PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Karasev (ranked 3561 p4p, 417 weight class) and Carl Sands (ranked 3784 p4p, 443 weight class). Sands has chosen Hip Hop - By: Dead Prez as his entrance music. Carl Sands is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Karasev
vs
Sands

190 cm
31
250 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

191 cm
23
260 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Karasev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Sands!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sands throws a right hand that misses
enabling Karasev to counter with a crisp jab.
Karasev moves out of range as Sands strikes.
Karasev appears to be looking for a big counter.
Karasev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sands fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Karasev avoids it really well and circles away.
We've been told by Karasev's head coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sands throws a lazy uppercut
and Karasev counters with a nice uppercut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sands is defended easily by Karasev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karasev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sands swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sands throws a poor cross that misses
and Karasev counters with a straight right hand.
Sands dives in and grabs Karasev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karasev pushes down on Sands's head and hops out.
It looked like Karasev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Alexey Karasev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Sands.
Karasev moves out of range as Sands strikes.
Karasev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sands.
Karasev is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Karasev connects with a body shot.
Sands on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A big left from Sands misses.
It looked like Karasev was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sands.
Sands throws the left hand but Karasev avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karasev throws a hook but Sands avoids it easily.
Sands lands the left hand.
Sands misses with a straight right.
Karasev bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sands's head backwards.
Karasev slips a jab from Sands.
Sands rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Karasev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Karasev is looking for a counter combo.
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!
Sands scores with a jab. Karasev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sands throws a hook but Karasev blocks it.
Karasev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Karasev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sands was well out of range. Poor timing from Karasev.

Sands scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Karasev throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Karasev throws a big shot that misses.
Sands scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sands throws a hook but Karasev blocks it.
Sands tries for a takedown but Karasev circles away easily
and Karasev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A combination from Karasev does no damage.
Karasev throws a hook to the side of Sands's head but Sands sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sands wants to counter the offense by Karasev and move into the clinch position.
Karasev ducks right into an uppercut from Sands.
Karasev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Karasev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sands with a poor takedown
and Karasev counters with a straight right hand.
Carl Sands seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karasev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sands looks to land a left hand but Karasev moved out of range nicely.
Karasev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Karasev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Karasev throws out a loose jab but Sands uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sands looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karasev is fending him off so far but Sands persists. Nope, Karasev circles away and we're back to standing.
Sands throws a big shot that misses.
It looked like Karasev was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Karasev scores with a hook.
Karasev closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Karasev has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sands finds it's way round the side to connect with Karasev's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Karasev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sands ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alexey Karasev is winning the standup battle so far.
Sands rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Karasev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Sands closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sands lands in his opponent's guard.
Sands makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karasev is trying to keep Sands in close.
Karasev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sands has control of Karasev's left arm, preventing Karasev from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sands controls Karasev momentarily but Karasev frees himself.
Karasev is looking to work some ground and pound but Sands has wrist control.
Karasev won't allow Sands to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karasev wants to stand but Sands is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sands keeping moving, preventing Karasev from controlling successfully.
Sands bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Karasev's guard.

Sands being controlled here momentarily.
Sands forces his way into half guard.
Alexey Karasev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sands is thwarting Karasev's attempts to control the position.
Sands throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sands is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sands lands a nice short elbow.
Sands has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Karasev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sands lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Karasev looking to control.
Sands landing some decent shots from guard.
Sands lands a couple of digs.
Karasev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karasev tries to get out of the position.
Sands content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Karasev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karasev is really struggling to control Sands but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Karasev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sands.
Karasev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sands scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Karasev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Karasev pulls Sands in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karasev trying to control the position.
Sands won't allow Karasev to sweep him here.
Sands makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karasev has momentary wrist control but Sands slips an elbow through the middle.
Karasev keeping moving, preventing Sands from controlling successfully.
Sands working some strikes from top position.
Karasev keeping moving, preventing Sands from controlling successfully.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sands with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sands trying to control the position from guard on top but Karasev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sands is working Karasev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Karasev pulls Sands in close to prevent any damage.
Karasev wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands chips away with some ground and pound.
Sands lands a couple of digs.
Karasev keeping moving, preventing Sands from controlling successfully.
Karasev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sands landing with the ground and pound.
Sands scoring with some ground and pound.
Sands scoring with punches to the head and body.

Karasev is rocked!
Karasev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Oh Karasev is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sands in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Karasev seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sands working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karasev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sands felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Karasev wants to control but Sands is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Sands showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sands connects with a jab.
Karasev slips a jab and a cross from Sands.
Karasev misses the jab.
Sands waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Karasev.
Karasev is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Karasev connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sands shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karasev throwing a counter right hand but Sands manages to avoid it.
Karasev scores with a nice head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sands looks to land a left hand but Karasev moved out of range nicely.
A quick step to the side and Karasev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karasev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sands manages to avoid it.
Karasev misses with a two punch combination.
Sands throws out a counter right but Karasev avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karasev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A slow jab from Sands misses its intended target.
Sands throws a lazy right hand but Karasev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sands throws a leg kick but Karasev sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jab from Sands.
Alexey Karasev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Sands.
Karasev swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sands.
Sands lands a really nice looking cross but Karasev seems unphased.
Sands needs to keep his hands up - Karasev had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karasev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sands sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A shot to the liver by Karasev. Beautiful body shot.
Sands cracks Karasev with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sands throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Karasev on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sands throws a hook to the side of Karasev's head but Karasev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sands uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karasev.
Karasev misses with a hook. Sands ducked under it nicely.
Karasev fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sands looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Karasev throws a jab but it's blocked by Sands.
Karasev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sands closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Karasev to the mat! Karasev manages to get full guard.
Sands distracts Karasev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Karasev controlling the position.
Karasev'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.
Karasev is trying to control the position but Sands postures up.
Karasev wants to sweep here but Sands controlling him for the moment.
Sands postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Karasev is trying to control the position but Sands postures up.
Karasev looking for a sweep. Not yet Karasev, not yet.
Sands landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karasev is trying to keep Sands in close.
Sands scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sands trying to control but Karasev is working from the bottom.
Sands pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karasev is keeping the position for now.
Sands pushes down on Karasev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nice strikes from Sands there.
Karasev trying to control from the bottom.
Sands is controlling the pace.
Sands lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Sands comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sands has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Carl Sands!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Carl Sands!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Carl Sands!

Carl Sands wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Carl Sands, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.