PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Karaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack McLumberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McLumberg is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: AC/DC - Thunderstruck. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Karaev
vs
McLumberg

185 cm
23
191 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

184 cm
23
187 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Karaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack McLumberg!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karaev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Karaev throws a series of punches but McLumberg moves out of range.
McLumberg throws a series of punches but Karaev moves out of range.
Good exchange - Karaev coming out on top.
Karaev looks to score with a jab to the body but McLumberg is just out of range.
McLumberg chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Some wild striking there from Karaev.
Karaev slips under a jab from McLumberg.
McLumberg displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice cross by McLumberg.
Karaev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Karaev checks a leg kick.
McLumberg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karaev.
Karaev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karaev throws a right and a left that McLumberg avoids nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Karaev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLumberg throws a series of punches but Karaev avoids them all with ease.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McLumberg.
Karaev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McLumberg.
McLumberg throws a hook but Karaev avoids it easily.
Karaev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
McLumberg moves out of range as Karaev strikes.
Karaev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McLumberg.
McLumberg slips a jab and a cross from Karaev.
Karaev is breathing heavily.
McLumberg throws a quick inside leg kick.
McLumberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McLumberg uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karaev.
Karaev takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
McLumberg connects with a nice looking jab.
McLumberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McLumberg scores with a punch to the head.
McLumberg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Karaev.
Nice defenses there by McLumberg.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McLumberg.
McLumberg throws a right hand that Karaev ducks under and follows up with a left that Karaev also avoids with ease.
A left and a right from Karaev both land. Nice combination.
McLumberg throws a leg kick which misses Karaev's front leg but catches the back leg as Karaev tries to avoid it.
Karaev slips a jab and a cross from McLumberg.
Karaev misses with a few strikes there.
McLumberg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McLumberg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karaev on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
McLumberg looks to land a combination but Karaev avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Karaev there as he acknowledges the shot.
A jab from McLumberg misses.
McLumberg throws a right hand that Karaev ducks under and follows up with a left that Karaev also avoids with ease.
McLumberg misses with a left hand
and Karaev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A punch combination from McLumberg misses.
Karaev swinging wildly here.
A slow jab from McLumberg misses its intended target.
Karaev looks to land a combination. McLumberg sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McLumberg moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
McLumberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Karaev.
McLumberg lands a body shot.
McLumberg misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg with a hook.
Karaev throws a jab when McLumberg was well out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McLumberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McLumberg misses with the combination.
McLumberg throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karaev.
McLumberg's jab looks to have found its range, popping Karaev under the eye.
Karaev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McLumberg displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McLumberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Karaev misses.
Karaev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McLumberg. McLumberg obviously looking to wear him down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack McLumberg dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Karaev moves out of range of the strikes.
McLumberg has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Karaev ducks under a wild hook from McLumberg.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from McLumberg - that will leave a mark!
McLumberg throws a series of punches but Karaev moves out of range.
Karaev has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
McLumberg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Karaev moves out of range of the body kick.
McLumberg lands with a thumping leg kick.
Karaev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McLumberg misses with a straight right.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karaev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karaev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McLumberg.
Karaev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLumberg with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McLumberg thows a body kick. Karaev tries to catch it but that hurt him.
McLumberg lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Good standup being displayed there by McLumberg as he connects with a hook.
Karaev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
McLumberg throws a quick inside leg kick.
That kick from McLumberg tenderised Karaev's leg. Karaev is trying to keep his angry face on.
Karaev drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fighters circle momentarily. McLumberg darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McLumberg lands with a straight right. Karaev didn't see that one coming.
Karaev throws a shot from downtown. McLumberg moves away and avoids it.
Karaev avoids a punch combination nicely.
McLumberg misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McLumberg misses with a wild combination.
Karaev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McLumberg.
Karaev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jack McLumberg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McLumberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Karaev walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Karaev takes one to the side of the head.
Karaev blocks a low kick nicely.
McLumberg ducks right into an uppercut from Karaev.
Karaev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McLumberg.
McLumberg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McLumberg throws a lazy right hand but Karaev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg throws a combination. Karaev tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McLumberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Karaev fails to land with a series of punches.
Ruslan Karaev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Karaev. Those never looked like landing.
McLumberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Karaev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McLumberg throws a hook but Karaev avoids it easily.
Karaev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McLumberg lands a leg kick that knocks Karaev off balance momentarily.
McLumberg fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McLumberg showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Karaev.
Karaev misses with a hook to the body
and McLumberg counters with a body kick that stops Karaev in his tracks momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg throws a hook to the side of Karaev's head but Karaev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
An inside leg kick lands from McLumberg.
McLumberg getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
McLumberg lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLumberg takes a swing at Karaev's ribcage but misses.
McLumberg lands a front kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for McLumberg.
Karaev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McLumberg. McLumberg obviously looking to wear him down.
McLumberg scores with a leg kick.
McLumberg lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McLumberg, right into the meat.
Karaev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McLumberg.
Karaev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack McLumberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karaev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jab, jab by Karaev - just one landing.
McLumberg swinging wildly here.
McLumberg lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Karaev backs up against the cage.
A jab from McLumberg misses.
McLumberg displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Karaev will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Karaev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McLumberg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karaev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McLumberg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Karaev circles away quickly and effectively.
Karaev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McLumberg misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karaev slips a jab from McLumberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLumberg listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McLumberg scoring well with a low kick there.
McLumberg throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Karaev ducks under a wild hook from McLumberg.
Karaev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McLumberg.
Karaev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Karaev is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McLumberg.
McLumberg throws a leg kick which misses Karaev's front leg but catches the back leg as Karaev tries to avoid it.
Karaev tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Karaev misses with a body shot.
McLumberg lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Karaev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Karaev scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg scores with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLumberg lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McLumberg lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McLumberg ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McLumberg throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karaev.
McLumberg throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Karaev.
McLumberg loads up on a big right hand but Karaev slips the punch.
Karaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McLumberg circles away quickly and effectively.
McLumberg lands a head kick. Karaev smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
McLumberg fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Karaev.
McLumberg loads up on a big right hand but Karaev slips the punch.
Karaev slips under a jab from McLumberg.
Some wild striking there from McLumberg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karaev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McLumberg.
McLumberg chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Karaev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McLumberg.
Karaev throws a right hand that McLumberg ducks under and follows up with a left that McLumberg also avoids with ease.
Nice shot by McLumberg.
McLumberg works the jab nicely.
McLumberg takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McLumberg dodges the punch combination from Karaev.
Karaev misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLumberg scoring well with a low kick there.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Karaev crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McLumberg - the referee stops the clock and Karaev gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McLumberg. Karaev manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sloppy strikes from McLumberg. Those never looked like landing.
McLumberg lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Karaev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McLumberg scores with a body shot.
McLumberg throws an overhand right that lands on Karaev's shoulder, as Karaev tries to avoid the shot.
McLumberg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jack McLumberg is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McLumberg moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McLumberg throws a hook but Karaev blocks it.
Ruslan Karaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McLumberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Karaev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack McLumberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McLumberg has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack McLumberg!