PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefan Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karlsson has chosen Loyal to no one - Dropkick Murphys as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Phillips
vs
Karlsson

194 cm
19
211 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

185 cm
23
207 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, James Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Stefan Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phillips gets the takedown into side control.
Karlsson looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Phillips wants to control but Karlsson is keeping him busy.

Phillips is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Karlsson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Phillips content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Phillips tries to move into full mount but can't pass Karlsson's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Phillips is trying to ground and pound but Karlsson uses the momentary lack of control by Phillips to regain half guard.
Phillips trying to pass the guard but Karlsson defending well.
Phillips trying to control the action but Karlsson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Phillips looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Phillips with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Phillips seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Karlsson for as long as he can get away with.
Phillips throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Phillips seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is refusing to be controlled, as Phillips sits in half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. James Phillips just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Phillips closes this distance looking for a takedown but Karlsson circles away.
Good leg kick by Karlsson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karlsson but Karlsson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phillips.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karlsson lands with a nice combination. Phillips backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips shoots in and drives through. Karlsson sprawls well.

Phillips scores with a takedown into Karlsson's guard.
Phillips wants to pass the guard but Karlsson is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Karlsson holds on and takes a little breather.
Phillips tries to free his leg and advance position but Karlsson is retaining full guard.
Phillips is looking to advance position but Karlsson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Phillips fails with a takedown attempt.
Karlsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phillips changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karlsson tries to avoid it but Phillips manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karlsson to the ground. Karlsson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown but Karlsson shows good takedown defense.
Karlsson is breathing heavily.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karlsson as he avoids it easily.
James Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Karlsson.
Phillips misses with a looping left.
Phillips is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Karlsson.
Karlsson lands a head shot.

Phillips gets the takedown into side control.
Karlsson is looking to regain half guard here but Phillips keeps moving and retains side control.
Karlsson prevents Phillips from improving position.
Phillips in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Karlsson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Phillips tries for a kimura but Karlsson is defending well.
Phillips working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Phillips's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Phillips thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Phillips misses with a punch to the head.
Phillips trying to control.

Karlsson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Phillips.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phillips just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stefan Karlsson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Phillips with that takedown attempt.
Karlsson lands with a shot to the body.
Karlsson looks for a takedown but Phillips sprawls well.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Karlsson circles away easily
and Karlsson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karlsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips fails with the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a big head kick but Phillips shrugs it off.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Karlsson circles away easily
and Karlsson counters with a nice uppercut.
James Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Phillips is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Phillips shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two 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.
Phillips blocks a head kick by Karlsson.
Phillips needs to keep his hands up - Karlsson had a free shot at his head there.

Karlsson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Karlsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Phillips goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Phillips shoots in and bounces Karlsson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karlsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karlsson wants to stand and escape but Phillips is having none of it.
Phillips slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karlsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Karlsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Phillips shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karlsson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phillips gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Karlsson counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stefan Karlsson.
I think Karlsson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Stefan Karlsson!