PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stig Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swanson has chosen Chael Sonnen lowlights as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Alexander Karlsson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Karlsson
vs
Swanson

196 cm
28
288 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

182 cm
28
278 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

CEC Nutrition Q160
Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Karlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stig Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson swings for the body but Swanson moves out of range.
Karlsson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Karlsson enables Swanson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Karlsson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Karlsson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Swanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Karlsson has wrist control.
Swanson 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.
Swanson distracts Karlsson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Swanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Karlsson has wrist control.
Karlsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karlsson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Swanson controls the pace.
Karlsson is controlling Swanson's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson looking to pass the guard.
Swanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Karlsson has wrist control.
Swanson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Karlsson trying to keep a closed guard but Swanson is proving a slippery customer.
Swanson passes Karlsson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Karlsson wants to improve his position but Swanson is controlling well.
Swanson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Swanson lands a nice short elbow.
Karlsson is not content to let Swanson control the position.
Swanson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karlsson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karlsson tries to get out of the position.
Karlsson wants to control but Swanson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Swanson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Karlsson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Swanson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Karlsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Swanson.
Swanson trying to control from Karlsson's half guard. Karlsson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karlsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Karlsson, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson trying to control but Karlsson is working from the bottom.
Swanson throws an elbow that misses. Karlsson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Swanson's guard. Nice move by Karlsson!
Karlsson trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Karlsson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

It looks like Stig Swanson has been cut.
Karlsson preventing the sweep.
Swanson is trying to control the position but Karlsson postures up.
Karlsson throwing strikes from guard but Swanson blocks nicely.
Swanson trying to keep a closed guard but Karlsson is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Karlsson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Karlsson wants to control but Swanson is keeping him busy.
Karlsson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swanson tries to roll over but Karlsson keeps him under control.
Swanson is refusing to be controlled, as Karlsson sits in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karlsson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Karlsson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Swanson's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karlsson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Swanson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karlsson is working away from the top position though.
Karlsson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Swanson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stig Swanson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stig Swanson's cut.
That's time! Karlsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Karlsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Swanson.
Swanson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karlsson slips a straight right by Swanson.
Karlsson throws a lazy right hand but Swanson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Swanson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karlsson.
Swanson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karlsson is fending him off so far but Swanson persists. Nope, Karlsson circles away and we're back to standing.
Swanson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karlsson manages to avoid it.
Swanson misses with a hook to the body
and Karlsson counters with a two punch combo.
Karlsson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Swanson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Swanson looks to land a strike but Karlsson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Karlsson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Swanson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Swanson connects with a couple of short punches.
Swanson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swanson lands a couple of digs.
Swanson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karlsson is keeping the position for now.
Swanson throws an elbow that misses. Karlsson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Swanson's guard. Nice move by Karlsson!
Swanson looking to control.
Karlsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson postures up in Swanson's guard and throws a big left but Swanson blocks it.
Karlsson cracks Swanson with a solid left hand.
Swanson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Karlsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Karlsson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson can't keep his opponent in guard - Karlsson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Karlsson wants to control but Swanson is keeping him busy.
Karlsson passes to side control.
Karlsson with the ground and pound but Swanson regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Swanson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karlsson is working away from the top position though.
Karlsson is trying to control. Swanson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Karlsson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Swanson wants to improve his position but Karlsson is controlling well.
Swanson moves into full guard.
Karlsson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karlsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Swanson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karlsson throws a big elbow that misses.
Karlsson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Karlsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Swanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swanson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Karlsson postures up in Swanson's guard and throws a big left but Swanson blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karlsson postures up.
Karlsson wants to control from the top but Swanson keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Swanson shoots for a takedown but Karlsson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alexander Karlsson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Stig Swanson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Swanson throws an overhand right that lands on Karlsson's shoulder, as Karlsson tries to avoid the shot.
Karlsson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Swanson misses with a right hand
enabling Karlsson to counter with a crisp jab.

Swanson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Karlsson is trying to defend but Swanson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Swanson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Karlsson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Swanson wants to control from the top but Karlsson keeps moving.
Swanson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Swanson's guard.
Karlsson throws a big elbow that misses.
Swanson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karlsson.
Karlsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Swanson is retaining full guard.
Karlsson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Karlsson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Swanson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karlsson is one step ahead there.
Stig Swanson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karlsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Swanson has wrist control.
Karlsson throws an elbow that misses. Swanson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karlsson's guard. Nice move by Swanson!
Swanson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karlsson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Swanson throwing strikes from guard but Karlsson blocks nicely.
Karlsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is refusing to be controlled, as Karlsson sits in half guard.
Swanson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Karlsson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Swanson trying to control but Karlsson postures up.
Karlsson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.
Karlsson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Swanson keeping hold of Karlsson's head, controlling as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.
Karlsson working Swanson over with strikes.
Karlsson wants to control but Swanson is keeping him busy.
Swanson has his hands clasped together around Karlsson's back. He's all about the action.
Swanson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Swanson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson is looking to sweep but instead, Karlsson has passed into half guard.
Karlsson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Swanson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Karlsson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Karlsson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

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