PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neal Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eon Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Neal Erickson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Erickson
vs
Kane

225 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Neal Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eon Kane!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Chris Dean and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erickson dives in and grabs Kane's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kane pushes down on Erickson's head and hops out.

Erickson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kane, pushing him back against the cage.
Erickson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Erickson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kane just stands there and leans against the cage.
Erickson wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kane has Erickson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Erickson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kane should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Erickson tries to pull guard but Kane forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Neal Erickson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Erickson has a takedown stuffed.
We've been hearing reports that Erickson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Erickson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kane defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Erickson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kane but Kane pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kane looks to throw the jab but Erickson is out of range.
Kane throws a wild body kick that Erickson sees coming a mile off.
Erickson tries to clinch but Kane moves out of range.
Erickson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Erickson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kane swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kane slaps away a takedown attempt from Erickson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kane counters with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kane.
Erickson tries to clinch up but Kane circles away and keeps his distance.

Erickson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Erickson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Erickson wants a takedown.

Kane manages to break the clinch.
Kane swats away the attempt to clinch by Erickson.
Kane wants to slow Erickson down by chopping away at his legs.
Erickson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Erickson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Erickson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Erickson blocks an uppercut.
Erickson jumps guard but Kane turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Erickson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kane manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kane misses with a hook from the clinch.

Kane pulls guard effortlessly.
Erickson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Erickson wants to stand but Kane has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kane looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kane pulls Erickson in to control the position.
Erickson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kane is keeping the position for now.
Erickson wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.
Kane can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Erickson controls the pace.
Erickson preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erickson wanted to stand there but Kane had control of the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eon Kane dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Erickson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Erickson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Erickson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Kane has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Erickson is on him like a limpet, forcing Kane back against the cage.
Erickson has Kane pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kane manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Erickson letting Kane take a breather here.
Erickson is trying to maintain a safe position but Kane gets an underhook and turns Erickson into the cage.

Kane gets control of Erickson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kane will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kane is breathing heavily.
Kane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Erickson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Erickson throwing strikes from guard but Kane blocks nicely.
Erickson wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.
Erickson works over Kane with some ground and pound from guard.
Kane trying to control the position.
Eon Kane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Erickson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.

Erickson darts in and clinches Kane up against the cage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kane has eaten all the pies!
Kane has Erickson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Erickson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Erickson breaks from the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Erickson!

Erickson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kane on his heels. He'll look to pass Kane's guard now, I'm sure.
Erickson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Erickson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Erickson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Erickson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Erickson wants to stand but Kane has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Erickson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kane is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Erickson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kane circles away.
Erickson tries to clinch up.
Kane replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Erickson blocks it well.
Erickson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kane paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Erickson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Erickson doesn't manage to clinch there - Kane circles away.
Erickson misses with a low kick.
It seemed like Kane was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Erickson shoots in but Kane avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Erickson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kane if he has to take too many more of those.
Kane keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erickson wants to clinch.
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 Neal Erickson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Erickson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kane sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Erickson somewhat.
Erickson closes the distance and clinches up with Kane, looking for a takedown. Erickson pushes Kane against the cage but Kane circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Erickson feints and as Kane raises his hands in defense, Erickson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kane has his feet on Erickson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Eon Kane seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Erickson tries a head kick but it misses.

Kane has closed the distance and engaged Erickson in a clinch.
Kane is pushing Erickson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Erickson has had enough of the clinch but Kane keeps him there for the moment.
Kane takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane stalling the fight.
Erickson has had enough of the clinch but Kane keeps him there for the moment.
Kane is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kane jumps guard but Erickson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kane working hard to break the clinch.
Kane misses with a hook from the clinch.
Erickson can't get the takedown.
Kane stops a takedown attempt from Erickson.
Erickson lands a nice shot to the body.

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.

Erickson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Erickson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kane as he avoids it easily.
Erickson shoots in looking for a takedown. Kane tries to sprawl out of it but Erickson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kane manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kane with a poor takedown
and Erickson counters with a one-two to the body.

It looks like Eon Kane has been cut.
Erickson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kane circles away.
Erickson throws a head kick that misses.
Erickson fails with a takedown attempt.

Kane gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Erickson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Erickson looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erickson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Erickson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four 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.
Erickson is looking to stand up but Kane won't let him.
Erickson trying to control but Kane is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Erickson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Erickson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kane is fending him off so far but Erickson persists. Nope, Kane circles away and we're back to standing.
Kane takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Erickson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erickson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Erickson looks for a takedown but Kane sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Neal Erickson.
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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Eon Kane!