PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Zimbardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karlsson has chosen Top Dogz as his entrance music. Bruce Zimbardo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Zimbardo
vs
Karlsson

220 cm
27
283 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

201 cm
24
275 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Perkele!
Machine Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruce Zimbardo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Magnus Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Zimbardo catches Karlsson right on the button with a cross.
Zimbardo misses with a body kick.
Zimbardo lands a really nice looking cross but Karlsson seems unphased.
Zimbardo lands a head kick!
Zimbardo throws a lazy head kick

and Karlsson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karlsson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Karlsson throwing shots but Zimbardo is blocking nicely.
Karlsson wants to take a breather but Zimbardo is having none of it.
Karlsson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've been hearing good reports from Zimbardo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karlsson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Karlsson.
Zimbardo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Karlsson.
Zimbardo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zimbardo tries to get out of the position.
Zimbardo is staying active underneath Karlsson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zimbardo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Karlsson.
Zimbardo has hold of Karlsson's hands but Karlsson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimbardo wants to improve his position but Karlsson is controlling well.

Karlsson decides to return to a standing position.
Karlsson moves forwards but Zimbardo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zimbardo is looking to slow Karlsson down with leg kicks.
Zimbardo digs a good body shot into Karlsson's ribs.
Zimbardo tries a head kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Karlsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Zimbardo, which made it look bad.

Karlsson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zimbardo did well to prevent Karlsson getting side control.

Karlsson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Karlsson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zimbardo defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimbardo is refusing to be controlled, as Karlsson sits in half guard.
Zimbardo manages to get to full guard.
Zimbardo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Zimbardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Zimbardo, not yet.
Zimbardo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zimbardo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zimbardo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Karlsson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zimbardo trying to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Karlsson fails with a takedown attempt.
Zimbardo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body punch from Zimbardo.
Karlsson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zimbardo.
Karlsson fails with a takedown attempt.
Bruce Zimbardo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnus Karlsson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimbardo throws a body shot but no joy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zimbardo.
No luck for Karlsson with that takedown attempt.
Zimbardo throws a head kick but Karlsson moves out of range.
Karlsson feints a counter leg kick.
Zimbardo throws a head kick that half lands.
Karlsson has a takedown stuffed.
Zimbardo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zimbardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karlsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Zimbardo.
Karlsson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Zimbardo throws a lazy body kick

and Karlsson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zimbardo's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zimbardo is looking to stand up but Karlsson isn't so interested in that idea.
Zimbardo trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Zimbardo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice jab there from Zimbardo.
Zimbardo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Karlsson moves out of range of the body kick from Zimbardo.
Zimbardo misses with a low kick.
Zimbardo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zimbardo takes a swing at Karlsson's ribcage but misses.
Bruce Zimbardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zimbardo throws a hook to the side of Karlsson's head but Karlsson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A punch combination from Zimbardo misses.
Zimbardo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Karlsson can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimbardo gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Karlsson counters with a shoot takedown. Zimbardo fights it but they end up in guard.
Zimbardo working a defensive guard here.
Zimbardo is really struggling to control Karlsson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson looking to sit in guard and control but Zimbardo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Karlsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zimbardo is one step ahead there.
Zimbardo won't allow Karlsson to get back to his feet.
Magnus Karlsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zimbardo content to stall in guard here.
Karlsson trying to keep a closed guard but Zimbardo is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zimbardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zimbardo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karlsson holds on to Zimbardo's head and controls the position momentarily.
Zimbardo tries to advance to mount but Karlsson denies him.
You can see the frustration on Karlsson's face as Zimbardo controls the position.
Zimbardo trying to control the position but Karlsson is working away.
Karlsson gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimbardo wants to pass to mount but Karlsson is defending the position.
Zimbardo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Karlsson!
Karlsson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karlsson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Zimbardo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zimbardo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Karlsson is looking for a sweep. Zimbardo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Karlsson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zimbardo pushing down on Karlsson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Karlsson trying to hold on to Zimbardo's head to control him but Zimbardo postures up.
Karlsson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zimbardo tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Zimbardo dominated that second round.
That's time! Zimbardo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zimbardo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Karlsson. That did some damage!
Karlsson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zimbardo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Zimbardo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zimbardo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zimbardo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zimbardo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Good leg kick by Zimbardo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Zimbardo lunges at Karlsson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Karlsson's hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimbardo cracks Karlsson with a good jab.
Zimbardo scoring well with a low kick there.
Zimbardo misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Zimbardo there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Zimbardo. Karlsson shrugs it off though.
Zimbardo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zimbardo looks to score with a jab to the body but Karlsson is just out of range.
Karlsson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zimbardo defends it well.
Zimbardo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zimbardo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Karlsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zimbardo throws a head kick that misses.
Karlsson unleashes a big counter combination but Zimbardo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Zimbardo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Karlsson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zimbardo throws a body shot but no joy.
Karlsson avoids the head kick by Zimbardo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson dives in and grabs Zimbardo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zimbardo pushes down on Karlsson's head and hops out.
Karlsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zimbardo lands a jab to the head.
Zimbardo misses with a body shot.
Zimbardo jabs at Karlsson's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zimbardo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zimbardo misses with the body kick

and Karlsson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karlsson.
Karlsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zimbardo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Zimbardo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karlsson looking to sit in guard and control but Zimbardo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Karlsson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zimbardo controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson controls Zimbardo momentarily but Zimbardo frees himself.
Zimbardo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Karlsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Karlsson being controlled here, momentarily.
Karlsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Karlsson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Zimbardo stacks Karlsson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Zimbardo!
Zimbardo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Zimbardo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zimbardo, 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Zimbardo!