PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Teemu Karjalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Malenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karjalainen comes to the cage accompanied by Poisonblack - Sun Shines Black. Ray Malenko will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Karjalainen
vs
Malenko

171 cm
27
163 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

182 cm
30
164 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Teemu Karjalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Malenko!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karjalainen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A nice combination there by Malenko.
Karjalainen takes one on the button.
Malenko throws an off balance right hand
and Karjalainen counters with a straight right hand.
Malenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karjalainen moves away.
Karjalainen is looking to counter punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Malenko misses the target.
Malenko lands a nice looking body shot.
Karjalainen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Malenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karjalainen.
Malenko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karjalainen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Malenko misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Karjalainen to counter with a crisp jab.
Malenko clobbers Karjalainen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko scores with a crisp jab that stopped Karjalainen in his tracks.
No joy there for Malenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malenko misses the shot to the body.
Malenko throws a big shot that misses.
Malenko works Karjalainen's body with a nice hook.
Malenko scores with a body shot.
Malenko scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Karjalainen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Malenko.
Malenko lands a body shot.

Malenko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karjalainen is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Karjalainen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Malenko trying to control but Karjalainen is working from the bottom.
Malenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karjalainen is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Karjalainen is on top in guard.

Malenko wants to sweep here but Karjalainen controlling him for the moment.
Karjalainen throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karjalainen postures up in Malenko's guard and throws a big left but Malenko blocks it.
Karjalainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Karjalainen lands a couple of digs.
Karjalainen postures up and lands a big shot to Malenko's brow.
Malenko wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karjalainen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Karjalainen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Malenko wants to sweep here but Karjalainen controlling him for the moment.
Karjalainen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Malenko keeping moving, preventing Karjalainen from controlling successfully.
Karjalainen throws a strike but Malenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Karjalainen keeping full guard, as Malenko tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen is trying to keep Malenko in close.
Malenko won't allow Karjalainen to sweep him here.
Malenko wants to control from the top but Karjalainen keeps moving.
Malenko slips nicely into half guard.
Karjalainen is controlling Malenko's trapped leg to prevent Malenko from advancing to side control.
Karjalainen regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Malenko dominated that 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.

Malenko throws a body punch but Karjalainen moves out of range.
Karjalainen takes one on the button.
A jab from Malenko does it's job there.
Malenko misses with a wild body shot.
Karjalainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Karjalainen ducks under a wild hook from Malenko.
Malenko misses with an uppercut.
Karjalainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Malenko.
Karjalainen is looking to counter the offense by Malenko and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karjalainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malenko.
Malenko throws a body shot but no joy.
Karjalainen slips a straight right by Malenko.
Malenko throws a sloppy body shot
and Karjalainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Malenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko lands with a nice body punch.
A big right from Malenko misses.
Karjalainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Malenko.
Karjalainen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Karjalainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malenko.
An attempted straight right counter from Karjalainen misses the target.
Jab by Malenko.
Malenko throws a predictable looking body shot
and Karjalainen counters with a head kick. That will keep Malenko thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Malenko getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Karjalainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malenko lands a really nice looking cross but Karjalainen seems unphased.
Karjalainen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malenko connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko walks into a left hand.
Malenko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Karjalainen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Malenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karjalainen.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Malenko.
An attempted straight right counter from Karjalainen misses the target.
Ray Malenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karjalainen misses with a wild body shot.
Karjalainen lands with a nice combination. Malenko backs away looking to recover.
Malenko clobbers Karjalainen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Karjalainen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Malenko has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Karjalainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Malenko.
As Malenko tries to get set, Karjalainen tries to push him back and clinch up but Malenko manages to avoid the attempt.
A swing and a miss from Malenko.
Malenko is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko loads up on a big right hand but Karjalainen slips the punch.
Karjalainen fires out a quick counter leg kick but Malenko just manages to avoid it.
Karjalainen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Teemu Karjalainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Malenko misses with a right hand
and Karjalainen counters with a body kick that stops Malenko in his tracks momentarily.
Karjalainen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Karjalainen lets loose with a powerful body kick. Malenko will feel that in the morning.
Malenko is breathing heavily.
Malenko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Karjalainen defends it nicely.
Malenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karjalainen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Malenko somewhat.
A quick step to the side and Karjalainen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Teemu Karjalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Malenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Malenko connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Karjalainen scrambles back to his feet.
Malenko throws a jab when Karjalainen was well out of range.
It looked like Karjalainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Malenko misses with a double jab.
Malenko throws a series of punches but Karjalainen moves out of range.
Nice cross by Malenko.
Karjalainen lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malenko connects with a jab.
Malenko scores with a hook.
Karjalainen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Karjalainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malenko.
Karjalainen fires out a quick counter leg kick but Malenko just manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Malenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Malenko clobbers Karjalainen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malenko. Karjalainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Karjalainen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Karjalainen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ray Malenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Malenko misses with a lunging right hand
and Karjalainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Karjalainen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Malenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Malenko throws a poor cross that misses
and Karjalainen counters with a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Malenko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karjalainen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Malenko checks it well.
Karjalainen misses with a body kick.
Malenko scores with a jab to the head.
Karjalainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Malenko misses its intended target.
Karjalainen cracks Malenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Malenko lands with a straight right. Karjalainen didn't see that one coming.
Karjalainen slips under a jab from Malenko.
Karjalainen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Malenko has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Malenko throws a hook but Karjalainen avoids it easily.
Malenko looks to land a right hand but Karjalainen moved out of range.
As Malenko backs away, Karjalainen returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Malenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Karjalainen.
Malenko throws a right hand that misses
and Karjalainen counters with a solid body kick.
Malenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Malenko checks a leg kick.
Malenko on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Malenko walks into a stiff left hand from Karjalainen.
Teemu Karjalainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Malenko misses with a wild body shot.
Karjalainen scoring well with a low kick there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A decent looking cross lands there for Malenko.
Malenko ducks under a wild hook from Karjalainen.
Karjalainen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Malenko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Malenko misses with a hook to the body
and Karjalainen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Karjalainen. That's going to slow Malenko down.
Malenko throws a poor cross that misses
and Karjalainen counters with a low kick, right behind Malenko 's knee.
Karjalainen slips under a jab.
Malenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Karjalainen counters with a stiff right hand.
Ray Malenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Karjalainen counters with a beautiful right hand that knocks Malenko out cold! What a finish! Karjalainen is going crazy, running around the mat, summersaulting off the corner posts and screaming into the cameras. Something tells me he's pretty happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Teemu Karjalainen!
Teemu Karjalainen thanked the fans post fight for their support.