PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikey Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brown comes to the cage accompanied by Can't Hold Us. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brown
vs
Karelin

196 cm
25
265 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

191 cm
21
237 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikey Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin shoots in and drives through. Brown sprawls well.

Brown rushes Karelin and presses him up against the cage.
Brown gets underhooks to prevent Karelin's takedown attempt.
Brown is trying to drag Karelin to the mat but Karelin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Brown fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Karelin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Brown fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mikey Brown has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksandr Karelin.
Brown tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Brown as Karelin shoots in.
Karelin fails to land with a series of punches.

Brown bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Karelin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Brown lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Karelin down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Brown politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Brown prefers to stall for the moment though.
Karelin is trying to improve his position.
Brown wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karelin keeps working.
Karelin is letting Brown control him for a moment.
Brown looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Brown wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karelin keeps working.
Brown controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mikey Brown has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Brown clinches up with Karelin and pushes him back against the cage.
Brown is trying to maintain a safe position but Karelin gets an underhook and turns Brown into the cage.

Brown is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Karelin can't fight it off and eventually Brown manages to take the fight to the floor. Karelin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Brown trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brown wants to pass the guard but Karelin is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin seems keen to control Brown's posture.
Brown not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Brown got a little sloppy there for a moment and Karelin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Brown has managed to get both his arms back between Karelin's legs - danger averted.
Brown postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karelin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Brown controls the pace.

Karelin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Brown doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Brown manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Brown working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've been informed that Karelin has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Karelin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Karelin is trying to keep Brown in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brown trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Karelin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikey Brown dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Brown dives in for a single leg takedown but Karelin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Brown has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Karelin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Brown pulls Karelin into guard.
Karelin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Karelin throws a big elbow that misses.
Brown wants to stand but Karelin is controlling the position.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Brown gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Brown throws a strike but Karelin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karelin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Karelin postures up in Brown's guard and throws a big left but Brown blocks it.
Karelin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brown scores with a nice shot.
Karelin postures up.

Brown escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Karelin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Brown gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Brown passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Brown's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Brown's back!

Karelin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Brown is defending well though. Karelin let's go of the attempt for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brown manages to reverse the position and now he's in Karelin's guard. Nice work there by Brown.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Karelin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brown is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brown stands and throws Karelin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Karelin is trying to control Brown's posture but Brown avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is looking for a sweep.
Karelin being controlled for a moment.
Brown scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown scores with punches from side control.
Brown grinds an elbow into Karelin's temple.
Brown tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Karelin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brown wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karelin keeps working.
Brown scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Karelin to see if he's OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brown lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikey Brown dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karelin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Brown quickly recovers to half guard.
Brown is doing well to control the position and prevent Karelin from advancing to side control.
Brown trying to hold on to Karelin's head to control him but Karelin postures up.
Brown is controlling Karelin's trapped leg to prevent Karelin from advancing to side control.

Brown is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Karelin pulls his head out easily.
Mikey Brown overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karelin working Brown over with strikes.
Karelin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Brown preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Brown is looking for a sweep. Karelin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown tries to kick Karelin off but Karelin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Karelin lands with a punch from half guard.
Brown wants to control but Karelin is keeping busy.
Karelin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Karelin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Karelin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Karelin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Karelin is trying to work for a kimura but Brown is defending well.
Brown trying to hold on to Karelin's head to control him but Karelin postures up.
Brown on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Brown tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brown is trying to maintain the position but Karelin is very close to passing his half guard.
Brown blocking the ground and pound attempt from Karelin.
Karelin tries to stand but can't do so whilst Brown controls his leg.
Brown tries to get to full guard but Karelin has control of the leg.

Karelin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Karelin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Brown does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aleksandr Karelin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karelin is working for a kimura but Brown is defending it quite comfortably.
Brown is trying to get back to full guard.
Brown is doing well to control the position and prevent Karelin from advancing to side control.
Brown avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Karelin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown is looking for a sweep. Karelin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brown blocking the ground and pound attempt from Karelin.
Karelin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Karelin is looking to stall here but Brown recovers full guard.
Karelin being controlled here momentarily.
Mikey Brown is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karelin preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karelin is in close to Brown's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Brown working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Karelin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Karelin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karelin scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Karelin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brown has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikey Brown!
Mikey Brown thanked the fans post fight for their support.