PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darrick Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugo Borba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darrick Erickson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Erickson
vs
Borba

180 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darrick Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hugo Borba!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borba lands a nice looking kick to the body. Erickson takes a step back to recover.

Borba moves into the clinch.
Borba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Erickson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Erickson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Borba.

Borba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Borba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Erickson is fending him off so far but Borba persists. Nope, Erickson circles away and we're back to standing.
Darrick Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Borba.
Horrible takedown attempt by Borba or perhaps it was just good defense by Erickson, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson slaps away a takedown attempt from Borba, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Borba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Erickson has hold of one of Borba's legs. Borba is fighting the takedown attempt but Erickson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Erickson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Borba is trying to control the position but Erickson postures up.
Borba is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Erickson wanted to stand there but Borba had control of the position.

Borba working for a triangle but Erickson defends it easily.
Borba controls Erickson momentarily but Erickson frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson wanted to stand there but Borba had control of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Borba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Erickson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Erickson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Erickson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Borba to stand up.
Borba with a lazy takedown attempt
and Erickson counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Borba fails to land the takedown.
Erickson wants to clinch up but Borba keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson tries to clinch but Borba moves out of range.

Erickson rushes Borba and presses him up against the cage.
Erickson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Erickson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borba.
Borba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Erickson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Borba stalls.
Borba looks winded!
Borba scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Erickson prevents the takedown attempt.
Erickson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Erickson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Borba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Borba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Erickson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Borba blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borba looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Erickson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Erickson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Erickson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Erickson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Borba missing with knees to the body.
Borba is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Borba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Erickson misses with a knee strike.
Borba jumps guard but Erickson stands there with Borba around his waist. Borba gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrick Erickson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Borba scores with a takedown into Erickson's guard.
Erickson wants to get back to his feet but Borba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Borba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Erickson's guard.
Erickson punching from the bottom.
Borba prevents Erickson from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson is looking to control Borba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Erickson avoid being mounted?
Borba trying to control from half guard but Erickson is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Borba.
Borba stops Erickson from getting back to his feet.
Erickson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Borba trying to control the action but Erickson is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Borba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Erickson.

Borba fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Erickson, pushing him back against the cage.
Borba is struggling to control the position.

Borba manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Erickson looking for a takedown.

Erickson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Erickson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Erickson tries to clinch but Borba is having none of it.
Borba darts in looking for a takedown but Erickson gets double underhooks and turns Borba into the cage.
Erickson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Erickson tries to clinch there but Borba circles away.

Borba gets a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Erickson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Borba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Erickson walks away with a smile on his face. Borba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Borba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Erickson defends it nicely.
Darrick Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Borba.
Borba is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borba darts in and clinches Erickson up against the cage.
Erickson taking a breather.
Erickson tries to stall but Borba uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Erickson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Borba decides to pull guard.
Erickson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Borba is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Erickson works over Borba with some ground and pound from guard.
Borba wants to sweep but no luck.
Erickson wants to stand but Borba has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erickson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Erickson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Erickson is looking to stand up but Borba won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Borba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A solid body kick from Borba.
Borba throws a head kick that half lands.
Borba shoots in looking for a takedown but Erickson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Borba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Darrick Erickson is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Erickson misses the target.

Borba clinches.
Erickson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Erickson missing with knees to the body.
Erickson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Borba smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borba lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson moves in looking to clinch but Borba pushes him off.
Erickson is looking to clinch but Borba is avoiding it.
Erickson tries to clinch up
and Borba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Borba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Erickson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Borba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Borba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Erickson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Darrick Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugo Borba.
Borba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Erickson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borba throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Borba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Erickson as he jumps to the side.
Borba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Erickson tries to clinch up.
Hugo Borba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Erickson closes the distance and clinches.
Borba is looking to take this one to the mat.
Borba tries to break the clinch but Erickson is controlling the position.
Erickson jumps guard but Borba turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Erickson wants the takedown. Borba is fighting it off but Erickson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Borba's guard against the cage.
Erickson wants to stand but Borba has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Erickson throws a big right hand that misses.
Erickson wants to stand and escape but instead Borba has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Erickson is looking to stand up but Borba isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erickson keeping moving, preventing Borba from controlling successfully.
Erickson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Borba manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson tries to kick Borba off but Borba keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Erickson actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Borba stops Erickson from getting back to his feet.
Erickson is trying to control but can't.
Borba tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Erickson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Borba is working for a submission of some sort.
Erickson is staying active underneath Borba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Borba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Borba 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Borba!