PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Magnus Karlson (ranked 5133 p4p, 499 weight class) and Emil Nygard (ranked 3189 p4p, 365 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Karlson
vs
Nygard

205 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magnus Karlson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Emil Nygard!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nygard has a takedown stuffed.
As Nygard tries to get set, Karlson tries to push him back and clinch up but Nygard manages to avoid the attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nygard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nygard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nygard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karlson is fending him off so far but Nygard persists. Nope, Karlson circles away and we're back to standing.
Magnus Karlson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emil Nygard.
Nygard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karlson but Karlson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nygard moves in looking to clinch but Karlson pushes him off.
Nygard shoots in and drives through. Karlson sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nygard swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Karlson closes the distance and pushes Nygard back into the cage.
Karlson stalling against the cage.

Karlson breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlson goes for a double leg but Nygard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nygard continues to drive forward.

Karlson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Karlson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nygard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nygard.

Karlson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karlson cracks Nygard with a nice body shot.
Karlson slows down the pace here.
Nygard is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Karlson pulls Nygard into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nygard trying to control but Karlson is working from the bottom.
Nygard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Karlson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karlson tries to get out of the position.
Nygard preventing the sweep.

Karlson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nygard's guard.

Karlson looking to pass the guard.

Karlson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nygard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Karlson has managed to get both his arms back between Nygard's legs - danger averted.
Nygard keeping full guard, as Karlson tries to pass.
Karlson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four 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.
Nygard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karlson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nygard is keeping the position for now.
Karlson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Karlson moves into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nygard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Karlson closes the distance and clinches.
Nygard tries to stall but Karlson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nygard jumps guard but Karlson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nygard wants a takedown but no success here.
A right hand to the body from Karlson.
Nygard wants a takedown.
Magnus Karlson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emil Nygard.
Karlson prevents the takedown attempt.
Karlson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nygard can do to turn this around?
Karlson is trying to drag Nygard to the mat but Nygard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Karlson breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Karlson clinches with his opponent.
Nygard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stalling in the clinch from Karlson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlson just leaning against Nygard, taking a breather.

Karlson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Karlson is looking to slow Nygard down with leg kicks.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Karlson is defended easily by Nygard.
Nygard with the counter takedown but Karlson avoids it easily.
Karlson feints a jab promting Nygard to slip. Karlson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nygard slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nygard throws a head kick that misses

and Karlson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nygard can't break the clinch.
Nygard wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlson is looking for a takedown.

Karlson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nygard uses from the top position.
Karlson has control of Nygard's left arm, preventing Nygard from doing any damage.
Karlson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nygard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nygard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karlson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Karlson controlling from the top position.
Karlson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nygard wants to stand up but Karlson is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Karlson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nygard's guard.
Karlson slows the pace down in half guard.
Nygard trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Nygard is looking to get to half guard.
Magnus Karlson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nygard holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Karlson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Karlson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Karlson closes the distance and clinches up with Nygard, looking for a takedown. Karlson pushes Nygard against the cage but Nygard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nygard tries to clinch there but Karlson circles away.

Karlson closes the distance and clinches.

Karlson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nygard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nygard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nygard dives in and grabs Karlson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karlson pushes down on Nygard's head and hops out.
Karlson avoids the head kick by Nygard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nygard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nygard tries to clinch there but Karlson circles away.
Magnus Karlson is winning the standup battle so far.
Karlson throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Emil Nygard has been cut.

Karlson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Karlson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Karlson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Karlson fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magnus Karlson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nygard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Karlson prevents the takedown attempt.
Nygard jumps guard but Karlson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Karlson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nygard misses with an elbow over the top.

Karlson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Karlson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nygard throws a big right hand that misses.
Karlson looking for a sweep. Not yet Karlson, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Karlson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Karlson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nygard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nygard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Karlson has a closed guard, preventing Nygard from standing up.
Nygard is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nygard closes the distance looking to clinch
and Karlson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Karlson rushes Nygard and presses him up against the cage.
Magnus Karlson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nygard jumps guard but Karlson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nygard jumps guard but Karlson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nygard gets underhooks to prevent Karlson's takedown attempt.

Karlson breaks the clinch.
Nygard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nygard with a poor takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Emil Nygard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Magnus Karlson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Karlson has Nygard up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Karlson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Karlson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Karlson!