PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rolf Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cameron Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas has chosen Mosh by Eminem as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Cameron Thomas is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Karlsson
vs
Thomas

197 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
265 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 New York, Rolf Karlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cameron Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Steve Montenegro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Karlsson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Thomas misses with the ground and pound.
Karlsson struggling a bit here.
Thomas misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Thomas working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas throws an elbow but Karlsson slips to the side and avoids it well.

Thomas decides to stand back up.
Thomas closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Rolf Karlsson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karlsson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Karlsson misses with an attempted mid kick.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Karlsson dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thomas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karlsson's head.
Thomas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Karlsson tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thomas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thomas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Thomas.
Karlsson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas is keen to just control but Karlsson is a slippery customer.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Karlsson to regain full guard.
Karlsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.
Karlsson is breathing heavily.
Thomas scoring with some ground and pound.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thomas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thomas postures up and lands a big shot to Karlsson's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Karlsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Karlsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thomas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Karlsson.
Thomas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thomas lands a nice forearm strike.
You can see the frustration on Karlsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands an elbow.
Thomas creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Karlsson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Thomas looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Karlsson is avoiding damage well.
Thomas is chipping away with strikes.
Thomas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thomas working away.
Thomas misses with the ground and pound.
Thomas fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas tries to score with some ground and pound. Karlsson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Thomas in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cameron Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rolf Karlsson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Karlsson throws a wild body kick that Thomas sees coming a mile off.
Karlsson throws a sloppy head kick

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown. Karlsson fights it but they end up in guard.
Thomas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thomas is pushing down on Karlsson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Karlsson is fighting to maintain full guard but Thomas has managed to sneak the leg through.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Karlsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.
Thomas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Karlsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Karlsson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karlsson defending well though.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Thomas gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.
Karlsson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thomas on the ground.
Thomas working over Karlsson with some ground and pound. Karlsson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Thomas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karlsson defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thomas throwing shots but Karlsson is blocking nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Karlsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karlsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thomas.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karlsson defending well though.
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Thomas stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson throws a head kick that misses

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Karlsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thomas lands a nice short elbow.
Karlsson tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.

Thomas gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thomas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Karlsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thomas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Karlsson has hold of Thomas's hands but Thomas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Karlsson trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.
Karlsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Karlsson dodges it nicely.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thomas wants to take a breather but Karlsson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cameron Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rolf Karlsson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Karlsson tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Karlsson.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karlsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cameron Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas looks to land a combination but Karlsson avoids it well.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Karlsson.
Karlsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas misses with a series of wild punches.
Karlsson is looking to land body kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karlsson throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Karlsson.
Karlsson throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Karlsson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karlsson throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Karlsson.
Thomas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Karlsson defends it nicely.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Karlsson.
Rolf Karlsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick misses from Karlsson.
Karlsson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Karlsson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Karlsson.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Karlsson.
Thomas throws a nice looking combination but Karlsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Karlsson lands with a kick to the temple. Thomas shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Cameron Thomas has been cut.
Thomas throws a nice looking combination but Karlsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karlsson misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson throws a head kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Rolf Karlsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cameron Thomas.
Karlsson throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Karlsson.
Karlsson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karlsson misses with a head kick.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Karlsson.

Thomas shoots in and bounces Karlsson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas cracks Karlsson with a solid left hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Karlsson is on top in guard.
Karlsson prevents Thomas from getting back to his feet.
Karlsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Karlsson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolf Karlsson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thomas 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cameron Thomas!
During a confident post fight interview, Cameron Thomas thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.