PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between William Bethea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Olofsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). William Bethea has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bethea
vs
Olofsson

184 cm
22
152 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
162 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Bethea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lars Olofsson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bethea throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Olofsson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bethea is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Olofsson controlling the action here.

Bethea actively working from the bottom here.
Bethea wants to get back to full guard.
Olofsson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Olofsson is working for a kimura but Bethea is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bethea is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Olofsson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bethea trying to control from the bottom.
Olofsson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bethea is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Olofsson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Olofsson's back!

Bethea is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Olofsson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Bethea's guard. Nice work there by Olofsson.
Olofsson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bethea is on top in guard.
Olofsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bethea passes Olofsson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bethea is breathing heavily.
Olofsson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Bethea sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Olofsson defending well though.
Bethea is looking to take a break and control but Olofsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olofsson trying to control but Bethea postures up.
Olofsson is pressing down on Bethea's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bethea passes into half guard.
Olofsson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Olofsson manages to get to full guard.
Olofsson pulls Bethea in close to his closed guard and prevents Bethea from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Lars Olofsson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Olofsson closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Olofsson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bethea smiles and moves away.
Bethea misses with an uppercut. Olofsson saw that one coming.
Bethea pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Olofsson clinches with his opponent.
Bethea is pressed up against the cage. Olofsson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bethea down to the mat. Bethea avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bethea lands a two punch combo.
Bethea misses with a body shot.

Olofsson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Olofsson controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Olofsson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Olofsson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Olofsson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Bethea has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Olofsson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Olofsson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Olofsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bethea is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Olofsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Olofsson stays in close to Bethea's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Lars Olofsson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Olofsson shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bethea doesn't manage to clinch there - Olofsson circles away.
Bethea tests Olofsson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bethea misses with a takedown

and Olofsson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bethea won't be happy with that.
Bethea throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Olofsson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Bethea is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Olofsson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Olofsson is working for a guillotine from mount but Bethea frees his head quite easily.
Bethea is trying desperately to improve position.
Bethea is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olofsson controlling from mount.
Bethea wants to control but Olofsson is having none of it.
Bethea regains half guard.
Bethea really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Olofsson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bethea knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bethea manages to get to full guard.

Bethea looking for a guillotine here but Olofsson defends easily.
Olofsson preventing the sweep.

Bethea working for a triangle but Olofsson defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olofsson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bethea being controlled for a moment.
Olofsson trying to control the action but Bethea is working from the bottom.
Bethea sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bethea is trying to get back to full guard.
Olofsson is taking a breather. Bethea says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bethea gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bethea working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Olofsson has passed into half guard!
Bethea is trying to get back to full guard.
Bethea missing with punches from the bottom.
Bethea blocking the ground and pound attempt from Olofsson.
Bethea regains full guard. Nicely done.

Bethea looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Olofsson has picked Bethea up and slammed him! Bethea can't keep hold of the triangle and Olofsson manages to pass to side control!
Lars Olofsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Olofsson advances nicely into full mount.
Bethea slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Bethea looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bethea is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Olofsson seems content to control.
Bethea tries to get to full guard but Olofsson has control of the leg.

Bethea looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Olofsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Olofsson shoots for a takedown but Bethea saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Bethea fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Olofsson sprawls well initially but Bethea persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bethea connects with a nice short shot to Olofsson's temple.
Olofsson is trying to get back to full guard.
Bethea trying to pass the guard but Olofsson defending well.
Bethea throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Olofsson wants to control but Bethea is keeping busy.

Bethea is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Olofsson is just riding it out for now. Bethea eventually gives up the hold.
Olofsson moves into full guard.
Olofsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bethea pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Olofsson is keeping the position for now.
Bethea wants to get up but he can't break Olofsson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bethea misses with a double jab

and Olofsson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bethea!
Bethea can't escape the position.
Olofsson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bethea is looking to escape.
Bethea is wriggling around trying to escape.
Olofsson tries to control but Bethea wriggling away.
Bethea bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Olofsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bethea is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bethea wants to control from the top but Olofsson keeps moving.
Bethea pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Olofsson is keeping the position for now.
Bethea won't allow Olofsson to sweep him here.
Olofsson has his hands on Bethea's head, controlling the position.
Olofsson trying to control the position.
Bethea cracks Olofsson with a solid left hand.
Bethea is pushing down on Olofsson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Olofsson is fighting to maintain full guard but Bethea has managed to sneak the leg through.
Olofsson moves into full guard.
Bethea wants to control from the top but Olofsson keeps moving.
Olofsson is controlling Bethea's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bethea drops back looking for a leg! Olofsson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Olofsson manages to kick Bethea off! Bethea jumps back into Olofsson's guard.
Olofsson pulls Bethea in close to prevent any damage.
Bethea pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Olofsson is keeping the position for now.
Olofsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bethea wants to control but Olofsson is keeping busy.
William Bethea has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Bethea is trying to get back to full guard.
Olofsson is looking to take a break and control but Bethea is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bethea gets back to full guard.
Olofsson sitting in guard here, content to control.

Bethea throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Olofsson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Lars Olofsson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bethea looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Olofsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Olofsson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Olofsson!