PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnathan Lowery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magnus Karlsson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Johnathan Lowery's chin.

Lowery
vs
Karlsson

201 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

207 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johnathan Lowery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magnus Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lowery defends it nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Karlsson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Karlsson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nice body punch from Karlsson.
Karlsson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Karlsson pulls guard successfully.

Karlsson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lowery not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lowery stops Karlsson from standing up.

Lowery is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lowery wants to control from the top but Karlsson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson trying to control the position.
Karlsson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lowery is fighting to break Karlsson's control of his arms but Karlsson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Magnus Karlsson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lowery slaps away a takedown attempt from Karlsson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Johnathan Lowery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnus Karlsson.
Karlsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lowery as he avoids it easily.
Karlsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lowery tries to avoid it but Karlsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lowery to the ground. Lowery escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Karlsson enables Lowery to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Karlsson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Karlsson looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson looking to control.
Lowery in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lowery sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Lowery from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Lowery avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lowery throwing strikes from guard but Karlsson blocks nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lowery stays in close to Karlsson's body and controls the position.
Karlsson wants to stand up but Lowery is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowery working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lowery is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Karlsson pushes Lowery off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Karlsson thuds a left hand into Lowery's body.

Lowery closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Karlsson did well to prevent Lowery getting side control.
Lowery controlling the pace.
Lowery not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lowery stops Karlsson from getting back to his feet.
Karlsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lowery.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet.

Karlsson pushes Lowery off and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karlsson stuffs the takedown attempt from Lowery. Lowery gets slowly back to his feet.
Karlsson closes the distance but Lowery moves to the side
and Lowery counters with a two punch combo.
Karlsson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Good shot there by Karlsson.
Karlsson leaves Lowery with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Karlsson shoots for a double leg takedown but Lowery sprawls well. He's pushed Karlsson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karlsson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lowery.
Nice sprawl there from Lowery as Karlsson shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Magnus Karlsson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Lowery's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lowery has closed the distance and engaged Karlsson in a clinch.
Karlsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lowery jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Karlsson walks away with a smile on his face. Lowery gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Karlsson shoots in and drives through. Lowery sprawls well.
Karlsson wants to clinch.
Lowery shoots in for a takedown but Karlsson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lowery slaps away a takedown attempt from Karlsson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Karlsson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnathan Lowery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnus Karlsson.
Karlsson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Karlsson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowery tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karlsson swivels and escapes.
Karlsson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lowery sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Karlsson somewhat.
Karlsson has a takedown stuffed.
Karlsson is looking to clinch.
Karlsson shoots for a double leg takedown but Lowery sprawls well. He's pushed Karlsson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lowery looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lowery shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Karlsson as he jumps to the side.
Karlsson misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowery fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Karlsson avoids it really well and circles away.
Karlsson misses with a series of wild punches.
Karlsson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lowery swivels and escapes.
Lowery dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lowery tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karlsson swivels and escapes.
Karlsson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Karlsson tries for a takedown but Lowery circles away easily
and Lowery counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowery darts in looking for a takedown but Karlsson gets double underhooks and turns Lowery into the cage.
Lowery keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karlsson's efforts to push away.
Karlsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Karlsson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lowery after a bit of a struggle.
Lowery tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karlsson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Karlsson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Lowery lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Karlsson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lowery fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Karlsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lowery paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Karlsson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Karlsson darts in trying to clinch
and Lowery counters with a straight right hand.
Lowery fails to land the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lowery displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karlsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Magnus Karlsson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Lowery's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lowery tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karlsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lowery somewhat.
Lowery shoots in looking for a takedown. Karlsson tries to sprawl out of it but Lowery keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Karlsson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Karlsson shoots in for a takedown but Lowery shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lowery shoots in for a takedown but Karlsson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnathan Lowery. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karlsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Lowery circles away.
Lowery stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lowery wants it to stay on the feet.
Karlsson closes the distance and clinches up with Lowery, looking for a takedown. Karlsson pushes Lowery against the cage but Lowery circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Karlsson. No joy for Lowery on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lowery is defended easily by Karlsson.

Karlsson rushes Lowery and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Karlsson pulls guard successfully.
Karlsson wants to stand and escape but Lowery is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lowery wants to control from the top but Karlsson keeps moving.
Karlsson is looking to stand up but Lowery isn't so interested in that idea.

Karlsson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lowery is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is wriggling around but Lowery manages to pass to half guard.

Lowery seems to be working for a kimura but Karlsson defends the submission attempt.
Lowery trying to control the pace.
Karlsson trying to control from the bottom.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet.
Lowery wants to take a breather but Karlsson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Karlsson shoots in looking for a takedown. Lowery tries to sprawl out of it but Karlsson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lowery manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lowery throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Karlsson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lowery is in Karlsson's guard.
Lowery won't allow Karlsson to get back to his feet.
Lowery content to stall in guard here.
Karlsson controls Lowery momentarily but Lowery frees himself.
Johnathan Lowery overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Magnus Karlsson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lowery tries for a takedown but Karlsson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Karlsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lowery is fending him off so far but Karlsson persists. Nope, Lowery circles away and we're back to standing.
Karlsson looks to clinch
and Lowery counters with a series of strikes. Karlsson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lowery tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karlsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lowery somewhat.
Karlsson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lowery counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A decent looking cross lands there for Karlsson.
Lowery shoots in for a takedown but Karlsson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnathan Lowery has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Magnus Karlsson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karlsson looks for a takedown but Lowery sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Magnus Karlsson.
I've got Karlsson 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Magnus Karlsson!