PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henry Akinwande (ranked 142 p4p, 315 weight class) and Ruslan Karelin (ranked 24 p4p, 50 weight class). Henry Akinwande has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Akinwande
vs
Karelin

197 cm
23
250
10 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
280
6 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Sydney Fight Gear (London Rebirth)

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henry Akinwande!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ruslan Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin clobbers Akinwande with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Karelin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Karelin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Karelin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Akinwande throws a front kick that sends Karelin stumbling back into the cage.
Karelin throws a lazy uppercut
and Akinwande connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Ruslan Karelin has been cut.
A jab lands there for Akinwande.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Karelin.
Decent striking displayed by Karelin there.
Akinwande catches Karelin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akinwande uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Karelin.
Akinwande thumps Karelin with a low kick.
Karelin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Akinwande jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And Karelin tries to counter it with a takedown but Akinwande pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Karelin misses the body punch
and Akinwande counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Karelin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Akinwande.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Akinwande jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Akinwande throws a body punch but Karelin moves out of range.
Karelin throws a right hand that misses
and Karelin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Akinwande gets caught napping as Karelin dives in and scores a takedown. Akinwande manages to retain guard.
Karelin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Akinwande is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Karelin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Karelin throwing strikes but missing.
Karelin throwing strikes from guard but Akinwande blocks nicely.
Karelin throws a strike but Akinwande rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Karelin pulls Akinwande in close to his closed guard and prevents Akinwande from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akinwande trying to stand up but can't free himself from Karelin's guard.
Karelin is controlling Akinwande's posture.
Karelin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Akinwande has passed into side control.
Karelin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karelin keeps trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Karelin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Karelin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin wants to control but Akinwande postures up.
Akinwande wants to stand but Karelin has his arm trapped.
Karelin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Akinwande wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Karelin can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akinwande tries to stand but Karelin is controlling his head.
Karelin is looking for a sweep.
Akinwande tries to stand but Karelin is controlling his head.
Karelin is trying to control Akinwande's posture but Akinwande avoids it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Karelin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karelin throws a body shot but no joy.
Karelin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akinwande.
Karelin misses with a body shot.
Karelin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Akinwande throws a jab but it's blocked by Karelin.
Karelin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Akinwande on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Akinwande moves out of range as Karelin strikes.
Karelin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Karelin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That has opened up Ruslan Karelin's cut even more.
Nice uppercut there from Karelin.
Karelin misses with an uppercut
and Karelin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Akinwande throws a body punch but Karelin moves out of range.

Karelin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Akinwande sprawls well initially but Karelin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Karelin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Akinwande dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ruslan Karelin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akinwande misses with the combination.
Akinwande slaps away a takedown attempt from Karelin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch lands to the side of Karelin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A decent looking cross lands there for Karelin.
Karelin throws a right hand that misses
and Akinwande counters with a nice uppercut.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Akinwande here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Karelin throws a big shot that misses.
Akinwande is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karelin can do to turn this around?
Karelin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Karelin walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akinwande fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Karelin.
Henry Akinwande is winning the standup battle so far.
Akinwande wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A jab from Akinwande misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karelin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karelin misses with a hook to the body
and Akinwande counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

The cut above Ruslan Karelin's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akinwande walks into a jab.
Good exchange - Akinwande coming out on top.
Karelin defending well as Akinwande loads up on a big left hand.
Akinwande uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Akinwande lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Ruslan Karelin's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Henry Akinwande!
Henry Akinwande thanked the fans post fight for their support.