PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Niklas Eralesson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Flair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eralesson comes to the cage accompanied by Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Eralesson
vs
Flair

186 cm
21
191 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

150 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niklas Eralesson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane Flair!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Chad Campbell and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eralesson swings for the body but Flair moves out of range.

Flair feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Eralesson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Flair defends it easily.
Eralesson trying to keep a closed guard but Flair is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eralesson wants to get back to his feet but Flair is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Flair thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Eralesson is looking to stand up but Flair isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eralesson looking for a sweep. Not yet Eralesson, not yet.
Eralesson is breathing heavily.

Flair drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Flair jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Eralesson wants to sweep here but Flair controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Flair stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Eralesson.

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.
Flair shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eralesson but Eralesson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Flair fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Eralesson as Flair shoots in.
Niklas Eralesson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Flair.
Eralesson throws a solid leg kick but Flair takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Eralesson.

Flair shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Eralesson is trying to defend but Flair finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eralesson is defending against the submission attempts here by Flair.
Eralesson is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Flair is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Eralesson defends it well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Eralesson moves into full guard.
Eralesson wants to sweep here but Flair controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Eralesson wants to get back to his feet but Flair is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Flair takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Eralesson misses with a wild combination.
Flair fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eralesson looks to land a combination but Flair avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flair tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Eralesson swivels and escapes.
Flair has a takedown stuffed.
Niklas Eralesson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Flair.
Left hook, right uppercut from Eralesson.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Eralesson, as that shot connected.
Eralesson feints and then cracks Flair's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Flair down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Eralesson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Flair. Flair circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Eralesson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Eralesson throws a series of punches but Flair moves out of range.

Eralesson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Flair napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Flair can do anything to dispel that myth.
Flair on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Eralesson tries to score with some ground and pound. Flair controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eralesson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Flair to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Flair is defended easily by Eralesson.
Flair shoots and misses
and Eralesson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Eralesson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Niklas Eralesson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flair misses with a takedown attempt
and Eralesson counters with a nice uppercut.
Eralesson lands with a kick to the temple. Flair shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Eralesson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Eralesson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Flair counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Flair is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Eralesson sees it coming and defends easily.
Eralesson is holding on to half guard well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Eralesson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Eralesson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Flair counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Eralesson's guard now.
Eralesson working a defensive guard but Flair passes into half guard.

Flair is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Eralesson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Flair.
Eralesson tries to kick Flair off but Flair keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eralesson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Eralesson gets full guard.

Flair got a little sloppy there for a moment and Eralesson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Flair has managed to get both his arms back between Eralesson's legs - danger averted.

Flair is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Eralesson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Eralesson has escaped and now he's on top!

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.
Eralesson tries to stand but Flair is controlling from the bottom.
Eralesson forces his way into half guard.
Eralesson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Flair wants to control but Eralesson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eralesson is trying to control. Flair wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Eralesson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Flair.

Flair with the active half guard here but Eralesson passes nicely into side control.
Eralesson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Flair taking punishment in the form of punches.
Flair is trying to improve his position.

Eralesson decides to stand back up. Eralesson steps back and let's Flair get back to his feet.
Flair looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Eralesson is fending him off so far but Flair persists. Nope, Eralesson circles away and we're back to standing.
Eralesson has his takedown stuffed

and Flair counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Eralesson!

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Flair comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Flair has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Flair!