PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grover Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Cormier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Erickson
vs
Cormier

197 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grover Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Erickson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Cormier manages to circle out of the way.
Cormier looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Erickson is fending him off so far but Cormier persists. Nope, Erickson circles away and we're back to standing.
It appears Erickson was looking to counter with a kick there.
Cormier will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cormier tries to clinch there but Erickson circles away.
Cormier tries to close the distance and clinch but Erickson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Erickson is looking to counter the offense by Cormier and move into the clinch.

Cormier bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cormier content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson tries to improve position but can't.

Cormier looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Erickson defending against the ground and pound.
Erickson tries to strike but it doesn't land.

Cormier is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Erickson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Erickson wants to control but Cormier postures up.

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.
Erickson tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Erickson wants to hold on but Cormier pushes him away.
Erickson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Erickson tries to lock up and control but Cormier gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cormier landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cormier trying to control but Erickson is having none of it.
Cormier looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cormier tries to control but Erickson wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Erickson is in all sorts of trouble here.

Cormier moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Erickson has worked his arm free - good work by Erickson!
Erickson wants to control but Cormier postures up.
Cormier trying to control the action but Erickson is working from the bottom.
Erickson can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Cormier throws a strike aimed at the side of Erickson's head but Erickson avoids it well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cormier working away.
Erickson tries to buck Cormier off but Cormier is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cormier fails with the takedown

and Erickson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Grover Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Cormier.
Cormier looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erickson gets through Cormier's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Erickson pulls guard successfully.
Erickson is trying to control the position but Cormier postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Cormier dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight stays on the outside here - Cormier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No joy there for Cormier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Erickson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Cormier.
Cormier moves to clinch but Erickson breaks away
and Erickson counters with a solid body kick.
Cormier tries for a takedown but Erickson circles away easily
and Erickson counters with a low kick, right behind Cormier 's knee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier misses with a body shot.
Erickson is looking to counter the offense by Cormier and move into the clinch.
Cormier throws a left and a right that both miss
and Erickson counters with a two punch combo.
Cormier is breathing heavily.

Erickson clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Erickson is defending well.

Erickson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Erickson keeping full guard, as Cormier tries to pass.
Erickson has his hands on Cormier's head, controlling the position.
Cormier postures up.
Erickson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cormier throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cormier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Erickson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cormier stopping the sweep attempt from Erickson.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Erickson scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cormier throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Erickson counters with an outside leg kick.

Erickson drives through and clinches with Cormier against the cage.
Erickson stalling the fight.
Erickson lands a right hand.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Erickson stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Erickson manages to break the clinch.
Cormier fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grover Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Cormier.

Erickson clinches.

Erickson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cormier uses from the top position.

Erickson looking for a guillotine here but Cormier defends easily.

Erickson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Erickson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cormier is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cormier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Erickson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cormier has managed to get both his arms back between Erickson's legs - danger averted.
Erickson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cormier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Erickson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Erickson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Erickson forces Cormier back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grover Erickson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Erickson closes the distance and clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Erickson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Erickson lands a left hand.
Erickson is trying to pull guard but Cormier has him pressed against the cage.

Erickson jumps guard.
Cormier lands a couple of digs.

Erickson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Daniel Cormier has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier wants to get up but he can't break Erickson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier throws a big right hand that misses.

Cormier gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Erickson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cormier tries to clinch but Erickson moves out of range.
Cormier tries to clinch
enabling Erickson to counter with a crisp jab.

Cormier gets a takedown into half guard.
Cormier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cormier is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cormier wants to control the pace but Erickson is squirming around nicely.
Erickson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cormier is looking to work his way around to Erickson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Cormier wants to control the pace but Erickson is squirming around nicely.
Erickson is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Erickson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Cormier. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cormier is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Erickson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Erickson!
Cormier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Erickson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Erickson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Erickson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Erickson postures up in Cormier's guard and throws a big left but Cormier blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Erickson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Erickson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Erickson cracks Cormier with a solid left hand.
Erickson throws a big right hand that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Erickson closes the distance and pushes Cormier back into the cage.
Erickson avoiding damage.
Erickson scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erickson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Cormier tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Erickson smiles and moves away.
Daniel Cormier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Erickson moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grover Erickson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Erickson 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grover Erickson!