PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitaly Karelin (ranked 526 p4p, 20 weight class) and Brenden Abbott (ranked 1238 p4p, 26 weight class). Brenden Abbott acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Karelin
vs
Abbott

183 cm
36
283 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

179 cm
41
192 lbs
47 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Aspire 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 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitaly Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 47 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brenden Abbott!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karelin slips under a jab from Abbott.
Karelin attempts a counter takedown but Abbott avoids it well and moves away.
Abbott lands with a slapping head kick.
Karelin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Brenden Abbott has been cut.
Abbott throws a leg kick which misses Karelin's front leg but catches the back leg as Karelin tries to avoid it.
Karelin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Abbott is looking to chop away at Karelin's legs.
Karelin throws a looping overhand right but Abbott ducks down to avoid it.
Karelin blocks a jab.
Abbott throws a sloppy head kick
letting Karelin counter with a right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Karelin misses the target.
Abbott looks to land a right hand but Karelin moved out of range.
Karelin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Abbott.
Abbott changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Karelin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karelin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Karelin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karelin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Abbott works his way to full guard. Good work.
Karelin throws a big right hand that misses.
Karelin is looking to work some ground and pound but Abbott has wrist control.
Abbott has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Rabid Dog . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Abbott keeps moving.
Karelin is working Abbott over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Abbott is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Abbott manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karelin manages to get himself to full guard.

Karelin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Abbott controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karelin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Abbott is one step ahead there.
Karelin wants to improve his position but instead Abbott has moved into half guard.
Abbott lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Abbott there.
Abbott thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karelin's head.
Karelin trying to hold on to Abbott's head to control him but Abbott postures up.
Abbott missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abbott is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Karelin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Abbott scores with a couple of nice shots.
Abbott sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karelin defending well though.
Abbott prevents Karelin from improving his position.
Abbott seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Abbott trying to control the action but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Karelin is looking for a sweep. Abbott is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Abbott working over Karelin with some ground and pound. Karelin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Abbott is thwarting Karelin's attempts to control the position.
Abbott not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Abbott.
Abbott lands with a punch from half guard.
Karelin trying to control here.
Abbott wants to take a breather but Karelin is having none of it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Abbott connects with a nice short shot to Karelin's temple.
Karelin is trying to control but can't.
Karelin controlling the position for now.
Abbott working over Karelin with some ground and pound. Karelin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abbott slows the pace down in half guard.
Abbott lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Abbott slips a nice elbow through Karelin's hands, connecting with Karelin's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brenden Abbott dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brenden Abbott's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Karelin.
Abbott has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Abbott connects with a single shot there.
Abbott throws a nice inside leg kick.
A left lands for Karelin.

That has opened up Brenden Abbott's cut even more.
Karelin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Abbott.
Abbott throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice straight punches there by Abbott. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Abbott.

It looks like Vitaly Karelin has been cut.

Abbott closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abbott lands strikes from half guard.
Brenden Abbott has got the better of the ground game so far.
Abbott missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Karelin trying to hold on to Abbott's head to control him but Abbott postures up.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Karelin has hold of Abbott's hands but Abbott slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Karelin missing with punches from the bottom.
Abbott lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abbott working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Abbott lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Abbott drops an elbow to the side of Karelin's head.
Abbott drops an elbow to the side of Karelin's head.
Abbott is nestled in close to Karelin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Abbott landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Karelin keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Abbott wants to take a breather but Karelin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin tries to get to full guard but Abbott has control of the leg.
Abbott is looking to take a break and control but Karelin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karelin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Karelin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Abbott takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Abbott trying to mount his opponent but Karelin defends it.
Karelin wants to get back to full guard.
Karelin is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at LOD London BALLS OF STEEL, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Karelin wants to control but Abbott is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Abbott is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Abbott lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Karelin trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Karelin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Abbott lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Abbott is in close to Karelin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Karelin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Abbott scoring with punches to the head and body.
Karelin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Abbott postures up and lands a big shot to Karelin's brow.
Abbott loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Abbott stopping the sweep attempt from Karelin.
Karelin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Abbott trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abbott stopping the sweep attempt from Karelin.
Karelin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Abbott.
Abbott forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abbott landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Abbott is nestled in close to Karelin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Karelin is holding on to half guard well.
Karelin is not content to let Abbott control the position.
Karelin is looking to control Abbott's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Karelin avoid being mounted?
Abbott working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brenden Abbott showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Karelin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Abbott.
Karelin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Karelin misses the jab.
Karelin throws a shot from downtown. Abbott moves away and avoids it.
Abbott flicks out a counter leg kick but Karelin steps away.
Abbott throws a big shot that misses.
Abbott throws a quick inside leg kick.

Abbott scores with a takedown into Karelin's guard.
Abbott working some strikes from top position.
Abbott throws a big elbow that misses.
Karelin wants to sweep here but Abbott controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abbott throws a big right hand that misses.
Abbott throws a big elbow that misses.
Abbott lands a couple of digs.
Abbott is looking to work some ground and pound but Karelin has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Abbott manages to get himself to full guard.

Abbott looking for a sweep. Not yet Abbott, not yet.
Abbott trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Abbott thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Karelin wants to pass the guard but Abbott is keeping the position.
Abbott is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Abbott looking to control.
Abbott tries to strike from the bottom.
Abbott working a defensive guard here.
Abbott looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Karelin trying to control but Abbott is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Abbott is trying to hold Karelin in close to prevent damage but Karelin has managed to pass into half guard.
Brenden Abbott is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Karelin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Abbott gets full guard.
Karelin won't allow Abbott to sweep him here.
Karelin throwing strikes but missing.
Abbott is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin throwing strikes from guard but Abbott blocks nicely.
Karelin throwing strikes from guard but Abbott blocks nicely.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Abbott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Abbott lands a nice leg kick that just misses Karelin's sensitive parts.
Abbott throws a low kick, looking for Karelin's leg but Karelin calmly moves out of range.
Abbott lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Karelin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Karelin lands a right hook to the body.
Karelin throws a poor cross that misses
and Abbott counters with a thumping low kick.
Karelin throws a poor cross that misses
and Abbott counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Abbott uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Karelin has time to react.
Vitaly Karelin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abbott dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Karelin. That did some damage!
Abbott on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Abbott uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karelin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Abbott dives in and scores a takedown into Karelin's guard.
Abbott trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Karelin looking for a guillotine here but Abbott defends easily.
Abbott slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Karelin looking for a guillotine here but Abbott defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brenden Abbott comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Abbott has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brenden Abbott!
An out of breath Brenden Abbott thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.