PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kostas Karelis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Campion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelis comes into the arena with Sail - AwolNation blaring out of the sound system. Matthew Campion will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Karelis
vs
Campion

182 cm
17
222 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
27
215 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kostas Karelis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthew Campion!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Campion dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Karelis clinches.
Karelis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Campion.
Campion pushes Karelis back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Karelis works on Campion's body with a couple of short punches.
Campion managing to block the knees to the body from Karelis.
Karelis tries to throw a body punch but Campion avoids it by throwing Karelis back against the cage.
Campion wants to get back to striking at distance but Karelis won't allow it.
Karelis's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Karelis digs a right hand underneath Campion's ribcage. Campion let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Campion misses with a hook from the clinch.
Campion is trying to break the clinch but Karelis has him pressed against the cage.
Campion lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Campion managing to block the knees to the body from Karelis.
Karelis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Campion.
Karelis's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Campion landing knees to the body.
Karelis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Karelis tries to land knees in the clinch but Campion avoids the damage to the body.
Karelis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Campion.
Campion landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Campion pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karelis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Karelis clinches with his opponent.
Karelis lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Campion - that landed with a thud.
Karelis keeps control of Campion as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Campion works on Karelis's body with a couple of short punches.
Nice body punch from Karelis.
Campion tries to work over Karelis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Karelis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Campion avoids it.
Campion stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Campion working hard to break the clinch.
Campion content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Campion blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Karelis works on Campion's body with a couple of short punches.
Karelis works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Campion looks winded!
A left hand lands to the body for Karelis.
Campion managing to block the knees to the body from Karelis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Campion avoids it.
Karelis missing with knees to the body.
Karelis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Campion.

Karelis drags the fight down to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karelis wants to sweep here but Campion controlling him for the moment.
We've been hearing good reports from Karelis's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Karelis is pulling down on Campion's head to control his posture.
Karelis on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karelis tries to get out of the position.
Karelis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Campion's guard.

Karelis engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Campion swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karelis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Karelis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Campion is looking to stand up but Karelis isn't so interested in that idea.
Karelis advances to half guard.

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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Karelis in particular looking to stall.
Karelis's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Karelis works his foot free and advances to mount.
Campion is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Karelis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Karelis dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Karelis closes the distance and pushes Campion back into the cage.
Karelis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karelis blocks a body shot from Campion.

Campion breaks the clinch.
Campion thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Karelis if he has to take too many more of those.
Karelis shoots in for a double leg but Campion sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Karelis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Campion can do to turn this around?

Karelis moves into the clinch.
Karelis pushes off an throws an elbow but Campion leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Karelis scores with a nice short uppercut.
Campion working hard to break the clinch.
Karelis missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelis misses with a punch to the body.
Karelis scores with a hook to the body.
Karelis tries to work over Campion's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Karelis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Campion is defending well for now.
Karelis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Campion is defending well for now.
Campion using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karelis has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karelis tightens his grip and picks Campion up, before dumping him to the ground. Campion manages to land in guard.
Karelis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Karelis moves into range and clinches up with Campion.

Campion manages to break the clinch.

Karelis takes the fight into the clinch.
Campion has a couple of punches blocked by Karelis.
Campion dodges an elbow strike from Karelis.
Karelis misses with an elbow over the top.
Campion is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelis tries to land knees in the clinch but Campion avoids the damage to the body.
Campion using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Campion blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kostas Karelis has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Campion pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Campion lands with a cross.
Karelis swats away the attempt to clinch by Campion.

Karelis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Campion seems a little lost for a moment, as Karelis dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karelis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Karelis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Campion tries to avoid it but Karelis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Campion to the ground. Campion escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Campion scores with a kick to the midsection.
Campion fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karelis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Campion defends well and Karelis ends up having to push Campion into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kostas Karelis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karelis keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostas Karelis dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Campion tries to clinch up.

Karelis moves into the clinch.
Karelis lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Karelis lands a body punch in the clinch.
Campion is trying to break the clinch but Karelis has him pressed against the cage.
Campion lands a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Campion.
Campion is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Karelis tries to land knees in the clinch but Campion avoids the damage to the body.
Campion utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Campion working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Campion tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karelis's elbow.
Campion managing to block the knees to the body from Karelis.
Campion lands a nice shot to the body.
Campion avoiding damage as Karelis throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Karelis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelis missing with knees to the body.
Karelis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Karelis.
Campion takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Karelis tries to land knees in the clinch but Campion avoids the damage to the body.
Karelis misses with an elbow over the top.
Karelis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Campion crunches a lovely knee into Karelis's ribcage.
Campion misses with a body punch.
Campion avoiding damage as Karelis throws knees to the body.
Campion taking a breather.
Campion works on Karelis's body with a couple of short punches.
Karelis missing with knees to the body.
Campion on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Karelis takes a knee to the side of the body.
Campion lands a knee to the head.
Campion scores with a shot to the side of Karelis's head.
Campion lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Karelis or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campion tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karelis avoids it.
Campion blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Campion lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karelis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karelis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Campion avoids it.
Campion avoiding damage as Karelis throws knees to the body.
Karelis tries to land knees in the clinch but Campion avoids the damage to the body.
Karelis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Campion's efforts to push away.
Karelis misses with a body punch.
Karelis tries a body shot but Campion blocks it.
Campion managing to block the knees to the body from Karelis.
Campion digs a right hand underneath Karelis's ribcage. Karelis let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Karelis tries to work over Campion's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Campion with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Karelis digs a right hand underneath Campion's ribcage. Campion let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Karelis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campion lands with a left to the head.
Karelis misses with a body punch.

Karelis is trying to trip Campion. He has hold of a leg but Campion is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Karelis persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Karelis controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kostas Karelis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelis won't allow Campion to get back to his feet.
Karelis controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Matthew Campion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karelis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Karelis is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Campion will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Kostas Karelis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karelis seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Campion for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kostas Karelis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Karelis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kostas Karelis!
The defeated Matthew Campion had this to say: 'Congratulations to my opponent. He was the better man today. Now I go back to training to make sure that I'm the better man tomorrow. Thanks to the fans for all of their support.'.