PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Piana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karlsson comes to the cage accompanied by The Game-Motörhead. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karlsson
vs
Piana

193 cm
25
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
204 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Sully's Bar & Grill

Leviathan Clothing

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Frank Karlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rich Piana!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Piana.
Piana lands a jab to Karlsson's midsection.
Piana uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Karlsson.
Piana tries to clinch but Karlsson moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Karlsson.
The crowd cheers as Piana lands an impressive looking overhand right. Karlsson doesn't seem phased though.
Piana loads up on a big right hand but Karlsson slips the punch.
Piana ducks under a wild hook from Karlsson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Piana. Karlsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Karlsson is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karlsson with a jab.
Piana looks to score with a jab to the body but Karlsson is just out of range.
Piana misses with a right hand
and Karlsson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Karlsson lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piana throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Karlsson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Piana misses with a wild body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Karlsson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Karlsson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karlsson counters with a stiff right hand.

Piana has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karlsson is trying to stall.
Karlsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Karlsson on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Karlsson fails to land.
Piana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Karlsson.
Karlsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Piana tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Karlsson's elbow.
Karlsson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Piana.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from Karlsson.
Karlsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Piana looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nice body punch from Piana.
Piana has a couple of punches blocked by Karlsson.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Piana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Piana swings wildly with an uppercut but Karlsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Piana lands a nice shot to the body.
Karlsson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karlsson stalling the fight.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karlsson.
Karlsson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karlsson misses with a punch on the inside.
Piana takes a shot to the head.
Karlsson throws a head punch that misses.
Piana lands an uppercut.
Piana gets through Karlsson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Piana looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Piana lands a hook to the side of the head.
Piana blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Piana scores with a shot to the side of Karlsson's head.
Piana working aggressively here.
Karlsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Piana.
Karlsson lands with a short shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Piana scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Piana.
Piana gets through Karlsson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Karlsson on the inside.
Piana scores with a shoulder strike.
Piana swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Karlsson fails to land.
Karlsson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karlsson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Karlsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Piana.
Karlsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Piana.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piana prevents a body shot from Karlsson.
Piana throws a head punch that misses.
Karlsson tries to stall but Piana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Piana has a couple of punches blocked by Karlsson.
Piana lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nice body punch from Piana.
Karlsson is breathing heavily.
Piana scores with a hook to the body.
Piana lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Piana gets through Karlsson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Piana lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Piana tries a body shot but Karlsson blocks it.
Piana gets through Karlsson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Piana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Piana misses the jab.
Piana lands with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Piana blocks a jab.
Piana lands a jab to the nose.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Karlsson misses with a right hand
and Piana makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Piana takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Piana staying out of range there.
Karlsson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Karlsson throws a big shot that misses.
Piana moves into range and connects with a jab.

Piana takes the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Karlsson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Piana.
Karlsson is trying to maintain a safe position but Piana gets an underhook and turns Karlsson into the cage.
Karlsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Karlsson is trying to maintain a safe position but Piana gets an underhook and turns Karlsson into the cage.
Piana has a couple of punches blocked by Karlsson.

Piana breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Piana.
Piana misses with a jab to the body
and Karlsson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Piana throws a jab when Karlsson was well out of range.
Piana walks into a stiff left hand from Karlsson.
Piana misses with a jab, cross combination.
Karlsson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Piana stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Karlsson misses with a left hand
and Piana counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Piana has managed to clinch.
Piana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karlsson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Piana blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Piana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Piana misses with a body shot.
Rich Piana seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karlsson throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piana works Karlsson's body with a nice hook.
Karlsson lands the left hand.
Piana tests Karlsson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Piana misses with a looping right.
Karlsson throws a right hand that misses
letting Piana counter with a right hand.
A slow jab from Piana misses its intended target.
Karlsson ducks under a wild hook from Piana.
A little feinted left hand from Karlsson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A slow jab from Karlsson misses its intended target.
Piana throws a jab but it's blocked by Karlsson.
Karlsson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Karlsson missing with a left hand there. Piana was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Piana moves out of range as Karlsson strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson misses with a wild combination.
Piana digs a good body shot into Karlsson's ribs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Piana. Karlsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Piana throws a shot from downtown. Karlsson moves away and avoids it.
Piana throws a body shot but no joy.
Karlsson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Piana lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Piana tries to clinch but Karlsson moves out of range.
Piana takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Piana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karlsson moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Karlsson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Piana takes a swing at Karlsson's ribcage but misses.
Piana walks into a jab.
Karlsson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from Karlsson misses.
Karlsson slips under a jab from Piana.
Piana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karlsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Piana.
Karlsson missing with a left hand there. Piana was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Piana appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Piana thows a left - swing and a miss!
Frank Karlsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Piana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karlsson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Piana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Piana throws an off balance right hand
and Karlsson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Piana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Karlsson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Karlsson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Karlsson cracks Piana with a good jab.
Karlsson misses with a hook.
Piana scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Karlsson stuns Piana with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Piana avoids the body shot from Karlsson.
Piana swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Karlsson.
Piana misses with a left hand
and Karlsson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karlsson scores with the left hand. Piana knows he should have avoided that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piana slips a straight right by Karlsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The fighters circling - Piana throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Karlsson misses with an uppercut.
Karlsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Piana digs a good hook to Karlsson's body.
Piana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Piana steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karlsson.
Karlsson misses with a hook
and Piana counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Piana throws a lazy right hand but Karlsson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Piana misses with an uppercut.
Karlsson is looking to counter punch.
Karlsson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piana misses with a body punch
and Karlsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Karlsson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Piana has time to react.
Karlsson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Piana wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jab from Piana.
Piana cracks Karlsson with an open hand slap.
We've been told by Karlsson's head coaches at Rabid Dog that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Piana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Piana lands a body shot.
Karlsson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Piana defending well as Karlsson loads up on a big left hand.
Piana lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson throws a jab when Piana was well out of range.
It seemed like Piana was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Piana on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Karlsson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Karlsson misses with a wild body shot.
Piana throws a poor cross that misses
letting Karlsson counter with a right hand.
Karlsson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Piana misses with a lunging right hand
and Karlsson counters with a nice uppercut.
Karlsson staying out of range there.
Piana works Karlsson's body with a nice hook.
Piana lands a right hook to the body.
Piana throws a looping overhand right but Karlsson ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Karlsson. Piana does a little dance to reset his feet.
Piana cracks Karlsson with a good jab.
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!
A shot to the liver by Piana. Beautiful body shot.
Frank Karlsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Piana misses with a two punch combination.
Karlsson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Piana.
Karlsson avoids the body shot from Piana.
Piana connects with the punch.
Karlsson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Piana is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Karlsson with a body shot.
Karlsson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Piana counters with a straight right hand.
Piana scores with a jab to the jaw.
Piana connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Piana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Piana has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

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