PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Svend Karlsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Naylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Karlsen
vs
Naylor

188 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Good knees
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 London, Svend Karlsen !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam Naylor!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naylor is looking to clinch.
Naylor throws a head kick but Karlsen moves out of range.
Naylor tries to clinch but Karlsen moves out of range.
Karlsen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Karlsen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Naylor!
Karlsen is trying to ground and pound but Naylor uses the momentary lack of control by Karlsen to regain half guard.
Naylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Karlsen .
Karlsen working over Naylor with some ground and pound. Naylor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naylor looks like he's trying to stand up.

Naylor makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Karlsen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Karlsen throws a strike but Naylor avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Karlsen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Naylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Karlsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Karlsen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Karlsen wants to get up but he can't break Naylor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Naylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karlsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karlsen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Naylor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Karlsen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naylor shoots in for a double leg but Karlsen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Naylor looks winded!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Naylor enables Karlsen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Naylor manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Naylor wants to stand and escape but Karlsen is having none of it.
Karlsen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Karlsen is looking to work some ground and pound but Naylor has wrist control.
Karlsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Naylor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karlsen .
Karlsen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karlsen throws a big right hand that misses.
Karlsen is looking to advance position but Naylor has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Naylor trying to control but Karlsen is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsen wants to try and get back to his feet.

Naylor get's back to his feet.

Naylor gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Karlsen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Karlsen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karlsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Naylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Naylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karlsen wants to control from the top but Naylor keeps moving.
Karlsen throws an elbow that misses. Naylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karlsen 's guard. Nice move by Naylor!

Naylor stands up from Karlsen 's guard - Naylor perhaps looking for a knockout.
Naylor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Naylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karlsen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Naylor defends well and Karlsen ends up having to push Naylor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liam Naylor will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Naylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
As Naylor tries to get set, Karlsen tries to push him back and clinch up but Naylor manages to avoid the attempt.

Karlsen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Karlsen throwing strikes but Naylor manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Naylor stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Karlsen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Naylor is trying to defend but Karlsen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karlsen prevents Naylor from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karlsen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Naylor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Naylor regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Karlsen .
Karlsen throws an elbow that misses. Naylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karlsen 's guard. Nice move by Naylor!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Naylor stands and steps away. Karlsen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Naylor fails with a takedown attempt.
Naylor shoots in for a double leg but Karlsen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Liam Naylor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naylor tries to clinch up.
Naylor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Karlsen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Karlsen .
Svend Karlsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Naylor.

Karlsen lands a takedown into guard.
Liam Naylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karlsen trying to control but Naylor is working from the bottom.
Karlsen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Naylor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Naylor should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Naylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karlsen is looking to work some ground and pound but Naylor has wrist control.
Karlsen throwing strikes but missing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Karlsen wants to pass the guard but Naylor is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Karlsen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Naylor!
Karlsen working the strikes but Naylor uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naylor regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Karlsen .
Naylor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karlsen looking to sit in guard and control but Naylor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Naylor stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Naylor shoots for a takedown but Karlsen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karlsen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Naylor throws a head kick that misses.
Naylor doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Karlsen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karlsen .
Karlsen throws an elbow that misses. Naylor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karlsen 's guard. Nice move by Naylor!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Naylor stands up from Karlsen 's guard - Naylor perhaps looking for a knockout.

Karlsen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Naylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Karlsen .
Karlsen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Karlsen looks to land a strike but Naylor avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Naylor wants to stand and escape but Karlsen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Liam Naylor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Karlsen blocks a head kick by Naylor.
Karlsen is looking to counter the offense by Naylor and move into the clinch.
Naylor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karlsen as he avoids it easily.

Naylor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees to the body from Karlsen .

Karlsen has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Naylor clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Karlsen throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Naylor grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Karlsen punches the canvas rather than the man.
Karlsen has good solid back control here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karlsen missing with strikes from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsen landing with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Naylor staying busy and making it hard for Karlsen to control.
Naylor avoids the strikes from Karlsen .
Karlsen struggling to land strikes to the head as Naylor covers up.
Naylor grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Karlsen misses with a punch to the head.
Naylor has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Karlsen .
Naylor has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Karlsen .
Naylor covers up after that shot from Karlsen .
Naylor wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Naylor's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Karlsen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Karlsen won't let Naylor get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Karlsen punching from mount but Naylor doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Naylor is trying to stand up.
Karlsen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Karlsen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Karlsen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Naylor can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Karlsen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Naylor because Karlsen loaded up on that one.
Naylor blocking the ground and pound.
Karlsen looking to ground and pound but Naylor is blocking nicely.
Naylor's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Karlsen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Karlsen throwing strikes here but Naylor is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Karlsen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Naylor is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsen working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Naylor slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Karlsen throws a strike but Naylor avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Karlsen throws a strike but Naylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Naylor gets to his feet. Karlsen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Karlsen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Naylor quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Naylor regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Karlsen .
Karlsen prevents Naylor from getting back to his feet.
Svend Karlsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liam Naylor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Karlsen throws a strike but Naylor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Svend Karlsen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Naylor 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a draw!