PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keith Higham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karpo Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Higham
vs
Karelin

200 cm
22
215 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

184 cm
23
219 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 Cardio

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Keith Higham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Karpo Karelin!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Higham connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Higham lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Higham lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Higham.
Higham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karelin.
Karelin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Higham sprawls well. Higham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karelin gets slowly back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Higham pushes Karelin back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Higham breaks the clinch.
Higham changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Higham throws a leg kick but Karelin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Higham motions for Karelin to come forward. Higham throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Higham rushes Karelin and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Higham breaks the clinch.
Higham is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Higham slips a jab from Karelin.
Higham throws a good cross that connects.
Karelin shoots in for a takedown but Higham shows good takedown defense.
Keith Higham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karpo Karelin.
Karelin looks gassed!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Higham gets through Karelin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Higham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Higham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin shoots for a takedown but Higham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Higham clinches up against the ropes.
Karelin fails to pull guard.

Higham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Higham connects with a looping right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Higham. That snapped Karelin's head back.
Karelin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Higham fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Higham has taken the fight to the clinch.

Higham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Higham looks to land a combination. Karelin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice combination there by Higham.

Karelin is rocked!

Higham decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Karelin is refusing to be controlled, as Higham sits in half guard.

Higham has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Karelin defend it? Higham steps over the head and cranks it - Karelin is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Higham!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Keith Higham!