PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Eldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eugene Kalivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Eugene Kalivas enters the cage!

Eldridge
vs
Kalivas

188 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
20
202 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Eldridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eugene Kalivas!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Alyssa Summers and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalivas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Eldridge.

Eldridge closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Eldridge lands in his opponent's guard.
Eldridge passes into half guard.
Eldridge is pressing down on Kalivas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kalivas is holding on for now.
Eldridge not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Eldridge slows the pace down in half guard.
Kalivas wants to control but Eldridge is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge working Kalivas over with strikes.
Kalivas is controlling Eldridge's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Eldridge sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kalivas 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.
Kalivas keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Eldridge keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Eldridge trying to control the action but Kalivas is working from the bottom.
Eldridge missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Eldridge not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Eldridge keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kalivas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Eldridge is trying to control. Kalivas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Eldridge sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kalivas defending well though.
Kalivas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kalivas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kalivas tries to clinch but Eldridge is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge looks for a takedown but Kalivas sprawls well.
Eldridge fails to land the takedown.
Eldridge takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Eldridge is breathing heavily.
Kalivas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Eldridge counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kalivas won't be happy with that.
Eldridge 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kalivas tries to escape but Eldridge is in control.
Kalivas prevents Eldridge from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalivas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Eldridge trying to control the position but Kalivas is working away.
Kalivas gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Eldridge 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.
Kalivas wants to improve his position but Eldridge is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Eldridge dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kalivas misses with a series of wild punches.
Eugene Kalivas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Eldridge shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Eldridge moves nicely into side control.
Eldridge is looking to take a break and control but Kalivas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kalivas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalivas tries to improve position but can't.
Eldridge advances to full mount.
Kalivas sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Eldridge tries to pass to full mount but Kalivas defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kalivas works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Eldridge is fighting to break Kalivas's control of his arms but Kalivas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Eldridge trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eldridge sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge trying to control but Kalivas is working from the bottom.
Eldridge is really struggling to control Kalivas but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kalivas seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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.
Eldridge controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Eldridge wants to pass the guard but Kalivas is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eldridge stopping the sweep attempt from Kalivas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Eldridge dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kalivas tries to clinch but Eldridge is having none of it.
Eldridge stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kalivas.
Kalivas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Eldridge scores with a leg kick.
Eugene Kalivas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kalivas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Eldridge counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kalivas won't be happy with that.
Eldridge trying to control the position but Kalivas is working away.
Eldridge tries to advance to mount but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eldridge trying to control the position but Kalivas is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalivas pushes Eldridge away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Eldridge gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Eldridge controlling the position.
Kalivas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Eldridge has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two 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.
Eldridge shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kalivas pinned against the cage. Kalivas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kalivas stuffs the takedown.
Kalivas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Eldridge counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Eldridge tries to free his leg and advance position but Kalivas is retaining full guard.
Eldridge won't allow Kalivas to get back to his feet.
Eldridge is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Eldridge looking to sit in guard and control but Kalivas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kalivas postures up.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Michael Eldridge just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kalivas throws a nice looking combination but Eldridge bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some bone on bone action there as Kalivas checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Eldridge bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kalivas is not content to let Eldridge control the position.
Kalivas is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Eldridge is controlling him well.
Eugene Kalivas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalivas defending against the ground and pound.
Eldridge is looking to take a break and control but Kalivas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kalivas gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Michael Eldridge is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kalivas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Eldridge showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Eldridge, 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Eldridge!