PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ludvig Ericsson (ranked 240 p4p, 35 weight class) and John Altare (ranked 415 p4p, 63 weight class). Ludvig Ericsson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ericsson
vs
Altare

186 cm
32
212 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

185 cm
35
209 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars
Aspire Clothing

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 21 - 11 - 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 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Altare!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Altare moves in looking to clinch but Ericsson pushes him off.

Ericsson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Altare did well to prevent Ericsson getting side control.
Altare blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ericsson.
Ericsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Altare tries to roll over but Ericsson keeps him under control.
Ericsson thows a huge punch but Altare dodges it nicely.
Ericsson thows a huge punch but Altare dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ericsson throwing shots but Altare is blocking nicely.
Altare avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ericsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson not doing much here.
Ericsson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Altare is looking to control Ericsson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Altare avoid being mounted?
Ericsson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ericsson prevents Altare from standing back up.

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.
Ericsson with the ground and pound but Altare uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Altare keeping moving, preventing Ericsson from controlling successfully.
Ericsson throwing strikes but missing.
Ericsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Altare is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ericsson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ericsson lands in his opponent's guard.
Ericsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson wants to control from the top but Altare keeps moving.
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 is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Altare keeping moving, preventing Ericsson from controlling successfully.
Ericsson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.
Ericsson throwing strikes but missing.
Altare is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
John Altare seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ericsson shoots in but no luck this time.
Ericsson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Altare.
Altare just misses with a punch to the body.
Ericsson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Ericsson looking to score a takedown here. Altare is defending well but Ericsson drives through and ends up in Altare's guard.
Ericsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ericsson lands a couple of digs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Altare wants to sweep here but Ericsson controlling him for the moment.
Altare looking to control.
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!

Ericsson fails with the takedown.
Ericsson swats away the attempt to clinch by Altare.
Ericsson shoots in but no luck this time.
Altare throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A low kick from Altare is predictable there
and Ericsson counters with a nice leg kick.

Ericsson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Altare on his heels. He'll look to pass Altare's guard now, I'm sure.
Ericsson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ludvig Ericsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson throwing strikes from guard but Altare blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Altare keeping moving, preventing Ericsson from controlling successfully.
Ericsson throws an elbow that misses. Altare uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ericsson's guard. Nice move by Altare!

Ericsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ericsson, not yet.
Ericsson is working hard here to advance position.
Ericsson has Altare pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Ericsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Altare is one step ahead there.
Altare sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ericsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ericsson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Altare manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ericsson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Altare creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Altare misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ericsson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ericsson takes a shot to the head.
Ericsson misses with a punch to the body.
Altare tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Altare tries to work over Ericsson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Altare blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Altare tries to pull guard but Ericsson won't allow it.
Altare misses with some punches.
Ericsson misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Altare throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ericssons head.

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

Altare uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Altare lands with a cross.

Altare rushes Ericsson and presses him up against the cage.
Altare tries to throw a body punch but Ericsson avoids it by throwing Altare back against the cage.
Altare misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ericsson tries to throw a body punch but Altare avoids it by throwing Ericsson back against the cage.
Altare misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ericsson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Altare's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Altare showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ericsson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ericsson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Altare tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ericsson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ericsson misses with a kick to the body.
Altare fails with an attempt to clinch.
Altare stuffs the takedown.

Ericsson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Altare quickly recovers to half guard.
Ericsson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Altare is looking for a sweep. Ericsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Altare manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Altare has control of Ericsson's left arm, preventing Ericsson from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Altare works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Altare tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ericsson throws a strike but Altare rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ericsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ericsson trying to keep a closed guard but Altare is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ericsson is pulling down on Altare's head to control his posture.
Ericsson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Altare manages to get himself to full guard.

Ericsson postures up.
Ericsson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Altare is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Altare keeping full guard, as Ericsson tries to pass.
Ericsson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ericsson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Altare sprawls well. Altare wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ericsson gets slowly back to his feet.
Altare wants to counter the offense by Ericsson and move into the clinch position.
Ericsson fails with a takedown attempt.
Altare steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ericsson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ludvig Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Altare misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ericsson.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ericsson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ericsson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Altare.
A telegraphed right hand from Altare misses the target.

Ericsson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Altare did well to prevent Ericsson getting side control.
Altare is trying to get back to full guard.
Altare has his hands clasped together around Ericsson's back. He's all about the action.
Ericsson is pressing down on Altare's thigh, looking to free his foot. Altare is holding on for now.
Altare felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Altare is looking for a sweep. Ericsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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 Ludvig Ericsson.
I think Ericsson 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

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