PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dasha Karimov (ranked 126 p4p, 20 weight class) and Lauri Pekkarinen (ranked 203 p4p, 32 weight class). Karimov comes to the cage accompanied by ACDC - Hells Bells. Pekkarinen has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Lauri Pekkarinen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Dasha Karimov's chin.

Karimov
vs
Pekkarinen

185 cm
31
193 lbs
25 - 9 - 1

188 cm
30
193 lbs
17 - 4 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing
FORCEE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dasha Karimov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lauri Pekkarinen!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karimov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pekkarinen can pounce on him.
Karimov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Brazilian Elite Team in the buildup to the fight.
Karimov lands with a thumping leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pekkarinen.
Pekkarinen throws a jab when Karimov was well out of range.
Pekkarinen blocks a head kick by Karimov.
Karimov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pekkarinen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Lauri Pekkarinen has been cut.
Karimov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pekkarinen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Pekkarinen misses with a wild body shot.
Karimov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pekkarinen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karimov lands with a hook. Pekkarinen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Karimov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A swing and a miss from Karimov.
It seemed like Pekkarinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Some bone on bone action there as Karimov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
The fighters circling - Karimov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice jab there from Pekkarinen.
Karimov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pekkarinen's corner calls for a 1-2. Pekkarinen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Karimov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkarinen looks to land a right hand but Karimov moved out of range.
A good leg kick by Karimov.
Karimov is looking to chop away at Pekkarinen's legs.
Pekkarinen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Karimov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pekkarinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pekkarinen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Karimov misses with a low kick.
Karimov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Karimov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Pekkarinen wants to slow Karimov down by chopping away at his legs.
Karimov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pekkarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pekkarinen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Karimov.
Pekkarinen has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Karimov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Karimov.
Pekkarinen looks to throw the jab but Karimov is out of range.
As Pekkarinen tries to get set, Karimov tries to push him back and clinch up but Pekkarinen manages to avoid the attempt.
Pekkarinen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Karimov moves into the clinch.
Karimov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pekkarinen backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karimov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pekkarinen backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karimov struggles to land a body shot inside as Pekkarinen controls his hands.
Karimov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Karimov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Karimov fails to land.
Karimov tries to land a knee to the head but Pekkarinen blocks with his arms.
Karimov prevents Pekkarinen from breaking the clinch.
Karimov blocks an uppercut.
Karimov misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pekkarinen.
Karimov lands with a left to the head.
Pekkarinen tries to break free but Karimov pushes him back against the cage.
Pekkarinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pekkarinen is working Karimov over against the cage.
Pekkarinen blocks an uppercut.
Karimov connects with a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karimov.
Karimov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karimov can't find room to land a body shot as Pekkarinen controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pekkarinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karimov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pekkarinen doesn't seem bothered though.
Pekkarinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Pekkarinen checks the leg kick.
Karimov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pekkarinen throws a right and a left that Karimov avoids nicely.
Karimov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pekkarinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pekkarinen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Pekkarinen tries a low kick but Karimov avoids it.
Pekkarinen misses with a body shot
and Karimov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pekkarinen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A head kick misses from Pekkarinen.
Karimov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pekkarinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pekkarinen misses the shot to the body.
Karimov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pekkarinen.
Karimov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A punch combination from Karimov misses.
Karimov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pekkarinen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Karimov's hands.
Karimov lands a glancing blow to the side of Pekkarinen's head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Karimov. That's going to slow Pekkarinen down.
Karimov misses with a low kick as Pekkarinen jumps back.
Pekkarinen ducks under a wild hook from Karimov.
Karimov connects with a crisp jab.
Karimov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Karimov checks a leg kick.
Karimov connects with a body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pekkarinen, right into the meat.
Karimov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pekkarinen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Karimov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donk. Karimov catches Pekkarinen right on the button with a cross.
Pekkarinen throws a sloppy head kick and Karimov moves out of range easily.
Pekkarinen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
As Pekkarinen backs away, Karimov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Pekkarinen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Karimov checks it well.
Karimov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dasha Karimov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lauri Pekkarinen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karimov misses with a wild body shot.
Karimov tries to clinch but Pekkarinen moves out of range.
Karimov misses with a body kick.
Pekkarinen throws a hook but Karimov blocks it.
Pekkarinen digs a good hook to Karimov's body.
Pekkarinen feints and then cracks Karimov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Karimov down.
Karimov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pekkarinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Karimov.
Despite the aggression on Pekkarinen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Karimov throws a leg kick but Pekkarinen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pekkarinen is looking for the big counter here.
Karimov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pekkarinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karimov was well out of range. Poor timing from Pekkarinen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karimov. Pekkarinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Karimov wants to clinch
and Pekkarinen counters with a low kick, right behind Karimov 's knee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pekkarinen cracks Karimov with a good jab.
Karimov tries to work over Pekkarinen's front leg with a kick but Pekkarinen checks it.
Karimov thuds a left hand into Pekkarinen's body.
Karimov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pekkarinen misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkarinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karimov.
Karimov fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Karimov misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Pekkarinen in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Karimov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pekkarinen throws a fast counter high kick but Karimov manages to duck under it in time.
Karimov misses with a hook.
Pekkarinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Karimov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Pekkarinen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Karimov tries to close the distance and clinch but Pekkarinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Pekkarinen misses.
Karimov is looking to counter punch.
Pekkarinen with a jab.
Karimov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Karimov rushes Pekkarinen and presses him up against the cage.

Pekkarinen manages to break the clinch.
Karimov tries to clinch but Pekkarinen is having none of it.
Karimov throws out a powerful jab.
Pekkarinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Karimov. Karimov obviously looking to wear him down.
Pekkarinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pekkarinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pekkarinen throws a right hand that Karimov ducks under and follows up with a left that Karimov also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karimov connects with a solid leg kick.
Pekkarinen looks to throw the jab but Karimov is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Pekkarinen.
Karimov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karimov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Karimov slips under a jab from Pekkarinen.
Karimov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pekkarinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Karimov.
It seemed like Pekkarinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pekkarinen swings widly with a right hand

and Karimov moves into the clinch.
Pekkarinen digs a right hand underneath Karimov's ribcage. Karimov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Karimov tries to throw a body punch but Pekkarinen avoids it by throwing Karimov back against the cage.

Pekkarinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pekkarinen swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karimov closes the distance but Pekkarinen moves to the side
and Pekkarinen counters with a good low kick that Karimov was not able to check.
Karimov throws a lazy body kick
enabling Pekkarinen to counter with a crisp jab.
Pekkarinen throws a series of punches but Karimov moves out of range.
Karimov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Karimov throws a body punch but Pekkarinen moves out of range.
Pekkarinen looks to land a right hand but Karimov moved out of range.
Pekkarinen is looking to chop away at Karimov's legs.
Karimov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Karimov forces Pekkarinen back against the cage and clinches.
Pekkarinen takes a shot to the head.
Pekkarinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Pekkarinen has a couple of punches blocked by Karimov.
Karimov blocking some punches.
Karimov misses with a body punch.
Pekkarinen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pekkarinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dasha Karimov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short left from Pekkarinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pekkarinen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Karimov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Karimov presses Pekkarinen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Pekkarinen is breathing heavily.
Karimov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Karimov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Karimov lands a good knee to the midsection. Pekkarinen won't want to take too many of those.
Karimov lands with a short shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Karimov.
A nice left hand lands by Karimov.
Karimov misses with a punch to the body.
Karimov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That has opened up Lauri Pekkarinen's cut even more.
Karimov scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Pekkarinen is rocked!
Karimov lands with a right to the head.
Pekkarinen is still on wobbly legs! Can Karimov finish him?
Karimov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Karimov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karimov lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Pekkarinen to his knees! Karimov keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dasha Karimov!
A pretty intense looking Dasha Karimov took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.