PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mak Karatzas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Hamilton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Karatzas
vs
Hamilton

200 cm
18
189 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

178 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mak Karatzas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Hamilton!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hamilton scores with a takedown into Karatzas's guard.

Karatzas uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Karatzas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hamilton decides to pull guard.
Hamilton wants to get back to his feet but Karatzas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hamilton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karatzas manages to get himself to full guard.

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!
Hamilton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hamilton tries to free his leg and advance position but Karatzas is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hamilton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hamilton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Karatzas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karatzas keeping moving, preventing Hamilton from controlling successfully.
Hamilton seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hamilton works over Karatzas with some ground and pound from guard.
Karatzas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hamilton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Karatzas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hamilton sprawls well. Hamilton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karatzas gets slowly back to his feet.

Hamilton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hamilton decides to stand up, so the ref orders Karatzas to his feet.

Hamilton closes the distance and pushes Karatzas back into the cage.

Karatzas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Karatzas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hamilton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Karatzas looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Karatzas has momentary wrist control but Hamilton slips an elbow through the middle.
Hamilton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hamilton stands up and waves to Karatzas to follow him.

Hamilton has closed the distance and engaged Karatzas in a clinch.
Hamilton content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karatzas is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Karatzas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hamilton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Karatzas looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hamilton shoots in and bounces Karatzas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hamilton is standing up over Karatzas. Karatzas looks to escape but Hamilton dives into side control.

Hamilton wants to control but Karatzas is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamilton staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hamilton decides to stand back up. Hamilton steps back and let's Karatzas get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karatzas.

Hamilton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Karatzas on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Hamilton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Karatzas is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hamilton has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Craig Hamilton has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hamilton tries for a kimura but Karatzas is defending well.
Karatzas is letting Hamilton control him for a moment.
Karatzas can't do much from the bottom here.

Hamilton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karatzas is trying to get back to half guard.
Karatzas can't do much from the bottom here.
Hamilton is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Karatzas's shoulder. That is not cool.
Hamilton's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Karatzas is not content to let Hamilton control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Karatzas 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
No joy there for Hamilton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karatzas closes the distance and clinches up with Hamilton, looking for a takedown. Karatzas pushes Hamilton against the cage but Hamilton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hamilton feints the counter takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hamilton throws a body kick that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Karatzas misses its target.
Karatzas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hamilton pinned against the cage. Hamilton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mak Karatzas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karatzas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Hamilton has closed the distance and engaged Karatzas in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hamilton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hamilton moves into the clinch successfully.

Hamilton manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Hamilton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Karatzas avoids the head kick by Hamilton.
Hamilton takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Hamilton has Karatzas up against the cage in a clinch.

Hamilton manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Karatzas wants to stand but Hamilton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hamilton is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karatzas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hamilton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karatzas prevents Hamilton from getting back to his feet.
Hamilton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hamilton trying to control the position from guard on top but Karatzas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hamilton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karatzas is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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.
Hamilton is still trying to improve position.

Hamilton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Karatzas is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Karatzas has escaped and now he's on top!

Hamilton wants to stand but Karatzas is controlling the position.
Hamilton wants to hit a switch here but Karatzas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hamilton there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karatzas looking to control but Hamilton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hamilton tries to hold on but Karatzas postures up.
Hamilton really wants to buck Karatzas off and get back to his feet.

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.
Karatzas tries to control but Hamilton wriggling away.
Hamilton is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hamilton holds on for dear life, controlling Karatzas's posture momentarily.
Hamilton is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hamilton holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Karatzas tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hamilton tries to hold on but Karatzas pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mak Karatzas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hamilton 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Hamilton!