PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Karelin (ranked 4084 p4p, 3506 weight class) and Maxim Ibragimov Ii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maxim Ibragimov Ii is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Karelin
vs
Ibragimov Ii

192 cm
18
265
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
274
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Ibragimov Ii!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibragimov Ii shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Karelin pinned against the cage. Karelin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Karelin gets a double leg takedown into Ibragimov Ii's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ibragimov Ii is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ibragimov Ii stops Karelin from getting back to his feet.
Karelin is looking to improve his position.
Ibragimov Ii looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Karelin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ibragimov Ii.
Karelin wants to get back to his feet.
Karelin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ibragimov Ii on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibragimov Ii working the head and body with strikes.
Ibragimov Ii is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ibragimov Ii is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibragimov Ii missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Karelin wants to get back to his feet.
Karelin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ibragimov Ii.
Ibragimov Ii passes to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ibragimov Ii with a couple of short strikes.
Ibragimov Ii is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Karelin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ibragimov Ii with the ground and pound from mount.
Karelin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ibragimov Ii landing strikes from the mount.
Karelin is bucking up trying to escape but Ibragimov Ii cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ibragimov Ii scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Karelin?
Karelin is looking to get to half guard.
Ibragimov Ii postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Karelin looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibragimov Ii looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

It looks like Aleksandr Karelin has been cut.
Ibragimov Ii working the ground and pound effectively.
Ibragimov Ii working Karelin over with strikes here.
Ibragimov Ii scoring with strikes but Karelin is staying in there.
Karelin is bucking up trying to escape but Ibragimov Ii cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Karelin is rocked!
Karelin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Karelin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Karelin's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Ibragimov Ii in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Oh Karelin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Karelin takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Ibragimov Ii's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Maxim Ibragimov Ii!
Our winner, Maxim Ibragimov Ii, 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.