PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolay Ignatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Karelin
vs
Ignatov

200 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

186 cm
23
198 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Karelin!
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, Nikolay Ignatov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karelin.
Ignatov is looking to clinch but Karelin is avoiding it.
Ignatov misses with a takedown attempt

and Karelin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Karelin.
Karelin throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Karelin manages to break the clinch.
Karelin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ignatov's waist but Ignatov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karelin off to one side.
Ignatov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ignatov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Karelin's waist but Karelin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ignatov off to one side.
Alex Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolay Ignatov.
Ignatov closes the distance and clinches up with Karelin, looking for a takedown. Ignatov pushes Karelin against the cage but Karelin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ignatov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Karelin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ignatov defends it nicely.
Karelin fails to land the takedown.
Ignatov fails with the takedown

and Karelin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ignatov's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov wants to sweep here but Karelin controlling him for the moment.
Karelin trying to control but Ignatov is working from the bottom.
Karelin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Karelin scoring with some ground and pound.
Ignatov controls Karelin momentarily but Karelin frees himself.

Ignatov working for a triangle but Karelin defends it easily.
Karelin controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Karelin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Alex Karelin has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Karelin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ignatov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Karelin is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ignatov wants to clinch.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown but Ignatov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karelin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Karelin is trying to control. Ignatov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Karelin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ignatov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Karelin.
Ignatov wants to get back to full guard.
Karelin is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov is staying active underneath Karelin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Karelin seems to be working for a kimura but Ignatov defends the submission attempt.
Karelin trying to control from half guard but Ignatov is working away.
Karelin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ignatov actively working from the bottom here.
Ignatov trying to hold on to Karelin's head to control him but Karelin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Karelin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ignatov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karelin fails with the takedown.
Ignatov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ignatov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ignatov scores with a decent looking hook.
Ignatov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Karelin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ignatov pinned against the cage. Ignatov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Alex Karelin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ignatov misses with a takedown attempt - Karelin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Karelin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ignatov tries to avoid it but Karelin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ignatov to the ground. Ignatov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ignatov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ignatov jabs Karelin right on the nose. Karelin blinks but takes it well.
Karelin shoots in and drives through. Ignatov sprawls well.
Ignatov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ignatov wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ignatov scores with a three punch combo!
Ignatov tries to clinch up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ignatov.
Ignatov dives in and grabs Karelin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karelin pushes down on Ignatov's head and hops out.
Karelin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ignatov is fending him off so far but Karelin persists. Nope, Ignatov circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karelin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ignatov tries to avoid it but Karelin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ignatov to the ground. Ignatov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ignatov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin shoots for a takedown but Ignatov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karelin leaves Ignatov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Karelin walks into a jab.
Ignatov shoots in but Karelin avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Ignatov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Karelin being controlled here momentarily.

Ignatov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ignatov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karelin is stalling in the full guard.
Ignatov keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Karelin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Karelin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alex Karelin just wasn't active enough.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Karelin.
Nice takedown defense from Ignatov. No joy for Karelin on that attempt.
Ignatov shoots in looking for a takedown but Karelin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ignatov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ignatov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Karelin shoots in looking for a takedown but Ignatov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Karelin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Karelin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ignatov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Ignatov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Karelin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ignatov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karelin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ignatov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Karelin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ignatov did well to prevent Karelin getting side control.
Ignatov is trying to stand back up but Karelin is controlling him
Karelin slows the pace down in half guard.
Karelin uses his free foot to push down on Ignatov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ignatov.
Ignatov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin unloads with some shots from mount but Ignatov bucks and avoids them well.
Ignatov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karelin content just to control the position here.

Karelin stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Karelin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karelin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ignatov is trying to control but can't.
Karelin trying to control the action but Ignatov is working from the bottom.

Karelin is working for a submission of some sort.
Karelin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ignatov is not content to let Karelin control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Karelin trying to control the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Alex Karelin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Karelin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ignatov.
Karelin shoots in looking for a takedown but Ignatov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Karelin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Karelin keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ignatov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ignatov tries for a takedown but Karelin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Karelin as he jumps to the side.
Alex Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolay Ignatov.
Karelin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ignatov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Karelin somewhat.
Ignatov shoots in for a double leg but Karelin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Ignatov. No joy for Karelin on that attempt.
Ignatov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Karelin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ignatov pinned against the cage. Ignatov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin shoots in but no luck this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Karelin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Karelin 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Karelin!
A very excited looking Alex Karelin made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.