PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Magnus Svenstroem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Svenstroem
vs
Karlsson

170 cm
18
157 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Likes ground

Dark Knight Design
Lucid Nutrition

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Magnus Svenstroem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Svenstroem darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Svenstroem prevents Karlsson from improving his position.
Svenstroem wants to free his trapped foot but Karlsson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Well, if Svenstroem is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Karlsson is pressing down on Svenstroem's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Svenstroem looking to pass the guard.
Svenstroem in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svenstroem trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Svenstroem throwing strikes from guard but Karlsson blocks nicely.
Svenstroem trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Svenstroem with a nice head shot there.
Svenstroem trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Svenstroem wants to pass the guard but Karlsson is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Svenstroem tries to close the distance and clinch but Karlsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Karlsson tries for a takedown but Svenstroem circles away easily

and Svenstroem counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Svenstroem.

That's two 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.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Karlsson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Karlsson jumps guard but Svenstroem stands there with Karlsson around his waist. Karlsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Magnus Svenstroem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Karlsson.
Karlsson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Svenstroem.
Svenstroem stops a takedown attempt from Karlsson.

Svenstroem wants the takedown. Karlsson is fighting it off but Svenstroem persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Karlsson's guard against the ropes.
Svenstroem scoring with punches to the head and body.
Karlsson has momentary wrist control but Svenstroem slips an elbow through the middle.
Svenstroem sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Karlsson's guard.
Svenstroem wants to control but Karlsson is keeping him busy.
Svenstroem passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Karlsson!
Karlsson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenstroem scoring with strikes but Karlsson is staying in there.
Svenstroem in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Karlsson tries to reverse the position but Svenstroem maintains control.

Svenstroem is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Karlsson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Svenstroem goes for an armbar but Karlsson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Karlsson.
Karlsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svenstroem controls Karlsson momentarily but Karlsson frees himself.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Svenstroem throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Svenstroem wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Karlsson is now in half guard.

Karlsson is looking for a kimura but Svenstroem is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Karlsson to get the leverage.
Svenstroem gets back to full guard.

Svenstroem looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Karlsson passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice takedown defense from Karlsson. No joy for Svenstroem on that attempt.
Karlsson shoots and misses

and Svenstroem counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karlsson's guard now.
Svenstroem slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Karlsson is looking for a triangle but Svenstroem pushes his legs off easily.
Svenstroem passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Svenstroem throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Karlsson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svenstroem trying to control from half guard but Karlsson is working away.
Svenstroem thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Karlsson wants to get back to full guard.
Svenstroem wants to control but Karlsson is keeping him busy.
Karlsson has hold of Svenstroem's hands but Svenstroem slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Svenstroem working Karlsson over with strikes.
Svenstroem is looking to take a break and control but Karlsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Svenstroem is just content to waste time from the top position. Karlsson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svenstroem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Svenstroem trying to control but Karlsson is working from the bottom.
Svenstroem looking to sit in guard and control but Karlsson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Svenstroem working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Karlsson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Karlsson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Karlsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenstroem looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karlsson is one step ahead there.
Karlsson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Svenstroem's guard.

Karlsson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Svenstroem wants to control but Karlsson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Karlsson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Svenstroem is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
Svenstroem makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Svenstroem.
Karlsson won't allow Svenstroem to sweep him here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Karlsson misses with a double jab

and Svenstroem counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Svenstroem dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Svenstroem scores a takedown into full mount!
Svenstroem manages to capitalize on a mistake by Karlsson to take his back!
Karlsson covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Svenstroem is punishing Karlsson with strikes - can he finish him?!

Karlsson fending off the submission attempt from Svenstroem.
The referee is taking a good look at Karlsson as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Svenstroem!

Karlsson is rocked!
Svenstroem is working the ground and pound. Can Karlsson escape?
Karlsson is still in real trouble! Can Svenstroem finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson prevents Svenstroem from getting a body triangle.

Karlsson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Svenstroem.
Svenstroem doesn't have the hooks in and Karlsson manages to turn into his guard.
Karlsson looking to sit in guard and control but Svenstroem gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Karlsson seems to have recovered his senses.

Karlsson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Svenstroem doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Svenstroem manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Karlsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Svenstroem from controlling successfully.
Svenstroem postures up in Karlsson's guard and throws a big left but Karlsson blocks it.
Karlsson can't keep his opponent in guard - Svenstroem advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Karlsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Svenstroem.
Karlsson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Svenstroem is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Karlsson is pressing down on Svenstroem's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenstroem tries to free his leg and advance position but Karlsson is retaining full guard.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Svenstroem from controlling successfully.
Svenstroem wants to pass the guard but Karlsson is keeping the position.
Svenstroem is working hard here to advance position.
Svenstroem controlling from the top position.
Svenstroem trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Svenstroem's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Svenstroem wants to control from the top but Karlsson keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karlsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Svenstroem.
Svenstroem shoots in for a double leg but Karlsson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Karlsson looks to land a combination but Svenstroem avoids it well.
Ricky Karlsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Svenstroem tries to close the distance and clinch but Karlsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Svenstroem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Svenstroem, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Svenstroem!