PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boyd Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Eldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lucas
vs
Eldridge

187 cm
19
223 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
221 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Boyd Lucas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Eldridge!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Eldridge thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lucas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lucas ducks right into an uppercut from Eldridge.

Eldridge drives through and clinches with Lucas against the cage.
Lucas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lucas trying to control the position but instead, Eldridge has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lucas into the cage.
Lucas tries to break free but Eldridge pushes him back against the cage.
Eldridge stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Eldridge lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lucas wants to break free but Eldridge has control.
Lucas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lucas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Eldridge makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lucas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Eldridge stalling.
Eldridge throws an elbow but it misses.
Eldridge works on Lucas's body with a couple of short punches.
Lucas is trying to stall.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Eldridge.

It looks like Boyd Lucas has been cut.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Eldridge just leaning against Lucas, taking a breather.
Eldridge keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lucas's efforts to push away.
Lucas can't break the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Eldridge.
Lucas avoiding damage as Eldridge throws knees to the body.

Lucas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lucas misses with a straight right.
Eldridge wants to clinch.
Eldridge attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lucas tests Eldridge's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Eldridge connects with a body shot that sends Lucas's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas misses with a body punch
and Eldridge counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Eldridge tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lucas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Eldridge fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lucas comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lucas throws a jab but it's blocked by Eldridge.

Eldridge clinches up with Lucas and pushes him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Eldridge throws an elbow that misses.
Lucas tries to circle away but Eldridge has him pinned against the cage.
Eldridge tries to land knees in the clinch but Lucas avoids the damage to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Eldridge.
Lucas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lucas tries to break free but Eldridge pushes him back against the cage.
Lucas managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lucas is defending well for now.
Eldridge working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Lucas is looking to control Eldridge's arms but Eldridge gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lucas has his back to the cage.
Eldridge misses with an elbow over the top.
Lucas blocks the elbow strike.
Lucas wants to get back to striking at distance but Eldridge won't allow it.
Lucas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lucas is defending well for now.

Lucas breaks the clinch.
Lucas scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Eldridge doesn't seem bothered though.
Eldridge looks gassed!
A shot to the liver by Lucas. Beautiful body shot.
Lucas is looking to wear down Eldridge with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lucas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lucas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lucas cracks Eldridge with an open hand slap.
Eldridge throws a sloppy head kick and Lucas moves out of range easily.
Eldridge throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lucas on the side of the head.
Lucas connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Eldridge's hands.
Lucas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Eldridge under the eye.

It looks like Michael Eldridge has been cut.
Lucas with a nice cross.
Lucas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Eldridge counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lucas tries to bum rush Eldridge with a series of wild strikes but Eldridge uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lucas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lucas throws a hook to the side of Eldridge's head but Eldridge sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Eldridge is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lucas.
Eldridge moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Eldridge showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lucas.
Lucas lands with a shot to the body.
Lucas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lucas throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Eldridge moves into the clinch.
Lucas is trying to break free.
Eldridge keeps control of Lucas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Come on Eldridge - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lucas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Eldridge holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Eldridge tries to throw a body punch but Lucas avoids it by throwing Eldridge back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boyd Lucas dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lucas misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Eldridge to counter with a crisp jab.
Lucas loads up on a big right hand but Eldridge slips the punch.

Eldridge closes the distance and clinches.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Lucas is trying to break the clinch but Eldridge has him pressed against the cage.
Lucas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Lucas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lucas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lucas missing with a left hand there. Eldridge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lucas with a hook.
Lucas throws an off balance right hand
letting Eldridge counter with a right hand.
Eldridge misses with an uppercut.
Lucas thows a body shot but no joy.
Lucas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Eldridge was well out of range. Poor timing from Lucas.
Lucas throws a big shot that misses.
Eldridge avoids the body shot from Lucas.
Lucas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Eldridge looks to land a left hand but Lucas moved out of range nicely.
Lucas thows a body shot but no joy.
Boyd Lucas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lucas lands a nice hook to Eldridge's body. Eldridge takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Eldridge lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lucas's sensitive parts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lucas throws a poor cross that misses
and Eldridge counters with a stiff right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Eldridge.
Boyd Lucas is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice uppercut there from Eldridge.
Lucas misses with a lunging right hand

and Eldridge counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Eldridge.
Lucas prevents a body shot from Eldridge.
Nice body punch from Eldridge.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lucas is defending well for now.
Eldridge misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Lucas managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
A head punch on the inside from Eldridge fails to land.
Lucas blocks an elbow strike from Eldridge.
Eldridge tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lucas avoids it.
Lucas avoiding damage as Eldridge throws knees to the body.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Lucas being controlled against the cage.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Lucas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.
Eldridge gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lucas wants to break free but Eldridge has control.
Lucas taking a breather.
Eldridge misses with an elbow over the top.
Lucas is trying to break the clinch but Eldridge has him pressed against the cage.
Eldridge throws an elbow but it misses.
Lucas tries to break free but Eldridge pushes him back against the cage.
Eldridge has a couple of punches blocked by Lucas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Eldridge keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lucas's efforts to push away.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Lucas stalling in the clinch but Eldridge improves position.
Lucas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Eldridge throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Eldridge tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lucas avoids it.
Eldridge has Lucas pressed against the cage, preventing Lucas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lucas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Eldridge tries to land knees in the clinch but Lucas avoids the damage to the body.
Nice elbow from Eldridge.
Eldridge lands an elbow inside.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.

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.
Lucas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Eldridge.
Lucas managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Lucas managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Eldridge is trying to stall.
Eldridge is struggling to control the position.
Eldridge creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lucas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lucas blocks the elbow strike.
Eldridge prevents Lucas from breaking the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Eldridge lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Lucas has had enough of the clinch but Eldridge keeps him there for the moment.
Lucas tries to break the clinch but Eldridge is controlling the position.
Lucas tries to circle away but Eldridge has him pinned against the cage.
Eldridge is trying to maintain a safe position but Lucas gets an underhook and turns Eldridge into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Eldridge showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Lucas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lucas throws a lazy right hand but Eldridge sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Lucas. Those never looked like landing.
Lucas stuns Eldridge with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Eldridge takes a swing at Lucas's ribcage but misses.
Lucas swats away the attempt to clinch by Eldridge.
Lucas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lucas throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Eldridge counters by clinching up.
Eldridge holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lucas avoiding damage as Eldridge throws knees to the body.
Eldridge lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Eldridge.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.
Lucas is trying to break the clinch but Eldridge is controlling him.
Lucas can't break the clinch.

Lucas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A slow jab from Lucas misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas drops his hands momentarily and Eldridge takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Eldridge fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lucas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A jab from Eldridge finds it's way through Lucas's defenses.
Lucas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Eldridge.
Eldridge bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Eldridge tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lucas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Eldridge throws a hook but Lucas avoids it easily.
Lucas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Eldridge manages to avoid it.
Eldridge swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lucas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Eldridge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lucas misses with a shot to the body

and Eldridge counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Eldridge.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Eldridge takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Eldridge tries to land knees in the clinch but Lucas avoids the damage to the body.
Lucas blocks an elbow strike.
Eldridge stalls.
Come on Lucas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge controlling the action here for a moment.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.
Lucas is trying to break the clinch but Eldridge has him pressed against the cage.
Eldridge is pushing Lucas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lucas is defending well for now.
Lucas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Eldridge has him pressed against the cage.
Lucas avoiding damage as Eldridge throws knees to the body.
Eldridge tries to work over Lucas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lucas blocks the elbow strike.
Eldridge tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lucas avoids it.
Lucas blocks the elbow strike.
Eldridge pushes off an throws an elbow but Lucas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Lucas avoiding damage as Eldridge throws knees to the body.
Eldridge has Lucas pressed against the cage, preventing Lucas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lucas is trying to maintain a safe position but Eldridge gets an underhook and turns Lucas into the cage.
Eldridge prevents Lucas from breaking the clinch.
Eldridge can't find room to land a body shot as Lucas controls the action.
Eldridge tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lucas avoids it.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Lucas has had enough of the clinch but Eldridge keeps him there for the moment.
Eldridge misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucas.
Lucas tries to break the clinch but Eldridge is controlling the position.
Lucas is trying to force a seperation but Eldridge has the dominant position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Lucas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lucas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Lucas. Beautiful body shot.

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.
Lucas avoids the body shot from Eldridge.
Eldridge defending well as Lucas loads up on a big left hand.
Lucas throws a hook but Eldridge blocks it.
Lucas misses with a double jab
and Lucas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Eldridge scores with a hook to the body. Lucas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Eldridge dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lucas. That did some damage!
Lucas misses with a shot to the body

and Eldridge counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Eldridge.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lucas is defending well for now.
Eldridge stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Eldridge lands an elbow inside.
Lucas is trying to break the clinch but Eldridge has him pressed against the cage.
Lucas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lucas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Eldridge swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lucas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lucas misses with an uppercut. Eldridge saw that one coming.
Eldridge slips under a jab from Lucas.
Eldridge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Eldridge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Eldridge 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

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