PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Magnus Karlson (ranked 5682 p4p, 509 weight class) and Julian Bashir (ranked 6395 p4p, 535 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Karlson
vs
Bashir

205 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 - 2 - 1, 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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julian Bashir!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bashir stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bashir wants it to stay on the feet.
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.
Bashir swats away the attempt to clinch by Karlson.
Karlson dives in for a single leg takedown but Bashir sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bashir darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bashir avoids the head kick by Karlson.
A little jabbing left from Bashir on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Karlson is breathing heavily.
Bashir throws a body punch but Karlson moves out of range.
Bashir throws a body punch but Karlson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashir fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Karlson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bashir as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magnus Karlson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bashir misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlson with a poor takedown
and Bashir counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bashir lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Karlson seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Bashir takes a swing at Karlson's ribcage but misses.
Bashir smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd cheers as Bashir lands an impressive looking overhand right. Karlson doesn't seem phased though.
Bashir misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karlson.
Karlson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've been informed that Bashir has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Karlson tries to clinch up but Bashir circles away and keeps his distance.
Karlson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bashir defends well and Karlson ends up having to push Bashir into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bashir throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bashir looks to land a combination. Karlson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Karlson is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir misses with the combination.
As Bashir tries to get set, Karlson tries to push him back and clinch up but Bashir manages to avoid the attempt.
Oh Karlson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nice sprawl there from Bashir as Karlson shoots in.
Karlson seems to have got his legs back now.
Bashir ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
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!
Bashir throws a hook but Karlson avoids it easily.
Karlson throws a wild body kick that Bashir sees coming a mile off.
Bashir doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Karlson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bashir but Bashir pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bashir catches Karlson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bashir blocks a head kick by Karlson.
Bashir swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Karlson tries to clinch but Bashir moves away
and Bashir counters with a nice uppercut.
Bashir lands a really nice looking cross but Karlson seems unphased.
Bashir scores with a body shot.
Karlson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Karlson walks into a left hand.
Bashir avoids the body shot from Karlson.
Bashir looks to throw the jab but Karlson is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlson has his takedown stuffed
and Bashir counters with a stiff right hand.

Oooooh!!! Bashir has knocked Karlson down with a huge combo! Bashir steps away and waves a wobbly Karlson back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
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!
Karlson avoids the body shot from Bashir.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Karlson.
Bashir is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Karlson with a body shot.
Bashir throws a big shot that misses.
Karlson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bashir.
Karlson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bashir connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bashir misses with a wild body shot.
Karlson throws a right hand that Bashir ducks under and follows up with a left that Bashir also avoids with ease.
Karlson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bashir is fending him off so far but Karlson persists. Nope, Bashir circles away and we're back to standing.
Bashir lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Karlson at a distance.
Bashir cracks a nice hook into Karlson's ribs.
A shot to the liver by Bashir. Beautiful body shot.
Karlson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bashir.
Bashir has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashir fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Karlson on the side of the head.
Karlson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlson is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karlson shoots in for a takedown but Bashir shows good takedown defense.
Magnus Karlson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bashir. Karlson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bashir tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karlson was well out of range. Poor timing from Bashir.
Karlson has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magnus Karlson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karlson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bashir misses the shot to the body.
Bashir dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir lands a slapping body shot.
Karlson wants to clinch
and Bashir counters with a straight right hand.
Bashir is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Karlson.
Bashir lands a jab to the nose.
Karlson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bashir moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bashir misses with a series of wild punches.
Karlson fails with the takedown
and Bashir counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karlson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Julian Bashir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karlson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bashir throws a body shot but no joy.
Bashir scores with a jab to the jaw.
Karlson looks for the body kick but Bashir saw that one coming.
Karlson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bashir.
Bashir throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magnus Karlson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karlson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bashir counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashir dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Karlson throws a sloppy head kick and Bashir moves out of range easily.
Bashir throws out a powerful jab.
Karlson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bashir.
A jab from Bashir misses.
Bashir connects with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bashir ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bashir lands a body shot.
Karlson fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Bashir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Karlson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bashir but Bashir pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Julian Bashir seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karlson tries for a takedown but Bashir circles away easily
and Bashir makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bashir comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Karlson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Karlson. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Bashir throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bashir throws a jab when Karlson was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlson shoots for a takedown but Bashir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Karlson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Karlson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bashir throws the left hand but Karlson avoids the punch easily.
Bashir throws out a loose jab but Karlson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karlson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bashir sprawls well. Bashir wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karlson gets slowly back to his feet.
Bashir thows a left - swing and a miss!
Karlson tries to close the distance and clinch but Bashir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir needs to keep his hands up - Karlson had a free shot at his head there.
Bashir looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bashir avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bashir punishes Karlson's body with a nice straight punch.
Bashir misses with a looping right.
Nice body punch from Bashir.
Bashir stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir scores with a sloppy right hand. Karlson should have avoided that one.
Bashir swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Bashir misses its intended target.
Karlson is looking for a counter combo.
Bashir stuffs the takedown attempt from Karlson. Karlson gets slowly back to his feet.
Julian Bashir is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karlson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bashir connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Karlson scrambles back to his feet.
Bashir throws an overhand right that lands on Karlson's shoulder, as Karlson tries to avoid the shot.
Karlson shoots in but no luck this time.
Bashir thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlson ducks under a wild hook from Bashir.
Karlson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Bashir makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bashir slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Karlson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bashir was well out of range. Poor timing from Karlson.
Bashir looks to land a combination but Karlson avoids it well.
A quick step to the side and Karlson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karlson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bashir counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bashir pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bashir swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian Bashir comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bashir 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Julian Bashir!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Julian Bashir!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Julian Bashir!

Julian Bashir wins by unanimous decision!