PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Felix Ericsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rae Sremmurd (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.

Ericsson
vs
Sremmurd

185 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Ericsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rae Sremmurd!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sremmurd moves into the clinch.
Sremmurd connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Felix Ericsson has been cut.
Sremmurd blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ericsson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ericsson avoiding damage as Sremmurd throws knees to the body.
Sremmurd lands a nice knee to the body.
Ericsson trying to stall but Sremmurd improves his position.
Ericsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sremmurd has him pressed against the cage.
Sremmurd trying to land knees to the body.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ericsson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sremmurd's elbow.
Ericsson is looking for a takedown.
Sremmurd gets underhooks to prevent Ericsson's takedown attempt.
Sremmurd effectively controlling the action here.
Ericsson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sremmurd is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sremmurd leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sremmurd obliges.
Ericsson is breathing heavily.
Ericsson tries to stall but Sremmurd uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sremmurd.
Ericsson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sremmurd gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sremmurd looking to throw knees to the head but Ericsson is blocking nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sremmurd.
Sremmurd crunches a lovely knee into Ericsson's ribcage.
Sremmurd landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sremmurd utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sremmurd with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sremmurd connects with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sremmurd'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.
Sremmurd landing knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sremmurd connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ericsson's face.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the head but Ericsson blocks with his arms.
Ericsson looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson wants to stall.
Ericsson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sremmurd walks away with a smile on his face. Ericsson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sremmurd moves into the clinch.
Sremmurd has Ericsson pushed against the cage.
Ericsson is trying to pull guard but Sremmurd turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sremmurd lands a shoulder strike.
Ericsson tries to score a body lock takedown but Sremmurd shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sremmurd misses with a knee strike.
Ericsson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ericsson wants to get back to striking at distance but Sremmurd won't allow it.
Sremmurd tries to land knees in the clinch but Ericsson avoids the damage to the body.
Sremmurd will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ericsson up against the cage.
Ericsson tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sremmurd throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ericsson blocks it with crossed arms.
Ericsson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sremmurd walks away with a smile on his face. Ericsson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ericsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sremmurd tries to avoid it but Ericsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sremmurd to the ground. Sremmurd escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sremmurd rushes Ericsson and presses him up against the cage.
Ericsson tries to pull guard but Sremmurd won't allow it.
Knees to the body from Sremmurd.
Sremmurd is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sremmurd throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ericsson blocks it with crossed arms.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ericsson avoids it.
Ericsson looking for a takedown.
Sremmurd leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rae Sremmurd dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Felix Ericsson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sremmurd moves into range and clinches up with Ericsson.
Ericsson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sremmurd - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sremmurd is stalling here.
Sremmurd stalling the fight.
Ericsson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sremmurd smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sremmurd avoids a kick to the body.
Ericsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sremmurd as he avoids it easily.
Sremmurd tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ericsson is defended easily by Sremmurd.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson fails with the takedown.

Sremmurd gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sremmurd - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Come on Sremmurd - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the head but Ericsson blocks with his arms.
Sremmurd has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ericsson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rae Sremmurd seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ericsson is trying to maintain a safe position but Sremmurd gets an underhook and turns Ericsson into the cage.
Ericsson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sremmurd slows down the pace here.
Sremmurd avoiding damage.
Ericsson misses with a body punch.
Sremmurd looking to throw knees to the head but Ericsson is blocking nicely.
Sremmurd looking to throw knees to the head but Ericsson is blocking nicely.
Ericsson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sremmurd is pressed up against the cage. Ericsson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sremmurd down to the mat. Sremmurd avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Sremmurd clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sremmurd stalling against the cage.
Sremmurd taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rae Sremmurd.
Ericsson shoots for a double leg takedown but Sremmurd sprawls well. He's pushed Ericsson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Ericsson forces Sremmurd back against the cage and clinches.
Ericsson trying to land knees to the body.
Sremmurd lands a nice knee to the body.
Sremmurd displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ericsson up against the cage.
Ericsson tries to pull guard but Sremmurd holds him up against the cage and eventually Ericsson drops back down to his feet.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sremmurd to keep the fight standing.
Ericsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sremmurd has him pressed against the cage.
Sremmurd using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ericsson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ericsson tries to score a body lock takedown but Sremmurd shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ericsson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sremmurd gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sremmurd.
Sremmurd landing knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sremmurd obliges.
Sremmurd working Ericsson over with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sremmurd putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ericsson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rae Sremmurd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Felix Ericsson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sremmurd closes the distance and clinches.
Sremmurd lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ericsson tries to score a body lock takedown but Sremmurd shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sremmurd avoiding damage.
Sremmurd throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ericsson blocks it with crossed arms.
Sremmurd dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ericsson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ericsson can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sremmurd stalls.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sremmurd landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Sremmurd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sremmurd dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sremmurd displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ericsson up against the cage.
Sremmurd is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rae Sremmurd.

Sremmurd instigates a clinch.
Sremmurd stalls.
Sremmurd landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A knee to the head by Sremmurd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Sremmurd.
Sremmurd landing knees to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A shot in the inside from Sremmurd.
Sremmurd misses with a knee to the head.
Sremmurd throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ericsson letting Sremmurd take a breather here.
Ericsson is trying to break the clinch but Sremmurd has him pressed against the cage.
Sremmurd stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ericsson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sremmurd leaning against his opponent.
Ericsson wants to stall.
Sremmurd looking to throw knees to the head but Ericsson is blocking nicely.
Ericsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sremmurd has him pressed against the cage.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ericsson avoids it.
Ericsson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sremmurd stalls.
Sremmurd has Ericsson pushed against the cage.
Sremmurd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sremmurd missing with knees to the body.
Sremmurd is stalling here.
Ericsson is trying to break the clinch but Sremmurd has him pressed against the cage.
Ericsson tries to circle away but Sremmurd has him pinned against the cage.
Sremmurd scores with a knee to the head.
Sremmurd prevents a body shot from Ericsson.
Sremmurd slows down the pace here.
Ericsson tries to throw a body punch but Sremmurd avoids it by throwing Ericsson back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ericsson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sremmurd walks away with a smile on his face. Ericsson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Felix Ericsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rae Sremmurd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Felix Ericsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sremmurd keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rae Sremmurd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sremmurd has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Rae Sremmurd!
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight for Rae Sremmurd!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Rae Sremmurd!

Rae Sremmurd wins by unanimous decision!