PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ludvig Ericsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jesse Blake enters the cage!

Ericsson
vs
Blake

186 cm
23
212 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
209 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludvig Ericsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Blake!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ericsson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blake.
Ericsson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ericsson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Blake under the eye.
Blake lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ericsson at a distance.
Ericsson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ericsson throws a push kick but Blake slaps the foot to one side.
Blake missing with a left hand there. Ericsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blake takes a swing at Ericsson's ribcage but misses.
Blake misses with a wild body shot.
Blake misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blake pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ericsson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ericsson has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hunter MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Ericsson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A low kick from Blake misses

and Ericsson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Blake won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ericsson trying to control the action but Blake is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ericsson connects with a decent elbow.
A lull in the action here.
Blake tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blake trying to remain calm as Ericsson controls from the top position.
Blake can't do much from the bottom here.
Blake takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blake is trying to get back to half guard.
Ericsson working the ground and pound.
Ericsson working the head with strikes.
Ericsson just content to control the position.
Ericsson lands a nice forearm strike.
Blake can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake prevents Ericsson from moving into mount.
Ericsson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Blake sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ericsson just content to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ericsson trying to control the position but Blake is working away.
Ericsson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

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.
Blake prevents Ericsson from moving into mount.
Blake trying to control but Ericsson flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Ericsson lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blake tries to escape the position.
Ericsson has good solid back control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

An inside leg kick lands from Ericsson.
Ericsson cracks Blake with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Blake scores with a body shot.

Ericsson clinches up against the cage.
Ericsson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A short left from Ericsson.
Blake lands a body shot.
Ericsson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blake can do to turn this around?
Blake effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Blake.
Ericsson is working Blake over against the cage.
Ericsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ericsson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ericsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ericsson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ericsson misses with a punch on the inside.

Ericsson breaks the clinch.
Ericsson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Blake is out of range.
Blake lands with a hook. Ericsson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Blake finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ericsson avoids the body shot from Blake.
Blake keeps Ericsson at a distance using the push kick.
Ericsson throws a body shot but no joy.
Blake appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Blake dips to his left and cracks Ericsson with an uppercut!

Ericsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blake to the mat! Blake manages to get full guard.
Ericsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Blake has wrist control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ericsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Blake controls Ericsson momentarily but Ericsson frees himself.
Ericsson chips away with some ground and pound.
Ericsson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Blake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ericsson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blake has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ericsson has managed to get both his arms back between Blake's legs - danger averted.
Ericsson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Blake controls Ericsson momentarily but Ericsson frees himself.

Blake had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ericsson defends it easily.
Ludvig Ericsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ericsson connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ericsson postures up.
Ericsson is working Blake over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ericsson throws a big right hand that misses.
Blake manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ericsson manages to get himself to full guard.

Ericsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ericsson, not yet.
Ericsson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blake manages to get himself to full guard.

Ericsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludvig Ericsson 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!

A jab lands there for Blake.
Ericsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blake misses with a hook.
Jesse Blake seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ericsson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Blake looks to land a left hand but Ericsson moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Ericsson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ericsson.
Ericsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ericsson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jesse Blake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Blake misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Blake has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Blake fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ericsson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Blake throws a poor cross that misses

and Ericsson counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ericsson controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blake is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson is looking to take a break and control but Blake is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blake is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ericsson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Blake will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Blake takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blake manages to get back to half guard.
Ericsson is taking a breather. Blake 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.
Ericsson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blake is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blake manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Blake is adopting a defensive guard.
Ericsson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blake looking to control.
Ericsson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jesse Blake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blake misses with a hook. Ericsson ducked under it nicely.
Ericsson feinted with a counter takedown.
An inside leg kick lands from Ericsson.
Blake looks for the body kick but Ericsson saw that one coming.
Blake misses with a hook to the body

and Ericsson counters with a shoot takedown. Blake fights it but they end up in guard.
Ericsson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Blake tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ludvig Ericsson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson connects with a couple of short punches.
Ericsson won't allow Blake to sweep him here.
Ericsson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Blake wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ericsson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ericsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blake is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ludvig Ericsson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ericsson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludvig Ericsson!