PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Karev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tipene Rawhiti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karev
vs
Rawhiti

193 cm
40
252 lbs
35 - 17 - 0

186 cm
25
266 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 35 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Oleg Karev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tipene Rawhiti!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karev scores with the left hand. Rawhiti knows he should have avoided that one.
Rawhiti swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rawhiti swinging wildly here.
Karev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Rawhiti looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Karev!
Karev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karev isn't going anywhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karev manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karev tries to roll over but Rawhiti keeps him under control.
Karev keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rawhiti is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Karev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rawhiti.
Rawhiti wants to control but Karev is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Karev keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rawhiti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Karev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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

Rawhiti closes the distance and clinches.
Karev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rawhiti.
Karev scores with a shot to the side of Rawhiti's head.

It looks like Tipene Rawhiti has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karev has Rawhiti pressed against the cage.
Rawhiti trying to land knees to the body.
A short right from Karev on the inside.
Karev lands a damaging elbow.
Rawhiti's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Karev stops a takedown attempt from Rawhiti.
Karev lands a nice elbow.
Rawhiti tries to work over Karev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Karev creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rawhiti's defenses.
Karev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rawhiti tries to pull guard but Karev won't allow it.
Oleg Karev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tipene Rawhiti.
Rawhiti throws a head punch that misses.
Rawhiti is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Karev to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Karev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That has opened up Tipene Rawhiti's cut even more.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karev connects with a knee to the head.
Karev lands a right hand.
Karev is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rawhiti looks winded!
Karev lands a hook to the side of the head.

The cut above Tipene Rawhiti's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Karev taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rawhiti is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karev pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Karev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A nice left hand lands by Karev.

Karev drops Rawhiti onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Rawhiti is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Karev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tipene Rawhiti's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karev moves into the clinch.
Rawhiti is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Karev is defending well.
Karev lands an elbow inside.
Karev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rawhiti backwards.
Oleg Karev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A bit of stalling here from Karev.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Karev here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karev lands an elbow inside that Rawhiti shrugs off.
Karev landing knees to the head.

Tipene Rawhiti's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Rawhiti is trying to break the clinch but Karev has him pressed against the cage.
Nice elbow from Karev.
Karev scores with a knee to the head.
Karev lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Rawhiti is rocked!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Tipene Rawhiti's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Oleg Karev!
After the fight, Oleg Karev was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.