PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Hawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mikael Karlsson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hawkins
vs
Karlsson

200 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyler Hawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mikael Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawkins shoots and misses

and Karlsson counters with a takedown into side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hawkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karlsson controls the position.
Hawkins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hawkins is trying to improve his position.
Karlsson takes a little break here. Hawkins wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hawkins is trying to control Karlsson's posture but Karlsson avoids it.
Hawkins tries to buck Karlsson off but Karlsson is having none of it.
Hawkins wants to control but Karlsson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson is chipping away with strikes.

Karlsson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hawkins to his feet.
Hawkins looks to clinch

and Karlsson counters by clinching up.

Karlsson wants the takedown. Hawkins is fighting it off but Karlsson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hawkins's guard against the cage.
Karlsson looks winded!
Karlsson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hawkins keeping full guard, as Karlsson tries to pass.
Hawkins is trying to keep Karlsson in close.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is pushing down on Hawkins's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hawkins is fighting to maintain full guard but Karlsson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Karlsson content to control rather than advance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hawkins won't allow Karlsson to pass to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karlsson works his way into side control.
Karlsson staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hawkins tries to control but Karlsson manages to take his back.
I would not like to be Hawkins right now.
Let's hope that Karlsson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Karlsson. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson scores with punches and elbows.
Karlsson punishes Hawkins with strikes from the back mount.
Hawkins holding both Karlsson 's hands and preventing any damage.
Karlsson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Hawkins.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Karlsson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Karlsson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hawkins looking to control but Karlsson passes into half guard.
Hawkins is looking to improve his position.
Karlsson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hawkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karlsson is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson not doing much here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karlsson passes to side control.

Karlsson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Karlsson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hawkins trying to control but Karlsson flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Hawkins's body.
Karlsson lands a shot to the body.
Karlsson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Karlsson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Hawkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawkins wants to get back to his feet.
Karlsson has good solid back control here.

Karlsson is cranking Hawkins's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Hawkins! He's tightened the choke and Hawkins is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mikael Karlsson!
Mikael Karlsson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.