PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between AJ Samison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miikka Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samison kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is No Love- Eminem feat. Lil' Wayne. AJ Samison has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Samison
vs
Karlsson

186 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

187 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, AJ Samison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Miikka Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Samison looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Karlsson tries to bum rush Samison with a series of wild strikes but Samison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Samison shoots in and bounces Karlsson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Karlsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Karlsson, not yet.
Karlsson trying to keep a closed guard but Samison is proving a slippery customer.
Samison won't allow Karlsson to sweep him here.
Karlsson is trying to control the position but Samison postures up.
Samison won't allow Karlsson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Samison has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Karlsson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
AJ Samison seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Karlsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Samison to the mat! Samison manages to get full guard.
Karlsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Samison is keeping the position for now.
Karlsson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Karlsson drops back looking for a leg! Samison is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Samison manages to kick Karlsson off! Karlsson jumps back into Samison's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samison is trying to control the position but Karlsson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karlsson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Karlsson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Karlsson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Karlsson wanted to stand there but Samison had control of the position.
Karlsson wants to control from the top but Samison keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson throws a strike but Samison rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Karlsson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Samison prevents Karlsson from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karlsson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Samison dives into side control.
Samison creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Karlsson is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karlsson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Samison's best efforts.
Karlsson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Karlsson.
Samison landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miikka Karlsson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Samison misses with a combination

and Karlsson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karlsson wanted to stand there but Samison had control of the position.
Karlsson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Karlsson wants to control from the top but Samison keeps moving.

Karlsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Karlsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Karlsson trying to control but Samison is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson looking to sit in guard and control but Samison gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Karlsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Samison is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Samison throws a lazy head kick

and Karlsson counters with a single leg into guard. Samison didn't expect that.
Karlsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Samison has wrist control.
Samison avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karlsson wants to control from the top but Samison keeps moving.
Karlsson trying to move into half guard but instead Samison has managed to sweep!
Samison prevents Karlsson from getting back to his feet.
Karlsson looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samison loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karlsson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Samison.
Samison misses with a series of wild punches.
A lazy body kick from Samison

and Karlsson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Karlsson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Samison pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
AJ Samison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Samison drives through with a takedown into guard.
Samison chips away with some ground and pound.

Karlsson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Samison defends it easily.
Samison landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is pulling down on Samison's head. It's preventing any offense from Samison, at least for the moment.
Karlsson looking to control but Samison passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miikka Karlsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Samison misses with the combination.
A thudding body kick lands there by Karlsson!
Karlsson tries to clinch but Samison moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Karlsson.
Karlsson throwing strikes but Samison manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Karlsson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Samison off and has taken his back!
Samison is trying to break free.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karlsson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Karlsson avoiding Samison 's attempts to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karlsson looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Samison taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Miikka Karlsson!