PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Callum Welsh (ranked 7380 p4p, 502 weight class) and Thomas Krakow (ranked 9150 p4p, 541 weight class). Callum Welsh has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Welsh
vs
Krakow

198 cm
28
155 lbs
6 - 14 - 0

180 cm
29
160 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Callum Welsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Krakow!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Welsh throws a quick inside leg kick.
Krakow throws a nice looking combination but Welsh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Krakow crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Welsh - the referee stops the clock and Krakow gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Welsh. Krakow manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Welsh, right into the meat.
Welsh scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Welsh really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Welsh swings for the body but Krakow moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Welsh, right into the meat.
Welsh misses with a series of wild punches.
Welsh moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Krakow takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Krakow shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Welsh keeping hold of Krakow's head, controlling as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krakow lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh tries to roll over but Krakow keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Krakow there.
Welsh moves into full guard.
Krakow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Welsh is keeping the position for now.
Welsh keeping moving, preventing Krakow from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Welsh is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krakow looking to control.

Welsh stands up and waves to Krakow to follow him.
Welsh scores with a push kick.
Krakow takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A solid body kick from Welsh.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Welsh enables Krakow to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Welsh manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Welsh lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Krakow is trying to keep Welsh in close.
Krakow looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krakow keeping moving, preventing Welsh from controlling successfully.

Welsh got a little sloppy there for a moment and Krakow has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Welsh has managed to get both his arms back between Krakow's legs - danger averted.
Welsh is looking to pass into half guard but Krakow pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Krakow is in guard.

Welsh 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.
Krakow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Welsh is keeping the position for now.
Welsh working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krakow trying to control the position from guard on top but Welsh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krakow connects with a couple of short punches.
Welsh keeping moving, preventing Krakow from controlling successfully.
Krakow slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Welsh throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Welsh manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Krakow manages to get himself to full guard.

Krakow controlling the position.
Krakow keeping moving, preventing Welsh from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Callum Welsh dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Krakow moves out of range of the body kick from Welsh.
Krakow steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Welsh. That one must have hurt.
Krakow has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Welsh.
Krakow throws a body punch but Welsh moves out of range.
Welsh lands a front kick.
Welsh throws a nice outside leg kick.
Krakow is trying hard to land a takedown here. Welsh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Welsh lands with a nice body kick.
Sloppy strikes from Welsh. Those never looked like landing.
That kick from Welsh tenderised Krakow's leg. Krakow is trying to keep his angry face on.
Welsh throws a series of strikes that have Krakow backpedaling.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
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!
Krakow has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Welsh is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Krakow tries to pull guard but Welsh holds him up against the cage and eventually Krakow drops back down to his feet.
Callum Welsh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Krakow.
Welsh lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Krakow backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welsh lands an elbow inside that Krakow shrugs off.

It looks like Thomas Krakow has been cut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Welsh.
Welsh lands an uppercut.
Welsh utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Welsh unloads a knee to the mid-section. Krakow lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Krakow is trying to pull guard but Welsh has him pressed against the cage.
Welsh tries to work over Krakow's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Welsh lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Welsh comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Welsh landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Krakow tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Welsh smiles and moves away.
Krakow looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Welsh is fending him off so far but Krakow persists. Nope, Welsh circles away and we're back to standing.
Krakow is breathing heavily.
Welsh scores with a one two! Krakow had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Krakow clinches with his opponent.
Krakow is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Welsh is defending well.
Welsh scores with a nice hook to the head.
Krakow avoiding damage as Welsh throws knees to the body.
Welsh unloads a knee to the mid-section. Krakow lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Welsh manages to break the clinch.
Welsh is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Krakow can do to turn this around?
Welsh connects with a leg kick. Krakow looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Callum Welsh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Krakow thows a left - swing and a miss!
Welsh went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Welsh clinches up with Krakow and pushes him back against the cage.
Welsh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Krakow.
Krakow's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Krakow dodges an elbow strike from Welsh.
Welsh misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Krakow has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Welsh.
Krakow tries to pull guard but Welsh forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Welsh - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Callum Welsh has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Krakow is trying to pull guard but Welsh has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Krakow.
Krakow changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Welsh fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Callum Welsh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Welsh lands with a nice combination. Krakow backs away looking to recover.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Welsh checks a leg kick.
Welsh moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Welsh explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Some wild striking there from Welsh.
Krakow is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Krakow fails to land with a series of punches.
Krakow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Welsh tries to counter by clinching up but Krakow breaks away and moves out of range.
Welsh fails to land with a series of punches.
Callum Welsh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welsh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Krakow shoots and misses
and Welsh counters with a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Welsh throws a nice inside leg kick.
Welsh connects with an inside leg kick.
Welsh throws a series of punches but Krakow avoids them all with ease.
Krakow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Callum Welsh is winning the standup battle so far.
Welsh lands with a nice body kick.
Welsh misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Welsh stuffs the takedown attempt from Krakow. Krakow gets slowly back to his feet.
Krakow dodges the punch combination from Welsh.

Welsh pushes Krakow up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Callum Welsh dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Krakow's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Krakow.
Welsh stuffs the takedown attempt from Krakow. Krakow gets slowly back to his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Welsh - that will leave a mark!

Krakow gets a takedown into half guard.
Krakow is trying to control. Welsh wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Welsh gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krakow won't allow Welsh to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Welsh lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Krakow is trying to keep Welsh in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krakow is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Welsh defends well.
Krakow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Krakow keeping full guard, as Welsh tries to pass.
Krakow keeping moving, preventing Welsh from controlling successfully.
Welsh will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Krakow is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Welsh is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Krakow has momentary wrist control but Welsh slips an elbow through the middle.
Krakow trying to strike off his back.
Welsh wants to pass the guard but Krakow is keeping the position.
Krakow avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Krakow keeping full guard, as Welsh tries to pass.
Welsh throwing strikes but missing.
Krakow keeping full guard, as Welsh tries to pass.
Welsh sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welsh throws an elbow that misses. Krakow uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Welsh's guard. Nice move by Krakow!

Krakow preventing the sweep.
Krakow pushes down on Welsh's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Krakow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Welsh keeps working.
Welsh tries to roll over but Krakow keeps him under control.
Krakow wants to control but Welsh is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krakow is trying to work for a kimura but Welsh is defending well.
Welsh is trying to get back to full guard.
Krakow slows the pace down in half guard.
Thomas Krakow has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Welsh tries to get to full guard but Krakow has control of the leg.
Thomas Krakow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Callum Welsh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Welsh is working hard here to advance position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thomas Krakow.
I think Welsh has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Callum Welsh!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Callum Welsh!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Callum Welsh!

Callum Welsh wins by unanimous decision!