PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darren Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Smith might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Oh Well.. Darren Smith has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Smith
vs
Karlsson

183 cm
25
220 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
210 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Grappling Pro Gear

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Erik Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith connects with a single shot there.
Smith comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Smith stuffs the takedown attempt from Karlsson. Karlsson gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Karlsson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Karlsson somewhat.
Darren Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Karlsson.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karlsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Nice body kick there by Smith.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karlsson.
Karlsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Karlsson.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Karlsson looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Karlsson looks gassed!
An inside leg kick lands from Smith.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karlsson looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Karlsson's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crunch! Smith slams his shin into Karlsson's torso.

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Karlsson, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Karlsson blocks with his arms.
Smith prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Smith.
Smith is working Karlsson over against the cage.
Smith digs a right hand into Karlsson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Karlsson's gas tank.
Smith taking a breather.
A shot in the inside from Smith.
Smith lands a good knee to the midsection. Karlsson won't want to take too many of those.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
Smith using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Smith landing knees to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Smith.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.
Smith working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Smith.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Karlsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Karlsson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Karlsson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Karlsson looking to pass the guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Karlsson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith throws a right hand that Karlsson ducks under and follows up with a left that Karlsson also avoids with ease.
Horrible takedown by Karlsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Karlsson fails to land the takedown.
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Smith lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Smith fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Karlsson checks it well.
Smith lands with an overhand left.
Darren Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karlsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Karlsson persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karlsson is aware though and is defending well.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Karlsson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karlsson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
Karlsson tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.
Karlsson controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karlsson moves into full mount! Smith won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Karlsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith is looking to slow Karlsson down with leg kicks.
Karlsson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.

Karlsson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Karlsson getting side control.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Karlsson is looking to advance position but Smith has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Karlsson is trying desperately to improve position.
Smith tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Karlsson tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Karlsson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Karlsson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Karlsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Karlsson is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith throwing strikes here but Karlsson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Karlsson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Smith is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Karlsson can't escape the position.
Karlsson tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Karlsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Karlsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith controlling the pace for now.
Karlsson is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karlsson is looking to escape.
Karlsson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith avoids the attempt from Karlsson to control.
Karlsson can't escape the position.

Smith is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Karlsson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Karlsson shrugs it off.
Karlsson is trying desperately to improve position.
Karlsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karlsson looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Karlsson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
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 Darren Smith will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith scores with a nice body kick.

Karlsson gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith is trying to control but Karlsson passes into side control!
Karlsson is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karlsson advances to mount.
BOOM! Karlsson connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Karlsson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smith can't escape the position.
Karlsson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Karlsson landing strikes from the mount.
Karlsson landing punches.
Karlsson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Karlsson working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big strike lands for Karlsson! That's really hurt Smith and he's turned his back - Karlsson keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Karlsson Jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Erik Karlsson!