PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ulf Eriksson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Massagatti (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.

Eriksson
vs
Massagatti

186 cm
19
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ulf Eriksson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Massagatti!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Massagatti or perhaps it was just good defense by Eriksson which made him look bad.

Eriksson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Eriksson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Eriksson trying to control the position from guard on top but Massagatti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eriksson thows a big elbow that misses.
Massagatti wants to stand and escape but Eriksson is having none of it.

Massagatti is looking for a triangle but Eriksson pushes his legs off easily.
Massagatti keeping moving, preventing Eriksson from controlling successfully.

Eriksson gets to his feet - Massagatti follows without any prompting.

Eriksson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Massagatti sprawls well initially but Eriksson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Eriksson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eriksson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Massagatti tries to kick Eriksson off but Eriksson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Massagatti wants to get back to full guard but Eriksson has passed into side control.
Eriksson with good strikes from the mount here!
Eriksson is landing with some decent strikes but Massagatti is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Eriksson goes for an armbar but Massagatti turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Massagatti.

Eriksson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Massagatti can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Eriksson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eriksson is trying to keep Massagatti in close.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Eriksson holds on and takes a little breather.
Massagatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Eriksson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eriksson wants to stand up but Massagatti is controlling him.
Massagatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Eriksson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massagatti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eriksson is keeping the position for now.
Eriksson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Massagatti lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Massagatti throws a wild body kick that Eriksson sees coming a mile off.
Massagatti tries to clinch but Eriksson is having none of it.
Eriksson fails with the takedown.
Eriksson looks to land a combination but Massagatti avoids it well.
Massagatti has his takedown stuffed

and Eriksson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Massagatti wants to control but Eriksson is keeping busy.
Eriksson is looking to take a break and control but Massagatti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Massagatti wants to improve his position but Eriksson is controlling well.
Eriksson tries to pass to full mount but Massagatti defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulf Eriksson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Massagatti misses with a takedown attempt

and Eriksson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Eriksson wants to control from the top but Massagatti keeps moving.
Eriksson throwing strikes from guard but Massagatti blocks nicely.
Eriksson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Massagatti keeping moving, preventing Eriksson from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Massagatti is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Massagatti postures up in Eriksson's guard and throws a big left but Eriksson blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eriksson is trying to control the position but Massagatti postures up.
Eriksson wants to control but Massagatti passes easily into half guard.
Eriksson tries to kick Massagatti off but Massagatti keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Massagatti seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eriksson is trying to stand.
Eriksson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Eriksson wants to sweep but Massagatti has passed to side control!
Eriksson is looking for a sweep.
Ulf Eriksson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Massagatti trying to control the position but Eriksson is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Eriksson prevents Massagatti from improving position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Massagatti shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Massagatti showed some decent athleticism there.
Eriksson won't allow Massagatti to pass to mount.
Massagatti trying to control from Eriksson's half guard. Eriksson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Eriksson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massagatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Eriksson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Eriksson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Massagatti is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Eriksson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Massagatti's back instead.
Massagatti turns into Eriksson and is now in his guard.
Eriksson controls Massagatti momentarily but Massagatti frees himself.

Eriksson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Massagatti is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Eriksson.

That's four 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.
Eriksson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Massagatti is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Eriksson is desperately trying to improve his position but Massagatti has a good base and remains in mount.

Massagatti working for a submission but Eriksson is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eriksson is trying to escape the mount.
Eriksson tries to lock up and control but Massagatti gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Massagatti will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Massagatti gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Eriksson counters with a single leg into guard. Massagatti didn't expect that.
Massagatti keeping full guard, as Eriksson tries to pass.
Massagatti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eriksson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eriksson postures up.
Massagatti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eriksson wants to control from the top but Massagatti keeps moving.
Eriksson tries to free his leg and advance position but Massagatti is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Massagatti is looking for a triangle but Eriksson pushes his legs off easily.

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

Eriksson instigates a clinch.
Massagatti tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Eriksson smiles and moves away.

Eriksson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Massagatti struggling a bit here.
Eriksson is staying tight to Massagatti's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massagatti struggling a bit here.
Massagatti regains half guard.
Eriksson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Eriksson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Massagatti trying to get back to full guard but Eriksson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Eriksson avoids the attempt from Massagatti to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massagatti is wriggling around trying to escape.

Eriksson looking for a guillotine from mount but Massagatti is having none of it.
Eriksson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Eriksson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Massagatti?
Massagatti is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Massagatti holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Eriksson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Eriksson wants to take Massagatti's back but he can't do it this time.
Massagatti regains half guard.
Massagatti won't allow Eriksson to pass to mount.
Massagatti keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Massagatti tries to roll over but Eriksson keeps him under control.
Eriksson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Massagatti defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ulf Eriksson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Eriksson 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ulf Eriksson!