PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hulk Hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjorn Eriksson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hogan
vs
Eriksson

170 cm
24
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
24
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hulk Hogan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bjorn Eriksson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hogan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hogan shoots in for a takedown but Eriksson shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown by Hogan or perhaps it was just good defense by Eriksson which made him look bad.
Hogan shoots in for a takedown but Eriksson shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hulk Hogan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hogan takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Eriksson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Horrible takedown by Hogan or perhaps it was just good defense by Eriksson which made him look bad.
Eriksson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Hogan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hogan trying to control the position but Eriksson is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hogan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hogan 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.
Eriksson tries to buck Hogan off but Hogan is having none of it.
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!
Hogan prevents Eriksson from escaping the position.
Hogan lands an elbow.
Eriksson is looking to reverse the position.
Hogan in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Eriksson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hogan misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Eriksson trying to remain calm as Hogan controls from the top position.
Hogan lands an elbow.
Hogan postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hogan landing a few strikes.
Hogan wants to control but Eriksson is keeping him busy.
Hogan tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hogan scores with punches from side control.
Eriksson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hogan.
Hogan staying calm.
Hogan lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogan lands a nice forearm strike.
Hogan happy to just control the position for now.
Hogan is working Eriksson over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eriksson is being controlled here.
Hogan grinds an elbow into Eriksson's temple.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Eriksson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Eriksson is not content to let Hogan control the position.
Hogan takes a little break here. Eriksson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Eriksson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hogan has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hogan trying to control the action but Eriksson is working from the bottom.
Hogan controls the position.
Hogan seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Eriksson for as long as he can get away with.

We're going to have a standup here because Hulk Hogan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hogan dives in and grabs Eriksson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Eriksson pushes down on Hogan's head and hops out.
Hogan shoots in looking for a takedown but Eriksson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hogan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hogan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Eriksson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hogan somewhat.
Eriksson with a jab.
Eriksson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hogan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Eriksson.
Hogan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hulk Hogan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hogan 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.
Eriksson keeping moving, preventing Hogan from controlling successfully.
Eriksson being controlled here, momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hogan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Eriksson's head.
Hogan stands and throws Eriksson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hogan in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hogan trying to control the position but Eriksson is working away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Eriksson can't do much from the bottom here.
Eriksson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hogan connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hogan ducks right into an uppercut from Eriksson.
Eriksson thows a body shot but no joy.
Hogan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hogan slips a straight right by Eriksson.
Hogan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Eriksson defends well and Hogan ends up having to push Eriksson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Eriksson tries to break the clinch but Hogan is controlling the position.
Hogan has Eriksson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Eriksson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hulk Hogan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hogan can't get the takedown.
Eriksson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hogan tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eriksson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Eriksson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hogan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Eriksson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hogan.

Hogan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Eriksson was covering up waiting for the punch and Hogan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hogan stops Eriksson from standing up.
Hulk Hogan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eriksson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Hogan advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eriksson is trying to escape the position but Hogan is controlling the position.
Hogan wants to control but Eriksson is keeping him busy.
Hogan working the body and head with strikes.
Hogan scoring with punches from side control.
Eriksson is pushing Hogan's head away, looking to escape. Hogan manages to hold on to the position though.
Hogan cracks Eriksson with a big right hand but Eriksson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hogan in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Hogan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Eriksson keeps working.
Hogan scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Eriksson to see if he's OK.
Hogan scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What's Eriksson going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Eriksson is letting Hogan control him for a moment.
Hogan moves into full mount!
Eriksson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Hogan lands a couple of good shots and Eriksson has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Hogan is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Eriksson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Can Eriksson hold on?! Hogan is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Hogan lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Eriksson is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hogan lands a shot to the head.
Hogan lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Hogan biding his time, controlling Eriksson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hogan cracks Eriksson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Eriksson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eriksson is keeping busy.
Hogan looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Hogan is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hulk Hogan dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hogan fails with a takedown attempt.
Hogan moves out of range of the strikes.
Hogan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Eriksson as he avoids it easily.
Hulk Hogan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hogan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Eriksson.
Hogan with a poor takedown
and Eriksson counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hulk Hogan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Eriksson as Hogan shoots in.
Eriksson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hogan fails with the takedown.
Eriksson connects with a body shot.
Eriksson leaves Hogan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Eriksson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hogan at a distance.
Eriksson connects with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eriksson lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eriksson scores with a sloppy right hand. Hogan should have avoided that one.
Eriksson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Hogan is rocked!

Eriksson cracks Hogan with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Eriksson has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Hogan to stand back up!
Oh Hogan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hogan leaves his chin hanging out and Eriksson seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Hogan crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Bjorn Eriksson!