PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Magnus Karlson (ranked 4833 p4p, 452 weight class) and Tomasz Rzasa (ranked 4145 p4p, 420 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karlson
vs
Rzasa

205 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

211 cm
25
211 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tomasz Rzasa!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rzasa throws the left hand but Karlson avoids the punch easily.

Karlson drives through and clinches with Rzasa against the cage.
Rzasa is looking to control Karlson's arms but Karlson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rzasa has his back to the cage.
Rzasa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Karlson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Karlson tries to break free but Rzasa pushes him back against the cage.
Karlson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rzasa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Karlson being controlled against the cage.

Karlson pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rzasa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karlson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rzasa.
Rzasa content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rzasa slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Karlson.
Karlson is trying to maintain the position but Rzasa is very close to passing his half guard.
Rzasa trying to control from half guard but Karlson is working away.
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.
Rzasa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Karlson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Karlson's coaches at GYM have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Rzasa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rzasa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Karlson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rzasa.
Rzasa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rzasa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Karlson wants to control but Rzasa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Karlson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rzasa's waist but Rzasa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karlson off to one side.
Rzasa is looking for the big counter here.
Rzasa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karlson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rzasa somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rzasa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karlson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magnus Karlson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Karlson moves into range and clinches up with Rzasa.
Rzasa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Rzasa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Karlson shoots in and drives through. Rzasa sprawls well.
Rzasa is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Rzasa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karlson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rzasa is defending well.

Rzasa jumps guard and drags Karlson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rzasa has control of Karlson's left arm, preventing Karlson from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rzasa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rzasa seems keen to control Karlson's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rzasa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Karlson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Karlson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Karlson content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomasz Rzasa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rzasa pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rzasa tries to keep at a distance but Karlson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rzasa is trying to pull guard but Karlson has him pressed against the cage.
Rzasa has Karlson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Karlson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rzasa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rzasa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karlson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Magnus Karlson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomasz Rzasa.
Rzasa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rzasa wants it to stay on the feet.
Karlson leaves Rzasa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Karlson closes the distance and clinches.
Rzasa slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rzasa lands a left hand.

Rzasa breaks from the clinch.
Karlson tries to clinch up but Rzasa circles away and keeps his distance.
Karlson lands a nice looking body shot.
Karlson fails with a takedown attempt.
Rzasa shoots in and drives through. Karlson sprawls well.
Karlson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Karlson lands with a straight right. Rzasa didn't see that one coming.
Karlson wants to clinch.
Rzasa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Karlson defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rzasa tries to score with a low kick but Karlson moves his leg out of the way.
Rzasa shoots in looking for a takedown. Karlson tries to sprawl out of it but Rzasa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Karlson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rzasa instigates a clinch.
Rzasa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Karlson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Karlson throws a knee to the head but misses.

Karlson jumps into guard, dragging Rzasa to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rzasa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karlson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rzasa looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Karlson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rzasa is aware though and is defending well.
Rzasa wants to control from the top but Karlson keeps moving.
Karlson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rzasa on the ground.
Karlson is trying to keep Rzasa in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rzasa wants to clinch up but Karlson keeps it at a distance.
Magnus Karlson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karlson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rzasa swivels and escapes.
Rzasa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rzasa wants to clinch up but Karlson keeps it at a distance.
Karlson looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Karlson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Karlson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rzasa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rzasa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Karlson's waist but Karlson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rzasa off to one side.

Rzasa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Karlson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. 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.

Karlson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rzasa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rzasa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karlson swivels and escapes.
Rzasa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karlson swivels and escapes.
Rzasa keeps the fight on the outside.
Karlson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rzasa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick misses from Rzasa.
Karlson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rzasa tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Karlson defends well and Rzasa ends up having to push Karlson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Magnus Karlson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomasz Rzasa.
Rzasa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karlson.
Rzasa is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rzasa connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rzasa tries to avoid it but Karlson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rzasa to the ground. Rzasa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A nice side step and Rzasa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rzasa misses with a body shot.
Karlson stuffs the takedown.
Karlson wants to clinch.
Karlson tries a low kick but Rzasa avoids it.
Rzasa has his takedown stuffed

and Karlson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rzasa keeps control of Karlson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rzasa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rzasa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rzasa is pulling down on Karlson's head. It's preventing any offense from Karlson, at least for the moment.
Rzasa wants to stand up but Karlson is controlling him.
Karlson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rzasa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karlson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rzasa is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlson postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Karlson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Karlson is defended easily by Rzasa.
Karlson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Karlson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Karlson wants it to stay on the feet.
Rzasa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Karlson throws a big counter combination but Rzasa scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

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.
Karlson tries to clinch but Rzasa moves away
and Rzasa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rzasa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Karlson's waist but Karlson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rzasa off to one side.
Karlson tries to clinch up but Rzasa circles away and keeps his distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Karlson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rzasa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rzasa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rzasa keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rzasa is defended easily by Karlson.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Karlson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tomasz Rzasa.
I think Rzasa 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!