PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Westbrook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mat Karim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Westbrook
vs
Karim

192 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
235 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Westbrook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mat Karim!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Westbrook throws a sloppy head kick and Karim moves out of range easily.
Westbrook wants to clinch but Karim slips to the side
and Karim counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick by Westbrook misses
and Karim connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karim shoots in looking for a takedown. Westbrook tries to sprawl out of it but Karim keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Westbrook manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Westbrook wants to clinch but Karim slips to the side

and Karim decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Westbrook's guard.
Westbrook keeping full guard, as Karim tries to pass.
Westbrook wants to get back to his feet but Karim is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Westbrook wriggles free and stands up.
Karim looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Westbrook wants to clinch but Karim slips to the side

and Karim counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Westbrook is trying to keep Karim in close.
Westbrook looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karim is one step ahead there.
Karim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Westbrook is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westbrook trying to control the position.
Karim trying to control the position from guard on top but Westbrook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Westbrook has his hands on Karim's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kevin Westbrook.
Westbrook wants to clinch but Karim slips to the side

so Karim counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Karim must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Westbrook had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Karim defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Westbrook is on top in guard.

Westbrook avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karim tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Karim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Westbrook tries to stand but Karim is controlling from the bottom.

Karim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Westbrook can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karim looks gassed!

Westbrook gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook throws a combination that misses

and Karim counters with a takedown into side control.
Westbrook is working to avoid the ground and pound but Karim connects with a decent elbow.
Westbrook wants to control but Karim postures up.
Westbrook is looking to reverse the position.
Westbrook looking for a sweep but Karim has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Westbrook is trying to escape the mount.

Karim has hold of Westbrook's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Westbrook manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Westbrook tries to lock up and control but Karim gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Karim avoids the attempt from Westbrook to control.
Westbrook is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Westbrook wants to hold on but Karim pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Westbrook is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Karim is working for a guillotine from mount but Westbrook frees his head quite easily.
Karim controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mat Karim dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Westbrook tries to clinch

and Karim counters with a shoot takedown. Westbrook fights it but they end up in guard.
Karim stands and throws Westbrook's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Westbrook struggling a bit here.

Karim is trying to get an arm triangle but Westbrook is defending well.
Westbrook is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Karim is controlling him well.

Karim stands up.
Sloppy strikes from Westbrook. Those never looked like landing.
Kevin Westbrook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karim is breathing heavily.
Westbrook moves to clinch but Karim breaks away

and Karim counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Westbrook's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westbrook wants to sweep here but Karim controlling him for the moment.
Westbrook wants to stand but Karim is controlling the position.
Karim postures up.
Westbrook has control of Karim's left arm, preventing Karim from doing any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Kevin Westbrook wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Karim circles away from the clinch attempt

and Karim counters with a single leg into guard. Westbrook didn't expect that.

Westbrook is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karim tries to pull guard but Westbrook holds him up against the cage and eventually Karim drops back down to his feet.
Westbrook landing knees to the head.
Westbrook is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Westbrook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karim is defending well for now.
Westbrook tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karim avoids it.
Westbrook dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Westbrook tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Westbrook taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Westbrook gets underhooks to prevent Karim's takedown attempt.
Westbrook slows down the pace here.
Westbrook tries to land a knee to the head but Karim blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook misses with a knee strike.
Westbrook landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Westbrook lands a knee to the head.
Westbrook tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Westbrook with a knee to the head.
Westbrook is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karim is defending well for now.
Westbrook missing with knees to the body.
Karim drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kevin Westbrook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mat Karim.
Westbrook gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karim.
Westbrook tries to land a knee to the head but Karim blocks with his arms.
Westbrook looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Westbrook landing knees to the body.
Karim tries for a takedown but Westbrook manages to get underhooks.
Westbrook lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Karim tries for a takedown. No joy.
Westbrook connects with a nasty looking knee right to Karim's face.
Westbrook taking a breather.
Westbrook tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Westbrook trying to land knees to the body.
Westbrook missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Westbrook crunches a lovely knee into Karim's ribcage.
Westbrook looking to throw knees to the head but Karim is blocking nicely.
Westbrook looking to stall.
Karim looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mat Karim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Karim takes the fight into the clinch.
Westbrook misses with a knee to the head.
Westbrook missing with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Westbrook.
Karim on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Westbrook landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Westbrook has Karim pushed against the cage.
Westbrook lands a good knee to the midsection. Karim won't want to take too many of those.
Westbrook tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Westbrook misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karim managing to block the knees to the body from Westbrook.
Karim with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Karim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Westbrook taking a breather.
Westbrook tries a knee to the head but Karim blocks it.
Westbrook taking a breather.
Westbrook avoids a wild elbow strike from Karim.

Karim gets control of Westbrook's arms and successfully pulls guard. Karim will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Westbrook got a little sloppy there for a moment and Karim has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Westbrook has managed to get both his arms back between Karim's legs - danger averted.
Westbrook wanted to stand there but Karim had control of the position.

Karim working for a triangle but Westbrook defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karim working for a triangle but Westbrook defends it easily.

Westbrook stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kevin Westbrook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook lets loose with a powerful body kick. Karim will feel that in the morning.
A head kick misses from Westbrook.
Westbrook tries to clinch up but Karim circles away and keeps his distance.
Westbrook wants to clinch.
Westbrook tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Karim counters with a one-two to the body.
Westbrook tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Westbrook looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Westbrook lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Westbrook wants to clinch.
Westbrook tries to close the distance and clinch but Karim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Westbrook looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Karim blocks the body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Westbrook throws a leg kick which misses Karim's front leg but catches the back leg as Karim tries to avoid it.
Westbrook is looking to clinch.
Kevin Westbrook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mat Karim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Westbrook lands a big head kick that sends Karim tumbling to the mat! Westbrook takes a step backwards and waves Karim back to his feet - he wants the finish!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Westbrook showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Karim 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mat Karim!