PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Markie Gono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barret Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gono kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Hearts on Fire. Karelin has chosen Hearts on Fire by the Balboa as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gono
vs
Karelin

199 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
285 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

KAISER

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Markie Gono!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Barret Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gono tries to clinch up.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Karelin. No joy for Gono on that attempt.
No luck for Karelin with that takedown attempt.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown but Gono shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Markie Gono has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barret Karelin.
Gono tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.
Gono wants to clinch.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gono as he jumps to the side.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gono but Gono pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin shoots in but Gono avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gono moves in looking to clinch but Karelin pushes him off.
Gono wants to clinch but Karelin slips to the side

and Karelin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karelin.
Karelin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Karelin working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Karelin content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gono has Karelin pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gono looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gono fails with an attempt to clinch.
Karelin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gono counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karelin's guard now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karelin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Gono from controlling successfully.
Gono has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gono stops Karelin from standing up.
Karelin keeping full guard, as Gono tries to pass.
Karelin is looking to stand up but Gono isn't so interested in that idea.
Karelin seems keen to control Gono's posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gono tries to close the distance and clinch up but Karelin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Karelin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gono tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karelin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Karelin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gono avoids it really well and circles away.

Gono fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Karelin sprawls well initially but Gono persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Gono is trying to work for a kimura but Karelin is defending well.
Karelin trying to control but Gono postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gono seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Karelin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Markie Gono will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gono is looking to clinch.
Gono is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gono tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gono tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Karelin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Karelin walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Karelin closes the distance and clinches up with Gono, looking for a takedown. Karelin pushes Gono against the cage but Gono circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gono avoids the body shot from Karelin.
Nice sprawl there from Gono as Karelin shoots in.
Gono tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.
Karelin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gono swivels and escapes.
Markie Gono has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barret Karelin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin tries for a takedown but Gono sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Markie Gono is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karelin is breathing heavily.
Karelin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gono avoids it really well and circles away.
Gono tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.
Gono displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karelin.
Karelin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gono defends well and Karelin ends up having to push Gono into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Gono has clasped his hands together around Karelin's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Karelin prevents Gono from moving into mount.
Karelin taking punishment in the form of punches.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Gono here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Gono tries to move into full mount but can't pass Karelin's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gono controlling the position from side mount.
Gono wants to control but Karelin is keeping him busy.
Karelin is trying to buck Gono off.

Gono thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gono tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gono working away.
Karelin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gono is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin is trying to improve his position.
Karelin wants to control but Gono postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is trying to get back to his feet.
Gono tries to advance to mount but can't.
Karelin tries to buck Gono off but Gono is having none of it.
Karelin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gono.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gono goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Karelin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gono but great work by Karelin.
Markie Gono overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Karelin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gono keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markie Gono dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Gono as Karelin shoots in.

Gono closes the distance and clinches.

Gono pulls guard.
Karelin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Karelin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Karelin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gono trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karelin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gono avoids it really well and circles away.
Karelin shoots for a takedown but Gono saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Markie Gono has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barret Karelin.
Karelin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gono wants to clinch.
Karelin fails with a takedown attempt.
Gono is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin swats away the attempt to clinch by Gono.
Gono fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karelin has a takedown stuffed.
Gono shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karelin as he avoids it easily.
Karelin throws a shot from downtown. Gono moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gono counters with a series of strikes. Karelin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Karelin closes the distance and clinches up with Gono, looking for a takedown. Karelin pushes Gono against the cage but Gono circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Gono pushes Karelin up against the cage in a clinch.
Karelin is trying to drag Gono to the mat but Gono just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gono presses Karelin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gono drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Karelin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Karelin goes for a takedown attempt but Gono pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Gono shoots in and bounces Karelin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gono showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gono advances position into side control!
Markie Gono is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karelin tries to bench press Gono off him but Gono keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markie Gono showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gono 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markie Gono!
Markie Gono took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.