PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Otto von Bismarck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Karlberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

von Bismarck
vs
Karlberg

191 cm
23
217 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Einherjer RAW Nutrition

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Otto von Bismarck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Karlberg!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlberg fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but von Bismarck avoids it really well and circles away.
von Bismarck scores with a jab. Karlberg acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
von Bismarck throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
von Bismarck clobbers Karlberg with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

von Bismarck clinches.
von Bismarck is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A nice left hand lands by von Bismarck.
Karlberg's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karlberg has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. von Bismarck is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
von Bismarck has Karlberg pressed against the cage.

von Bismarck manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
von Bismarck is trying to keep Karlberg in close.

von Bismarck throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Karlberg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
von Bismarck throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlberg throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Karlberg's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karlberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Karlberg's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

von Bismarck had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Karlberg is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. von Bismarck Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Karlberg's back instead.
von Bismarck keeps control of the position as Karlberg tries to break free.

von Bismarck is persistently looking for the submission but Karlberg is defending it well.
Karlberg tries to break free.

von Bismarck is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
von Bismarck is breathing heavily.
Karlberg can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
von Bismarck punishes Karlberg with strikes from the back mount.
Karlberg tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
von Bismarck working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Karlberg swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
von Bismarck blocks Karlberg's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Karlberg is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karlberg in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
von Bismarck tries to control but Karlberg wriggling away.
von Bismarck postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Karlberg looks a forlorn figure.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karlberg can do anything to dispel that myth.
von Bismarck can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karlberg is looking to escape.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Karlberg throws a strike from the bottom but von Bismarck uses the opportunity to take his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

von Bismarck working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
von Bismarck is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Karlberg. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Karlberg breaks von Bismarck's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
von Bismarck utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karlberg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karlberg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karlberg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Karlberg postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! von Bismarck is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Karlberg, into his guard.
von Bismarck in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
von Bismarck missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
von Bismarck advances to half guard.
Karlberg tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Karlberg tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Karlberg blocking the ground and pound attempt from von Bismarck.
von Bismarck not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
von Bismarck wants to pass the guard but Karlberg is defending well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
von Bismarck uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Karlberg has time to react.

von Bismarck looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Karlberg!
Karlberg can't escape the position.
von Bismarck lands with some strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karlberg working to try and regain half guard.
von Bismarck pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
von Bismarck with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otto von Bismarck dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Karlberg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and von Bismarck counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Karlberg!

von Bismarck working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Karlberg defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from von Bismarck.
Karlberg is looking to get to half guard.
Karlberg in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Karlberg is desperately trying to improve his position but von Bismarck has a good base and remains in mount.
Karlberg is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Otto von Bismarck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
von Bismarck blocks Karlberg's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
von Bismarck working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Karlberg bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Karlberg scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlberg is working von Bismarck over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
von Bismarck manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karlberg manages to get himself to full guard.
Karlberg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with von Bismarck. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
von Bismarck passes Karlberg's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Karlberg won't allow von Bismarck to pass to mount.
Karlberg is pressing down on von Bismarck's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Karlberg is looking for a triangle but von Bismarck pushes his legs off easily.
von Bismarck slips nicely into half guard.

von Bismarck is working for a submission of some sort.
Karlberg moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
von Bismarck thows a big elbow that misses.
von Bismarck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
von Bismarck throwing strikes from guard but Karlberg blocks nicely.
von Bismarck thows a big elbow that misses.
von Bismarck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karlberg is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Karlberg landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Karlberg is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
von Bismarck punching from the bottom.
von Bismarck has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
von Bismarck wants to control but Karlberg is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Karlberg lands with a punch from half guard.
Karlberg lands with a punch from half guard.
von Bismarck tries to get to full guard but Karlberg has control of the leg.
Karlberg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
von Bismarck is pressing down on Karlberg's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Karlberg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Karlberg postures up and lands a big shot to von Bismarck's brow.
von Bismarck manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karlberg manages to get himself to full guard.
Karlberg looking for a sweep. Not yet Karlberg, not yet.
Karlberg is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
von Bismarck is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlberg prevents von Bismarck from standing back up.
von Bismarck tries to get to full guard but Karlberg has control of the leg.
Karlberg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks von Bismarck with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Karlberg takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Karlberg seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ground and pound from Karlberg.
von Bismarck wants to control but Karlberg is keeping busy.
von Bismarck is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Karlberg scores with a couple of nice shots.
von Bismarck is looking to improve his position.
Karlberg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks von Bismarck with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Karlberg is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, von Bismarck has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Otto von Bismarck will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

von Bismarck gets in close and instigates a clinch.
von Bismarck lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
von Bismarck lands a hook that snaps the head of Karlberg backwards.
von Bismarck unloads a knee to the mid-section. Karlberg lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, von Bismarck creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

von Bismarck turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
von Bismarck cracks Karlberg with a big right hand but Karlberg just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
von Bismarck lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Karlberg down.
Karlberg misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Karlberg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karlberg wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
von Bismarck wants to control but Karlberg is keeping him busy.

von Bismarck working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Karlberg misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

von Bismarck is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Karlberg knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
von Bismarck tries to advance to mount but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karlberg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and von Bismarck counters with a nice double leg into side control. Karlberg won't be happy with that.
Karlberg sneaks back into half guard.
Karlberg wants to get back to full guard.
von Bismarck is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Karlberg slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Karlberg 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
von Bismarck slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Karlberg gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
von Bismarck is looking to take a break and control but Karlberg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karlberg misses with some strikes from the bottom.
von Bismarck trying to mount his opponent but Karlberg defends it.
Karlberg moves into full guard.
von Bismarck trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karlberg tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlberg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
von Bismarck passes into half guard.
Karlberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
von Bismarck throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Karlberg is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
von Bismarck is trying to control. Karlberg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thomas Karlberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karlberg dives in and grabs von Bismarck's left leg, looking for a takedown. von Bismarck pushes down on Karlberg's head and hops out.
von Bismarck scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Karlberg doesn't seem bothered though.
Karlberg misses with a takedown attempt
and von Bismarck counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Otto von Bismarck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Karlberg.
von Bismarck scores with the left hand. Karlberg knows he should have avoided that one.
von Bismarck tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karlberg swivels and escapes.
Karlberg shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says von Bismarck as he avoids it easily.

von Bismarck fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Karlberg sprawls well initially but von Bismarck persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
von Bismarck is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

von Bismarck decides to stand and escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
von Bismarck is looking to clinch but Karlberg is avoiding it.
Karlberg misses with a takedown attempt
and von Bismarck counters with a left and a right that stings Karlberg.
Karlberg shoots for a double leg takedown but von Bismarck sprawls well. He's pushed Karlberg's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

von Bismarck shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Karlberg is trying to defend but von Bismarck finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

von Bismarck is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Karlberg is just riding it out for now. von Bismarck eventually gives up the hold.
von Bismarck moves nicely into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karlberg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Otto von Bismarck is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
von Bismarck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Karlberg keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otto von Bismarck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well von Bismarck has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Otto von Bismarck!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Otto von Bismarck!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Otto von Bismarck!

Otto von Bismarck wins by unanimous decision!