PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Van Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Cash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Cash will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Erickson
vs
Cash

164 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Van 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, Johnny Cash!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erickson thumps Cash with a low kick.
Cash misses with a looping right.
Cash shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Erickson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Erickson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Erickson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Erickson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cash fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Erickson avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cash shoots and misses
and Erickson counters with a two punch combo.
Van Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Cash.
Cash fails with the takedown

and Erickson moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cash jumps guard but Erickson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cash jumps guard but Erickson stands there with Cash around his waist. Cash gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cash tries to stall but Erickson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cash working hard to break the clinch.
Cash has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Erickson after a bit of a struggle.

Erickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Erickson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Erickson connects with a solid leg kick.
Cash with a poor takedown

and Erickson counters by clinching up.
Cash looks winded!

Erickson breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cash tries for a takedown but Erickson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Erickson misses with a head kick.
Despite the aggression on Cash's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Erickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Erickson has closed the distance and engaged Cash in a clinch.

Erickson manages to break the clinch.
Cash misses with a takedown attempt
and Erickson counters with a straight right hand.
Erickson misses with a head kick.
Johnny Cash seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Erickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cash darts in and clinches Erickson up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Erickson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Erickson throws a head kick that Cash semi-blocks.
Cash takes a kick to the side of the head.

Erickson rushes Cash and presses him up against the cage.

Erickson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Erickson lands a head kick!

Cash clinches up against the cage.

Erickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cash moves into the clinch successfully.
Erickson'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.

Erickson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Erickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Erickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
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!
Cash throws a hook but Erickson avoids it easily.
A head kick from Erickson lands but Cash takes it in his stride.
Erickson tries to bum rush Cash with a series of wild strikes but Cash uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cash tries to counter with a clinch but Erickson shakes him off and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Erickson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Erickson takes the fight into the clinch.

Erickson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cash tries to keep at a distance but Erickson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cash is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Erickson manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cash throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Erickson counters with a takedown into side control.
Cash trying to remain calm as Erickson controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cash is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Erickson off and has taken his back!
Cash trying to control.

Cash working for a choke but Erickson is defending well.
Cash is looking to control Erickson but Erickson is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Cash is breathing heavily.
Erickson is really stuck here.
Cash missing with punches from the back.
Erickson wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cash has the hooks in. Erickson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Erickson breaks Cash's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cash is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Cash looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cash being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnny Cash has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cash tries to strike from the bottom.
Erickson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cash can do to turn this around?
Erickson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cash is proving hard to escape from.

That's four 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.

Cash scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Cash looks for a takedown but Erickson sprawls well.
Erickson throws a big counter combination but Cash scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Erickson throws a shot to the body.
Cash shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Erickson pinned against the cage. Erickson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick misses from Erickson.
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 Van Erickson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Erickson forces Cash back against the cage and clinches.

Erickson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Cash, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Erickson lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Cash misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A nice inside leg kick there by Erickson. That's going to slow Cash down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson throws a head kick but Cash moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Erickson. No joy for Cash on that attempt.
Erickson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cash takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson lands with a slapping head kick.
Erickson throws a head kick that misses.
Cash shoots in for a double leg but Erickson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Erickson looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Van Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Cash.

Erickson moves into the clinch.
Erickson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Erickson breaks from the clinch.
Erickson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Erickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cash blocks a head kick by Erickson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Erickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cash changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Erickson throws a sloppy head kick and Cash moves out of range easily.
Cash misses with a body kick.
A big left from Cash misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Erickson breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cash has his takedown stuffed
and Erickson counters with a head kick. That will keep Cash thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Cash tries to keep at a distance but Erickson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Erickson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cash fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Erickson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Erickson throws a sloppy head kick and Cash moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cash shoots and misses

and Erickson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Cash manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
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!

Erickson has Cash pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Erickson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Cash tumbling to the mat - Erickson dives into Cash's guard.
Erickson content to stall in guard here.

Cash had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Erickson defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Erickson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Erickson, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

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