PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lay Pray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Karlsson
vs
Pray

178 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mikael Karlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lay Pray!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pray doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a stiff right hand.
Pray shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pray's knee momentarily.

Karlsson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pray can do anything to dispel that myth.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Karlsson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Karlsson is looking to take a break and control but Pray is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Karlsson is trying to get an arm triangle but Pray is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pray is 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 two 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.
Karlsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pray keeps working.
Karlsson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pray is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Karlsson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Pray!
Karlsson tries to control but Pray wriggling away.
Karlsson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Pray because Karlsson loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pray working to try and regain half guard.
Karlsson wants to control the pace but Pray is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is trying to control here but Pray has managed to regain half guard.

Pray looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Karlsson wants to control but Pray is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mikael Karlsson just wasn't active enough.
Pray shoots in and drives through. Karlsson sprawls well.
Mikael Karlsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lay Pray.
Pray shoots in looking for a takedown but Karlsson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pray's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Karlsson dominated that round.
That's time! Karlsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pray misses with a takedown attempt
and Karlsson counters with a thumping low kick.

Pray shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Karlsson kicks Pray off and gets back to his feet.
Pray has his takedown stuffed
and Karlsson counters with a two punch combo.
Danga de danga de dang - Karlsson scores with a four punch combination!
Pray fails with the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a left and a right that stings Pray.
Mikael Karlsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lay Pray.
Pray shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a left and a right that stings Pray.
Pray fails with the takedown
and Pray takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pray is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Karlsson drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pray throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Karlsson escapes and throws Pray's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Karlsson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Karlsson trying to control the action but Pray is working from the bottom.
Pray is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pray keeps working.

Karlsson decides to stand back up.
Pray takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pray with a poor takedown
and Karlsson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Karlsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Karlsson!
Pray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Karlsson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pray's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pray doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pray's knee momentarily.
Karlsson looks for a takedown but Pray sprawls well.
Pray shoots in for a takedown but Karlsson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Karlsson counters with a three punch combo that has Pray backing up. Pray nods at Karlsson to acknowledge the strikes.
Pray fails with the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a body kick.

Karlsson rushes Pray and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Karlsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pray shoots and misses
and Karlsson counters with a nice body kick.

Karlsson shoots in and bounces Pray off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Pray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karlsson stands and throws Pray's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Karlsson is looking to take a break and control but Pray is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karlsson wants to stand but Pray has his arm trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Karlsson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pray misses with a takedown attempt - Karlsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lay Pray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karlsson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karlsson.
Karlsson advances to half guard.
Pray won't allow Karlsson to pass to mount.
Karlsson trying to control from Pray's half guard. Pray has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Pray looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Pray looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Karlsson has picked Pray up and slammed him! Pray can't keep hold of the triangle and Karlsson manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to get to his feet but Pray is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Karlsson in his guard.

Pray is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Karlsson defends well.
Karlsson looking to sit in guard and control but Pray gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pray throwing strikes from guard but Karlsson blocks nicely.
Pray lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pray postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pray postures up in Karlsson's guard and throws a big left but Karlsson blocks it.
Pray with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pray lands a couple of digs.
Pray landing with the ground and pound.
Karlsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pray working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pray keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Karlsson's head.
Pray is in close to Karlsson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pray's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Karlsson is rocked!
Pray connects with a couple of short punches.
Oh Karlsson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pray postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pray postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Karlsson covers up, he's hurt! Pray keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Pray and the ref steps in to end the fight! Pray can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lay Pray!