasic manages to get himself to full guard.
Karelin looking to pass the guard.
Karelin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rasic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.
Rasic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Karelin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rasic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Karelin has managed to get both his arms back between Rasic's legs - danger averted.
Rasic looks gassed!
Rasic can't keep his opponent in guard - Karelin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rasic is looking for a sweep. Karelin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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. Karelin connects with a nice short shot to Rasic's temple.
Rasic is refusing to be controlled, as Karelin sits in half guard.
Karelin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rasic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Karelin.
Rasic is refusing to be controlled, as Karelin sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasic moves into full guard.
Rasic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rasic keeping full guard, as Karelin tries to pass.
Rasic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Karelin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rasic is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Karelin pushes Rasic off looking to stand but Rasic dives back in and keeps control.
Rasic working over Karelin with some ground and pound. Karelin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rasic scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rasic trying to control from half guard but Karelin is working away.
Karelin trying to control but Rasic postures up.
Rasic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin has hold of Rasic's hands but Rasic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rasic tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karelin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Karelin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rasic walks into a left hand.
Karelin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rasic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Karelin won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karelin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rasic landing strikes.
Rasic working the head with strikes.
Rasic scores with a couple of short elbows.
Karelin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Rasic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Karelin tries for a takedown but Rasic circles away easily

and Rasic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karelin wants to sweep here but Rasic controlling him for the moment.
Karelin has momentary wrist control but Rasic slips an elbow through the middle.
Karelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karelin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rasic manages to get himself to full guard.
Rasic controls Karelin momentarily but Karelin frees himself.
Rasic wants to stand up but Karelin is controlling him.
Rasic manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rasic landing strikes from the mount and Karelin is in trouble!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin really wants to buck Rasic off and get back to his feet.
Rasic with shots to the head and body - Karelin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rasic looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rasic lands a big elbow.

Rasic working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rasic raining down shots from the mount!

Rasic goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Karelin is on top in guard.
Karelin forces his way into half guard.
Rasic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is looking to take a break and control but Rasic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rasic wants to improve his position but Karelin is controlling well.
Karelin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Karelin tries to control but Rasic wriggling away.
Rasic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Karelin is working for a guillotine from mount but Rasic frees his head quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasic is trying to escape the mount.
Rasic sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rasic tries to get to full guard but Karelin has control of the leg.
Karelin works his way into side control.
Karelin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rasic!
Karelin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rasic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Karelin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Karelin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rasic hang on?
Karelin with a couple of short strikes.
Karelin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rasic is trying to escape the mount.

Karelin working for a submission but Rasic is keeping him at bay.
Rasic working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Rasic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Karelin thows a body shot but no joy.
Karelin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rasic counters with a shoot takedown. Karelin fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rasic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rasic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Karelin wants to sweep but no luck.
Karelin looking to control.
Rasic connects with a couple of short punches.
Rasic landing some decent shots from guard.
Karelin striking off his back but it's not causing Rasic any problems.
Karelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rasic stands up over Karelin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Karelin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin looking to control but Rasic passes into half guard.
Rasic scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Karelin is trying to get back to full guard.
Karelin wants to control but Rasic is keeping busy.
Karelin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Karelin gets back to full guard.
Rasic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rasic landing with the ground and pound.
Karelin trying to control the position.
Rasic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rasic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rasic working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karelin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rasic makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rasic with a nice head shot there.
Karelin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rasic with a nice head shot there.
Denis Rasic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karelin is trying to keep Rasic in close.
Rasic lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasic trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Karelin trying to keep a closed guard but Rasic is proving a slippery customer.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Rasic from controlling successfully.
Karelin looking for a sweep. Not yet Karelin, not yet.

Rasic thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rasic wants to control from the top but Karelin keeps moving.
Rasic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Karelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rasic wants to control from the top but Karelin keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Denis Rasic was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Karelin misses with a takedown

and Rasic counters with a takedown into side control.
Rasic working the body and head with strikes.
Karelin is looking for a sweep.
Rasic working the ground and pound.

Rasic is trying to get an arm triangle but Karelin is defending well.
Karelin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mirosvaldo Karelin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rasic connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Karelin some visible discomfort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Rasic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rasic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Rasic!