PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Simons III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karlsson has chosen Taivas lyä tulta as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Simons III
vs
Karlsson

165 cm
22
138 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

172 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Simons III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karlsson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Karlsson lands in his opponent's guard.
Karlsson postures up in Simons III's guard and throws a big left but Simons III blocks it.
Simons III wants to sweep but no luck.
Karlsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Simons III is retaining full guard.
Simons III trying to control the position.
Karlsson wants to stand but Simons III has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Karlsson wants to control from the top but Simons III keeps moving.
Karlsson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Simons III is proving hard to escape from.
Karlsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Simons III is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Karlsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Simons III to the mat! Simons III manages to get full guard.
Karlsson trying to control but Simons III is working from the bottom.

Karlsson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Simons III looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Simons III looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Simons III!
Karlsson is trying to control Simons III's posture but Simons III avoids it.
Karlsson looks gassed!

Simons III tries for a kimura but Karlsson is defending well.

Simons III wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Karlsson, who protects the arm well.
Simons III trying to control the action but Karlsson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simons III throws a strike aimed at the side of Karlsson's head but Karlsson avoids it well.
Karlsson is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Simons III working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Karlsson manages to get back to half guard.
Karlsson regains full guard. Nicely done.

Karlsson is looking for a triangle but Simons III pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karlsson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Simons III is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Karlsson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Simons III's back instead.

Karlsson is looking for the choke from the back position but Simons III is controlling his hands well.
Karlsson trying to control.

Karlsson working for a choke but Simons III is defending well.
Simons III is covering up but some of the strikes from Karlsson are getting through and doing damage.
Karlsson controlling from the back.
Simons III is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simons III is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Karlsson.
Simons III is keeping busy.
Karlsson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Simons III staying busy and making it hard for Karlsson to control.
Karlsson throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Simons III!
Karlsson is not going to allow Simons III to sit and survive in this position.
Simons III is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Karlsson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Karlsson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Karlsson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Simons III pinned against the cage. Simons III gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Simons III swats away the attempt to clinch by Karlsson.
Karlsson throws a head kick that misses.
Simons III misses with a takedown attempt

and Karlsson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karlsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Simons III works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Simons III working a defensive guard here.
Simons III looking for a sweep. Not yet Simons III, not yet.
Karlsson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Simons III's guard.

Simons III is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Karlsson is breathing heavily.
Karlsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Simons III is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III controlling Karlsson's posture.
Karlsson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Simons III's guard.

Karlsson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Simons III is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Karlsson, into his guard.
Marcus Karlsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karlsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Karlsson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Karlsson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Karlsson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Simons III is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Simons III and Karlsson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Simons III is not content to let Karlsson control the position.
Karlsson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Karlsson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Simons III has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Karlsson but great work by Simons III.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simons III tries for a kimura but Karlsson is defending well.
Karlsson sneaks back into half guard.
Karlsson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Karlsson working for a triangle but Simons III defends it easily.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Simons III from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karlsson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Simons III gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Karlsson keeping full guard, as Simons III tries to pass.

Karlsson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Karlsson trying to keep a closed guard but Simons III is proving a slippery customer.
Karlsson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Simons III's guard.
Karlsson wants to pass the guard but Simons III is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Karlsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Simons III gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karlsson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Karlsson is working for a submission of some sort.
Simons III is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Karlsson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Karlsson with the ground and pound but Simons III uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karlsson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Simons III looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Simons III looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Simons III!
Karlsson is looking to regain half guard here but Simons III keeps moving and retains side control.
Karlsson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Karlsson missing with punches from the bottom.
Karlsson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Simons III is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Karlsson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Simons III moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Karlsson.
Karlsson tries to buck Simons III off but Simons III is having none of it.

Simons III tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Simons III advances to full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simons III trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Simons III is really struggling to control Karlsson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Simons III looking to secure an arm triangle but Karlsson defends it well.
Karlsson prevents Simons III from taking his back.
Karlsson can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Karlsson tries to control the position but Simons III now has his back.
Karlsson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Simons III is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Karlsson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Karlsson tries to hold on but Simons III postures up.
Karlsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Simons III goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Karlsson turns into him and now he's in Simons III's guard.
John Simons III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Karlsson stands up from Simons III's guard - Karlsson perhaps looking for a knockout.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Karlsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Karlsson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Karlsson!