PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksanteri Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wladyslaw Raginis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karelin comes into the arena with CCCP blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karelin
vs
Raginis

191 cm
35
286 lbs
28 - 19 - 0

182 cm
33
265 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksanteri Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wladyslaw Raginis!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raginis lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
An inside leg kick lands from Raginis.
Raginis gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like Wladyslaw Raginis has been cut.
Raginis comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Karelin keeps the fight on the outside.
Karelin has been working on his boxing with his coaches at LOD: Xtreme MMA in the buildup to the fight.
A cross from Karelin lands.
Aleksanteri Karelin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raginis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karelin.
The crowd cheers as Raginis lands an impressive looking overhand right. Karelin doesn't seem phased though.
Karelin lands a nice hook to Raginis's body. Raginis takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Raginis tries to clinch up but Karelin circles away and keeps his distance.
It looked like Karelin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Raginis goes for a double leg but Karelin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Karelin continues to drive forward.
Karelin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raginis lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Karelin slips a straight right by Raginis.
Raginis misses with a body shot.
Raginis looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd cheers as Karelin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Raginis doesn't seem phased though.
Karelin swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raginis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Raginis forces Karelin back against the cage and clinches.
Raginis being controlled against the cage.
Raginis misses with a punch on the inside.
Raginis tries to score a body lock takedown but Karelin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Karelin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Raginis scores with a nice hook to the head.
Raginis trying to control the position but instead, Karelin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Raginis into the cage.
Karelin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Raginiss head.
A short right from Karelin on the inside.

That has opened up Wladyslaw Raginis's cut even more.
Nice body punch from Karelin.
Karelin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Raginis has Karelin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Karelin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Aleksanteri Karelin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wladyslaw Raginis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin prevents Raginis from breaking the clinch.

Raginis tightens his grip and picks Karelin up, before dumping him to the ground. Karelin manages to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raginis won't allow Karelin to sweep him here.
Karelin is pulling down on Raginis's head to control his posture.

Raginis postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Karelin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Raginis, into his guard.

Raginis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karelin.
Karelin preventing the sweep.
Karelin postures up in Raginis's guard and throws a big left but Raginis blocks it.
Karelin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Raginis looking to control.

Raginis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Raginis keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raginis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raginis keeps trying to improve his position.
Karelin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Raginis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karelin stands up over Raginis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Karelin throws a big elbow that misses.
Raginis keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Karelin postures up in Raginis's guard and throws a big left but Raginis blocks it.

Raginis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Karelin is stalling in the full guard.
Karelin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

The cut above Wladyslaw Raginis's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Aleksanteri Karelin!
Aleksanteri Karelin decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.