PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommie Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommie Karlsson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Henry
vs
Karlsson

184 cm
20
179 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommie Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Henry circles away quickly and effectively.
Karlsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Henry as he avoids it easily.
Henry misses with a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Henry.

Karlsson moves into the clinch successfully.
Henry stops a takedown attempt from Karlsson.
Karlsson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henry walks away with a smile on his face. Karlsson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
John Henry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommie Karlsson.
Karlsson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Karlsson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Henry throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Henry throws a head kick but Karlsson moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henry is defended easily by Karlsson.

Henry has Karlsson up against the cage in a clinch.

Karlsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt - Karlsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck for Karlsson with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Karlsson.
Henry swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Henry connects with a high kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Karlsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Henry wants to clinch.
Karlsson tries for a takedown but Henry circles away easily

and Henry holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Karlsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henry has him pressed against the cage.
Karlsson stalling the fight.
Karlsson looks gassed!

Henry breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Karlsson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Henry but Henry pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Karlsson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henry pinned against the cage. Henry gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Henry scores with a four punch combination!

Henry instigates a clinch.

Henry manages to break the clinch.
Henry scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Henry lands a head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henry.
Henry throws a head kick but Karlsson moves out of range.
John Henry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henry throws a head kick that Karlsson semi-blocks.
Henry moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Henry lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Henry closes the distance and clinches.

Henry breaks from the clinch.
Henry lands a high kick!
Henry throws a combination. Karlsson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Henry lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Henry looks to clinch
and Karlsson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Henry bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Karlsson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Karlsson parries the strikes from Henry easily there. Henry is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Karlsson to escape.
Karlsson is trying to control Henry's posture but Henry avoids it.
Henry in side control, throwing shots but Karlsson defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Henry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henry scores with a couple of short elbows.
Karlsson is looking to regain half guard here but Henry keeps moving and retains side control.

Henry decides to stand back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henry lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Henry has Karlsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Henry with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karlsson is trying desperately to land a takedown but Henry is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Karlsson.
Henry wants a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
With the fighters up against the cage, Karlsson throws an elbow but misses.
Henry keeps control of Karlsson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Henry escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henry lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Henry dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Henry clinches up with Karlsson and pushes him back against the cage.
Henry is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Karlsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Henry tries to clinch there but Karlsson circles away.
Henry misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Karlsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Karlsson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Karlsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Karlsson blocks a head kick by Henry.
John Henry is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry swats away the attempt to clinch by Karlsson.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Henry throws a head kick that half lands.
Henry is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karlsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henry swats him away and circles back towards the center.
John Henry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry throws a sloppy head kick

and Karlsson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karlsson.
Karlsson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Henry's head.
Henry trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Henry pushes Karlsson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Henry has his takedown stuffed

so Karlsson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Henry. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karlsson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Karlsson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Karlsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Henry is retaining full guard.
Karlsson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henry is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Karlsson is trying to stand back up but Henry is controlling him

Henry wants to work for an arm triangle but Karlsson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Henry thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Karlsson wants to control but Henry is keeping busy.

Karlsson looking for submissions off his back.
Henry throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karlsson looking for submissions off his back.
Henry throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Henry shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Karlsson tries to keep at a distance but Henry has taken the fight into the clinch.
Karlsson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Henry manages to break the clinch.
Henry scores with a head kick.

Karlsson tries to keep at a distance but Henry has taken the fight into the clinch.
Karlsson misses with a punch on the inside.

Henry escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karlsson has his takedown stuffed
and Henry counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henry shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Karlsson won't allow Henry to pass to mount.
Henry thows a huge punch but Karlsson dodges it nicely.
Henry seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Karlsson is pressing down on Henry's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Henry working some strikes from top position.
Karlsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Karlsson, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Henry lands a high kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tommie Karlsson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Henry changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karlsson tries to avoid it but Henry manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karlsson to the ground. Karlsson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Karlsson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Henry wants to break free but Karlsson has control.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Karlsson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Karlsson fails to pull guard.

Henry has Karlsson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Henry pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Karlsson tumbling to the mat - Henry dives into Karlsson's guard.
Henry wants to stand but Karlsson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Henry wants to stand and escape but instead Karlsson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karlsson sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson advances position into side control!

Karlsson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Henry throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Tommie Karlsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henry prevents Karlsson from moving into mount.
Henry is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Henry is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Henry is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Karlsson is controlling him well.
An elbow from Karlsson crashes against the mat.
Henry gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Karlsson is trying to control. Henry wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henry fails with an attempt to clinch.

Henry clinches up with Karlsson and pushes him back against the cage.

Henry breaks the clinch.
Henry jabs at Karlsson's body.
Karlsson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Karlsson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Henry tries to clinch but Karlsson moves out of range.
Henry throws a lazy head kick
and Karlsson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry throws a sloppy head kick

and Karlsson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karlsson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karlsson thows a big elbow that misses.
Henry trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Karlsson pushes down on Henry's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Karlsson blocks the strikes from Henry.
Henry gets back to full guard.
Karlsson slips nicely into half guard.
Henry connecting with a few gentle strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson trying to control the action but Henry is working from the bottom.
Henry looks like he's trying to stand up.

Karlsson is working for a submission of some sort.
Henry misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Karlsson trying to control the action but Henry is working from the bottom.
Henry misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Henry is looking for a sweep. Karlsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommie Karlsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Karlsson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!