PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alysian Karalis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Karalis might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Staying Alive by Cursive. Scott has chosen Massive Attack - One thought at a time as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Alysian Karalis has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Alysian Karalis seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Karalis
vs
Scott

170 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
186 lbs
7 - 6 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alysian Karalis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 2, fighting out of New York, James Scott!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scott showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Karalis.
Scott swats away the attempt to clinch by Karalis.
Scott keeps the fight on the outside.
Karalis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Scott paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karalis.
Karalis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Scott avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karalis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alysian Karalis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Scott gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Scott keeping moving, preventing Karalis from controlling successfully.
Karalis passes into half guard.
Karalis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karalis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Karalis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Scott does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Karalis wants to pass to mount but Scott is defending the position.
Karalis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karalis is looking to advance position but Scott won't allow it.
Karalis looks to land a strike but Scott avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Karalis postures up in Scott's guard and throws a big left but Scott blocks it.
Scott tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Scott 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.
Karalis controls Scott momentarily but Scott frees himself.
Karalis managing to control the position.

Scott drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Scott jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karalis is trying to control the position but Scott postures up.
Scott wants to pass the guard but Karalis is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Scott thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Karalis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Scott looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karalis is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karalis moves in looking to clinch but Scott pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alysian Karalis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Karalis misses with a takedown

and Scott counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karalis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Karalis wants to sweep but no luck.
Karalis working a defensive guard here.
Karalis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Scott stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karalis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karalis trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karalis is really struggling to control Scott but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Karalis wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Karalis tries to clinch up

so Scott counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Karalis trying to keep a closed guard but Scott is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Scott has gone for a leg lock! Karalis slips out almost immediately though and dives into Scott's guard.
Karalis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Scott's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scott keeping moving, preventing Karalis from controlling successfully.
Karalis won't allow Scott to sweep him here.
Karalis wants to control from the top but Scott keeps moving.

Scott is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karalis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Scott works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Scott can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Karalis controls the pace.
Karalis lands a couple of elbows.
Scott keeping moving, preventing Karalis from controlling successfully.
Karalis throws a strike but Scott rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Karalis trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott postures up.
Scott wants to pass the guard but Karalis is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Karalis holds on and takes a little breather.
Karalis wants to sweep here but Scott controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Scott showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Karalis clinches but Scott breaks the clinch

and Scott counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karalis looking to control but Scott passes into half guard.
Scott is thwarting Karalis's attempts to control the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alysian Karalis just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Karalis tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Scott counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Scott.

Scott postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Karalis is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Scott, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karalis trying to control but Scott is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Karalis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Karalis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Karalis forces his way into half guard.
Karalis looks to land a strike but Scott avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Karalis landing with the ground and pound.
Karalis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Karalis stands up over Scott, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Karalis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Karalis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Karalis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karalis works over Scott with some ground and pound from guard.
Scott keeping moving, preventing Karalis from controlling successfully.
Scott being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott keeping full guard, as Karalis tries to pass.
Karalis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karalis connects with a couple of short punches.
Karalis passes Scott's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Karalis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Karalis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karalis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Karalis slips a nice elbow through Scott's hands, connecting with Scott's forehead.

Karalis is working for a submission of some sort.
Scott takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Scott regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Karalis.
Karalisis looking to pass into half guard but Scott pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Scott is in guard.
Karalis has Scott pulled in close to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Scott.
Well Scott has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Scott!