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RIO PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 22 wins and 8 losses; Helio Karelin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of London, with a TWGC record of 38 wins and 15 losses; Rickson Hozdic!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Hozdic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Karelin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hozdic gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Karelin to score an easy takedown into full guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Karelin (2) vs (0) Hozdic
Karelin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Karelin being controlled here momentarily.
Karelin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've been hearing good reports from Karelin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hozdic seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Karelin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hozdic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Karelin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hozdic for as long as he can get away with.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Hozdic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hozdic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hozdic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Karelin controls the pace.
Karelin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hozdic is keeping the position for now.
Hozdic pulls Karelin in close to prevent any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Hozdic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hozdic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karelin is one step ahead there.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Hozdic keeps moving.
Karelin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Karelin looking to pass the guard.
Karelin stays in close to Hozdic's body and controls the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hozdic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hozdic keeping full guard, as Karelin tries to pass.
Karelin passes Hozdic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Karelin prevents Hozdic from improving his position.
Karelin wants to pass the guard but Hozdic is defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Karelin in particular looking to stall.
Hozdic won't allow Karelin to pass to mount.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to control from half guard but Hozdic is working away.
Karelin stalling.
Hozdic keeping hold of Karelin's head, controlling as best he can.
Hozdic regains full guard. Nicely done.
Our spies down at at HELLCADEMY inform us that Hozdic has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Karelin stays in close to Hozdic's body and controls the position.
Karelin preventing the sweep.
Hozdic is controlling Karelin's posture.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Karelin forces his way into half guard.
Karelin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hozdic trying to hold on to Karelin's head to control him but Karelin postures up.
Hozdic is in trouble now - Karelin has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Karelin (5) vs (0) Hozdic
Hozdic is working to get back to half guard.
Hozdic is controlling an arm, preventing Karelin from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Hozdic working to try and regain half guard.
Hozdic keeps trying to improve his position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Karelin controlling his opponent.
Hozdic prevents Karelin from taking his back.
Karelin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Karelin wants to take Hozdic's back here but Hozdic is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Karelin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Karelin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hozdic regains half guard.
Karelin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hozdic works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hozdic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Karelin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Karelin is looking to pass into half guard but Hozdic pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hozdic is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Karelin (5) vs (2) Hozdic
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Hozdic from controlling successfully.
Karelin trying to control the position here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Hozdic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karelin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karelin is adopting a defensive guard.
Hozdic stopping the sweep attempt from Karelin.
Karelin is pulling down on Hozdic's head to control his posture.
Karelin working a defensive guard here.
Karelin 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.
Karelin is working hard here to advance position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Karelin working a defensive guard but Hozdic manages to pass into side control anyway.
Score +3 for passing guard: Karelin (5) vs (5) Hozdic
The referee asks Hozdic politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hozdic prefers to stall for the moment though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Karelin struggling a bit here.
Karelin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hozdic off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Karelin (9) vs (5) Hozdic
Hozdic just trying to survive but Karelin is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
What can Hozdic do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
I really don't envy Hozdic right now.
Karelin is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Karelin continues to stall.
Hozdic tries to escape the position.
Hozdic is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Karelin.
Hozdic is in bad spot here.
Karelin is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Karelin'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.
Karelin wants to control but Hozdic manages to buck him off and is now in Karelin's guard! Nice work there by Hozdic! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Karelin (9) vs (7) Hozdic
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is pulling down on Hozdic's head to control his posture.
Karelin trying to keep a closed guard but Hozdic is proving a slippery customer.
Karelin is really struggling to control Hozdic but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hozdic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Karelin is trying to keep Hozdic in close.
Hozdic being controlled here momentarily.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to control the position.
Karelin has control of Hozdic's left arm, preventing Hozdic from doing any damage.
Hozdic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Karelin has his hands on Hozdic's head, controlling the position.
Hozdic stopping the sweep attempt from Karelin.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Karelin controlling Hozdic's posture.
Karelin is trying to control the position but Hozdic postures up.
Karelin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hozdic is one step ahead there.
Karelin looking to control but Hozdic passes into half guard.
Karelin is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hozdic in particular looking to stall.
Karelin wants to control but Hozdic is keeping busy.
And that's the end of the fight!
Karelin takes the fight on points by 9 to 7.
Helio Karelin is the new heavyweight champion! |
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