PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Marduk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitaly Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marduk comes to the cage accompanied by Three 6 Mafia - It's A Fight. Karelin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Russian National Anthem. Craig Marduk has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Marduk
vs
Karelin

202 cm
27
280 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

183 cm
26
286 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Marduk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitaly Karelin!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin checks a leg kick.
A big left from Marduk misses.
Karelin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marduk.

Karelin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marduk looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Karelin throws a strike aimed at the side of Marduk's head but Marduk avoids it well.
Marduk wants to get back to his feet.
Karelin advances to full mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karelin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Karelin landing strikes, looking to finish!

It looks like Craig Marduk has been cut.
Marduk avoids a series of strikes thrown by Karelin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Marduk really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Karelin is landing with some decent strikes but Marduk is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Marduk is rocked!

Craig Marduk's cut is getting worse.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Vitaly Karelin!
Vitaly Karelin decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.