PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ludvig Ericsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ericsson
vs
McKenzie

186 cm
28
212 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

190 cm
29
221 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludvig Ericsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, AJ McKenzie!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ericsson moves out of range as McKenzie strikes.
McKenzie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Ericsson.
Ericsson tries to counter with a takedown but McKenzie is quick to defend against it.
McKenzie attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McKenzie throws a leg kick

and Ericsson counters with a nice double leg into side control. McKenzie won't be happy with that.
Ericsson takes a little break here. McKenzie wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
McKenzie tries to bench press Ericsson off him but Ericsson keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson is looking to take a break and control but McKenzie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ericsson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ericsson misses with the ground and pound.
McKenzie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ericsson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ericsson throws a strike aimed at the side of McKenzie's head but McKenzie avoids it well.
A lull in the action here as Ericsson stalls from top position.
Ericsson is trying to ground and pound but McKenzie uses the momentary lack of control by Ericsson to regain half guard.
Ericsson wants to take a breather but McKenzie is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Ericsson working the head and body with strikes.
Ericsson thows a huge punch but McKenzie dodges it nicely.
Ericsson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ericsson throwing shots but McKenzie is blocking nicely.
McKenzie controlling the position well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ericsson controlling the pace.
Ericsson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McKenzie for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie is looking for a sweep. Ericsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McKenzie ducks under a wild hook from Ericsson.
AJ McKenzie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Ericsson misses the target.
Ericsson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McKenzie pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ericsson is out of range and McKenzie settles back down.
Ericsson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McKenzie throws a series of punches but Ericsson avoids them all with ease.

Ericsson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging McKenzie to the ground. Ericsson is now in McKenzie's guard.
Ericsson 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.
Ericsson wants to pass the guard but McKenzie is keeping the position.
Ericsson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie managing to control the position.
Ericsson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ericsson trying to control the position from guard on top but McKenzie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ericsson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ericsson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from McKenzie. That one must have hurt.
McKenzie throws a sloppy head kick and Ericsson moves out of range easily.
Ericsson feinted with a counter takedown.
A low kick from McKenzie is predictable there
and Ericsson counters with a nice body kick.
Ericsson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ericsson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McKenzie misses with a straight left.
A swing and a miss from McKenzie.
Ericsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McKenzie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McKenzie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKenzie scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McKenzie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McKenzie misses with a kick to the body.
McKenzie missing with a left hand there. Ericsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie looks to land a body kick but Ericsson moved away.
Ericsson throws a shot from downtown. McKenzie moves away and avoids it.
Ericsson throws a lazy right hand but McKenzie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ericsson missing with a left hand there. McKenzie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ericsson shoots in looking for a takedown. McKenzie tries to sprawl out of it but Ericsson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McKenzie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ericsson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McKenzie manages to avoid it.
McKenzie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ericsson loads up on a big right hand but McKenzie slips the punch.
McKenzie tries to counter with a clinch but Ericsson shakes him off and moves away.
McKenzie throws a wild body kick that Ericsson sees coming a mile off.
McKenzie lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie is looking to land body kicks.
Ericsson tries to counter with a takedown but McKenzie is quick to defend against it.
Ericsson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McKenzie can do to turn this around?
McKenzie throws a hook but Ericsson blocks it.
McKenzie stuns Ericsson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ericsson connects with a high kick.
McKenzie thows a left - swing and a miss!
A shot to the liver by McKenzie. Beautiful body shot.
McKenzie throws a right hand that misses
and Ericsson counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McKenzie scores with a hook to the body. Ericsson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ericsson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McKenzie.
McKenzie throws a body punch but Ericsson moves out of range.
Ericsson looks to land a body kick but McKenzie moved away.
A big right from Ericsson misses.
McKenzie throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie needs to keep his hands up - Ericsson had a free shot at his head there.
McKenzie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McKenzie wants it to stay on the feet.
McKenzie throws a leg kick which misses Ericsson's front leg but catches the back leg as Ericsson tries to avoid it.
Ericsson blocks a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ericsson.
McKenzie misses with a body shot.
Ericsson blocks a jab.
Ericsson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McKenzie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McKenzie lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
AJ McKenzie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McKenzie throws a leg kick but Ericsson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McKenzie throws a lazy right hand but Ericsson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ericsson was well out of range. Poor timing from McKenzie.
McKenzie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ericsson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice uppercut there from McKenzie.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ericsson scores with a kick to the midsection.
McKenzie misses with a hook
and Ericsson counters with a nice low kick that buckles McKenzie's knee momentarily.
McKenzie throws a head kick that Ericsson semi-blocks.
Ericsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McKenzie is fending him off so far but Ericsson persists. Nope, McKenzie circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ludvig Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ericsson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ericsson throws a quick inside leg kick.
McKenzie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ericsson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McKenzie throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McKenzie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ McKenzie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ericsson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ericsson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McKenzie throws a lazy uppercut

and Ericsson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ericsson.
Ericsson trying to control the position from guard on top but McKenzie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ericsson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McKenzie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ericsson's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ludvig Ericsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie trying to control the position from guard on top but Ericsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ericsson wants to sweep here but McKenzie controlling him for the moment.
McKenzie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ericsson wants to sweep here but McKenzie controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ericsson wants to hit a switch here but McKenzie passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ericsson there!

That's two 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.
Ericsson is trying to escape the mount.
Ericsson tries to hold on but McKenzie pushes him away.
Ericsson working to try and regain half guard.
McKenzie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie is continuing to stall.
Ericsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
McKenzie controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ericsson regains half guard.
McKenzie not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ericsson punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ McKenzie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McKenzie 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ McKenzie!
AJ McKenzie seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.