PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ludvig Ericsson (ranked 883 p4p, 138 weight class) and Alasdair Thacker (ranked 889 p4p, 139 weight class). Ludvig Ericsson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ericsson
vs
Thacker

186 cm
34
212 lbs
25 - 16 - 0

175 cm
36
197 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 25 - 16 - 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 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Alasdair Thacker!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ericsson blocks a low kick nicely.
Alasdair Thacker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ericsson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Ericsson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ericsson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ericsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thacker wants to improve his position but Ericsson is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thacker trying to control but Ericsson postures up.
Ericsson thows a huge punch but Thacker dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker tries to roll over but Ericsson keeps him under control.
Thacker is trying to maintain the position but Ericsson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thacker has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Jed's Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thacker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ericsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Thacker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Thacker looking for submissions off his back.
Ericsson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Thacker trying to control from the bottom.
Ericsson controlling the pace.
Thacker is trying to maintain the position but Ericsson is very close to passing his half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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.
Ericsson trying to control the action but Thacker is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ericsson moves out of range as Thacker strikes.
Alasdair Thacker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thacker lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Thacker looks to land a left hand but Ericsson moved out of range nicely.
Ericsson is looking to counter punch.
Thacker misses with a looping left.
Thacker scores with a hook to the body. Ericsson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ericsson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Ericsson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Thacker!
Ericsson working the ground and pound.
Thacker gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thacker regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ericsson manages to get himself to full guard.

Ericsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ericsson working a defensive guard here.

Thacker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Thacker stopping the sweep attempt from Ericsson.
Ericsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ericsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thacker.
Ericsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thacker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ericsson is proving hard to escape from.
Ericsson wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Thacker is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ericsson is on top in guard.

Ericsson wants to control from the top but Thacker keeps moving.
Ericsson lands a couple of elbows.
Thacker wants to sweep but no luck.
Ericsson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ericsson wants to control from the top but Thacker keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thacker wants to sweep but no luck.
Ericsson postures up in Thacker's guard and throws a big left but Thacker blocks it.
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 Ludvig Ericsson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ericsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thacker as he avoids it easily.
Ericsson looks for a takedown but Thacker sprawls well.
Thacker doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Ericsson gets a double leg takedown into Thacker's guard.
Ericsson is stalling in the full guard.

Thacker isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ericsson stacks Thacker on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ericsson!
Thacker is looking to regain half guard here but Ericsson keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson scoring with punches from side control.
Ericsson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thacker down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson grinds an elbow into Thacker's temple.
Ericsson scores with punches from side control.
Ericsson lands some shots froms side control.
Thacker sneaks back into half guard.
Ericsson is nestled in close to Thacker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Thacker is trying to control but can't.
Thacker is staying active underneath Ericsson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thacker tries to roll over but Ericsson keeps him under control.
Ericsson lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ericsson lands a nice short elbow.
Ericsson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker moves into full guard.
Ericsson is working Thacker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ericsson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thacker can do to turn this around?
Ericsson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ericsson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Thacker looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ericsson has picked Thacker up and slammed him! Thacker can't keep hold of the triangle and Ericsson manages to pass to side control!
Ericsson cracks Thacker with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Thacker can't do much from the bottom here.
Ericsson working the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thacker regains half guard.
Thacker tries to get to full guard but Ericsson has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson working over Thacker with some ground and pound. Thacker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ludvig Ericsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ericsson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thacker on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ericsson trying to control from half guard but Thacker is working away.
Thacker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thacker.
Ericsson stopping the sweep attempt from Thacker.
Ericsson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Thacker is looking for a triangle here but Ericsson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ericsson scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson happy to just control the position for now.
Ericsson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Thacker is trying to improve his position.
Ericsson is chipping away with strikes.
Ericsson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Thacker is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ericsson connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludvig Ericsson dominated that second round.
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!

Thacker misses with a straight left.
A low kick from Thacker misses
and Ericsson counters with an outside leg kick.
Thacker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ericsson.
Thacker lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Thacker throws a push kick but Ericsson slaps the foot to one side.
An attempted straight right counter from Ericsson misses the target.
Thacker misses with the combination.
Thacker throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ericsson.
Ericsson working away.
Ericsson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ericsson working the head with strikes.
Thacker takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ericsson landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson working the ground and pound.
Thacker can't do much from the bottom here.
Thacker keeping his opponent close.
Ericsson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Thacker sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Thacker is staying active underneath Ericsson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ericsson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ericsson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thacker with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson drops an elbow to the side of Thacker's head.
Ericsson wants to control but Thacker is keeping him busy.
Thacker trying to control here.
Ericsson content to control rather than advance.
Thacker trying to control here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ericsson connects with a nice short shot to Thacker's temple.
Ericsson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ericsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Thacker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson is nestled in close to Thacker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ericsson passes into side control, despite Thacker's attempt to control the position.
Ericsson taking a breather here.
Ericsson lands some shots froms side control.
Alasdair Thacker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thacker is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thacker manages to get to full guard.
Ericsson chips away with some ground and pound.
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 avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ericsson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ericsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Thacker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ericsson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ericsson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Thacker tries to strike from the bottom.

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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

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