PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bengt Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Karlsson
vs
Gomi

178 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

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 Amsterdam, Bengt Karlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takanori Gomi!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Karlsson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
An inside leg kick from Karlsson misses.
Karlsson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Karlsson dodges the punch combination from Gomi.
Gomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karlsson.
Karlsson misses with a body punch
and Gomi counters with a two punch combo.
Karlsson is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Karlsson misses.
Gomi looks to land a combination but Karlsson avoids it well.
Karlsson throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi misses with a few strikes there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Karlsson slips a jab and a cross from Gomi.
Gomi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gomi wants to clinch up but Karlsson keeps it at a distance.
Gomi checks the leg kick.
Karlsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Gomi circles away.
Karlsson slips a jab and a cross from Gomi.
Karlsson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Karlsson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Gomi lands a left and a right that send Karlsson crashing to the mat, dazed. Gomi thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Bengt Karlsson has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Gomi misses.
Gomi fails to land with a series of punches.
Karlsson on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Karlsson is rocked!
Gomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karlsson.
Gomi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gomi misses with a few strikes there.
Karlsson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Karlsson is looking to slow Gomi down with leg kicks.
Gomi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bengt Karlsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gomi thuds his right hand into Karlsson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Karlsson throws a leg kick but Gomi sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Karlsson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gomi, pushing him back against the cage.
Gomi can't break the clinch.

Karlsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karlsson fakes the leg kick and cracks Gomi in the body.

Karlsson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Karlsson is looking for a kimura but Gomi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Karlsson to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gomi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Karlsson is taking a breather. Gomi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Karlsson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gomi for as long as he can get away with.
Karlsson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson slows the pace down in half guard.
Karlsson is keen to just control but Gomi is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karlsson is pressing down on Gomi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gomi is holding on for now.
Karlsson stalling.
Karlsson works his way into side control.

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.
Gomi on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Karlsson staying calm.

Karlsson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Karlsson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gomi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Karlsson but great work by Gomi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Gomi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bengt Karlsson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gomi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gomi looks to land a combination but Karlsson avoids it well.
Takanori Gomi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Karlsson clinches up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gomi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Karlsson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gomi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Karlsson smiles and moves away.

Karlsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gomi to the mat! Gomi manages to get full guard.
Karlsson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Karlsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gomi keeps working.
Gomi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gomi keeps working.
Gomi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Karlsson off and has taken his back!

Gomi is persistently looking for the submission but Karlsson is defending it well.
Gomi is breathing heavily.
Karlsson trying to control the position but Gomi manages to sink in the hooks.

Karlsson showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to roll but Gomi sticks to his back.
Gomi is not going to allow Karlsson to sit and survive in this position.
Karlsson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Karlsson breaks Gomi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Karlsson advances to half guard.
Karlsson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Karlsson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gomi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to stand and escape but Gomi is controlling the position.
Karlsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Karlsson wants to pass to mount but Gomi is defending the position.
Karlsson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gomi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Karlsson trying to pass the guard but Gomi defending well.
Karlsson is trying to control. Gomi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karlsson just misses with a punch to the body.
Karlsson throws a right hand that Gomi ducks under and follows up with a left that Gomi also avoids with ease.
Gomi misses with a two punch combination.
Gomi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karlsson.
Bengt Karlsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gomi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gomi throws a right and a left that Karlsson avoids nicely.
Karlsson shoots in for a takedown but Gomi shows good takedown defense.
Gomi misses with a two punch combination.
Takanori Gomi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Karlsson.

Karlsson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gomi's half guard.

Gomi looking for submissions off his back.
Karlsson is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Gomi reverses the position - he's now on top in Karlsson's 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 Bengt Karlsson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bengt Karlsson's cut.
That's time! Karlsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Gomi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gomi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Karlsson circles away quickly and effectively.
Karlsson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomi.
Gomi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Karlsson rushes Gomi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Karlsson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Karlsson seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Karlsson drags the fight down to the ground.
Karlsson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gomi!
Karlsson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karlsson misses with a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson wants to control the pace but Gomi is squirming around nicely.
Karlsson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gomi because Karlsson loaded up on that one.
Gomi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Karlsson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Karlsson tries to control but Gomi wriggling away.
Karlsson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gomi because Karlsson loaded up on that one.
Gomi is wriggling around trying to escape.

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.
Karlsson trying to control but Gomi is having none of it.
Karlsson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Karlsson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Karlsson looking to control but Gomi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gomi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Karlsson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gomi is looking to escape.
Karlsson prevents Gomi from getting the reversal.
Karlsson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Karlsson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gomi is now in Karlsson's guard. A big mistake from Karlsson there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four 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.
Karlsson working a defensive guard here.

Gomi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Karlsson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gomi, into his guard.
Gomi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Karlsson.
Karlsson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karlsson pushes down on Gomi's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bengt Karlsson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Karlsson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Bengt Karlsson!