PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Leif Ericson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Lee Rappaport (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ericson
vs
Lee Rappaport

181 cm
21
167 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

176 cm
23
162 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leif Ericson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Lee Rappaport!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rappaport shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ericson sprawls well. Ericson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rappaport gets slowly back to his feet.

Rappaport bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rappaport tries to score with some ground and pound. Ericson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rappaport working the ground and pound.
Rappaport throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rappaport fails to land a wild elbow strike.
An elbow from Rappaport crashes against the mat.
Ericson is trying to control Rappaport's posture but Rappaport avoids it.
Ericson parries the strikes from Rappaport easily there. Rappaport is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ericson to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rappaport throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rappaport working the head and body with strikes.
Ericson dodges the ground and pound from Rappaport.
Rappaport fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ericson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rappaport connects with a decent elbow.
Rappaport throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The strikes coming from Rappaport are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ericson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rappaport wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rappaport postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Ericson tries to bench press Rappaport off him but Rappaport keeps the position.
Rappaport throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ericson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Rappaport is trying to control. Ericson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rappaport not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ericson is looking to control Rappaport's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ericson avoid being mounted?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ericson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ericson wants to stand back up but Rappaport manages to pass into side control.
Rappaport tries to score with some ground and pound. Ericson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ericson tries to bench press Rappaport off him but Rappaport keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rappaport sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ericson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rappaport throwing strikes but Ericson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Rappaport is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ericson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Ericson wants to stand but Rappaport is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Rappaport working to try and regain half guard.
Rappaport is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ericson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rappaport to take his back!
Rappaport tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericson controlling the position well here. Rappaport rolled but Ericson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Rappaport tries to escape the position.
Ericson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rappaport rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Lee Rappaport dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rappaport misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ericson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rappaport takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rappaport fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ericson avoids it really well and circles away.
Rappaport shoots in looking for a takedown. Ericson tries to sprawl out of it but Rappaport keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ericson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leif Ericson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Lee Rappaport.
Rappaport tries for a takedown but Ericson circles away easily
and Ericson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ericson lands a leg kick that knocks Rappaport off balance momentarily.
Johnny Lee Rappaport seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rappaport shoots in for a takedown but Ericson shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ericson.
Rappaport shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ericson but Ericson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rappaport is breathing heavily.
Ericson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rappaport at a distance.
Rappaport gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ericson.

Ericson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ericson 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.
Rappaport throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ericson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ericson pulls Rappaport in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rappaport looking to pass the guard.
Rappaport is looking to work some ground and pound but Ericson has wrist control.
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!
Ericson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rappaport wants to pass the guard but Ericson is keeping the position.
Ericson is pulling down on Rappaport's head. It's preventing any offense from Rappaport, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Leif Ericson just wasn't active enough.
Ericson lands a front kick.
Ericson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ericson wants it to stay on the feet.
A shot to the body from Ericson misses
and Rappaport counters with an inside leg kick.
Rappaport throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ericson's waist but Ericson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rappaport off to one side.
Ericson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ericson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rappaport fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rappaport with a poor takedown
and Ericson counters with a left to the body.
Rappaport shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ericson sprawls well. Ericson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rappaport gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rappaport stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ericson.
Ericson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rappaport shoots in and drives through. Ericson sprawls well.
Leif Ericson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rappaport gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rappaport chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ericson can pounce on him.
Rappaport fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ericson jabs Rappaport to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ericson scores with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Ericson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ericson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rappaport.
Ericson slaps away a takedown attempt from Rappaport, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ericson throws a front kick that sends Rappaport stumbling back into the cage.
Rappaport has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ericson.
Rappaport changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ericson tries to avoid it but Rappaport manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ericson to the ground. Ericson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Leif Ericson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Lee Rappaport.
Rappaport misses with a takedown attempt - Ericson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ericson takes the fight into the clinch.
Rappaport takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rappaport fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rappaport shoots in for a takedown but Ericson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Good leg kick by Ericson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ericson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Johnny Lee Rappaport has been cut.
Ericson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rappaport. That did some damage!
Ericson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ericson digs a good body shot into Rappaport's ribs.
Ericson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rappaport's calf.
Leif Ericson is winning the standup battle so far.
Rappaport doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ericson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ericson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ericson.
Ericson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Rappaport is rocked!
Rappaport tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rappaport is still on wobbly legs! Can Ericson finish him?
Ericson pushes Rappaport away with a front kick.
Rappaport seems to have recovered his senses.
Ericson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ericson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ericson lands a glancing blow to the side of Rappaport's head.
Ericson throws a head kick that half lands.
Ericson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ericson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rappaport fails with a takedown attempt.
Ericson stuffs the takedown.
Ericson keeps Rappaport at a distance using the push kick.
Rappaport gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ericson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ericson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A shot to the liver by Ericson. Beautiful body shot.
Rappaport takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ericson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ericson lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Ericson.
Ericson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rappaport's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ericson thuds his shin into the meat of Rappaport's side.
Ericson is looking to wear down Rappaport with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rappaport wants to clinch but Ericson slips to the side
and Ericson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ericson lands a nice shot to the body.
Ericson lands a lovely overhand right.
Rappaport shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ericson pinned against the cage. Ericson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ericson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rappaport's sensitive parts.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rappaport takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leif Ericson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ericson 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leif Ericson!