PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erich Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elvis Tenderbotumn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cunningham
vs
Tenderbotumn

158 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erich Cunningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Elvis Tenderbotumn!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunningham shoots in but no luck this time.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tenderbotumn! But no joy.

Cunningham manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tenderbotumn on his heels. He'll look to pass Tenderbotumn's guard now, I'm sure.
Cunningham connects with a couple of short punches.
Tenderbotumn working a defensive guard here.

Cunningham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cunningham's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cunningham showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cunningham might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cunningham really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham wants to get up but he can't break Tenderbotumn's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cunningham is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cunningham cracks Tenderbotumn with a solid left hand.
Cunningham showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cunningham's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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

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.

Cunningham shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cunningham takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tenderbotumn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tenderbotumn is looking to control Cunningham's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tenderbotumn avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham controlling the action here.
Further stalling from Cunningham.
Tenderbotumn wants to get back to full guard but Cunningham has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tenderbotumn is trying to control Cunningham's posture but Cunningham avoids it.
What's Tenderbotumn going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Cunningham controls the position.
Cunningham seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tenderbotumn for as long as he can get away with.
Cunningham scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tenderbotumn to see if he's OK.
Cunningham moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cunningham continues to stall.
Cunningham scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tenderbotumn to see if he's OK.

Cunningham is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tenderbotumn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cunningham tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cunningham has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tenderbotumn shoots for a takedown but Cunningham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cunningham is looking to counter the offense by Tenderbotumn and move into the clinch.
Cunningham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tenderbotumn can do to turn this around?

Tenderbotumn has closed the distance and engaged Cunningham in a clinch.
Tenderbotumn trying to control the position but instead, Cunningham has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tenderbotumn into the cage.

Tenderbotumn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cunningham takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Cunningham rushes Tenderbotumn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tenderbotumn goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cunningham prevents it.

Tenderbotumn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tenderbotumn moves into the clinch successfully.

Tenderbotumn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tenderbotumn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Cunningham changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tenderbotumn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tenderbotumn tries to bench press Cunningham off him but Cunningham keeps the position.
Cunningham controls the position.
Tenderbotumn tries to buck Cunningham off but Cunningham is having none of it.
Tenderbotumn trying to remain calm as Cunningham controls from the top position.
Tenderbotumn is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Cunningham decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tenderbotumn to his feet.
Tenderbotumn is breathing heavily.
Tenderbotumn looks for a takedown but Cunningham sprawls well.
Erich Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elvis Tenderbotumn.

Cunningham shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cunningham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Cunningham stands and steps away. Tenderbotumn gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Cunningham instigates a clinch.
Cunningham is trying to pull guard but Tenderbotumn has him pressed against the cage.
Tenderbotumn stalling in the clinch but Cunningham improves position.
Cunningham using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tenderbotumn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham tries to score a body lock takedown but Tenderbotumn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tenderbotumn gets underhooks to prevent Cunningham's takedown attempt.

Cunningham manages to pull guard.
Cunningham trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Tenderbotumn postures up in Cunningham's guard and throws a big left but Cunningham blocks it.

Cunningham is working an open guard so Tenderbotumn takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Cunningham has Tenderbotumn up against the cage in a clinch.
Cunningham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tenderbotumn smiles and moves away.
Elvis Tenderbotumn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tenderbotumn has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cunningham has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tenderbotumn clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Tenderbotumn fending off the submission attempt from Cunningham.
Tenderbotumn trying to control the action but Cunningham just sinks the hooks in.
Tenderbotumn is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Cunningham is looking for the choke from the back position but Tenderbotumn is controlling his hands well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cunningham biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erich Cunningham dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tenderbotumn shoots in but no luck this time.
Cunningham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tenderbotumn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cunningham sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tenderbotumn closes the distance and clinches up with Cunningham, looking for a takedown. Tenderbotumn pushes Cunningham against the cage but Cunningham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Erich Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elvis Tenderbotumn.
Tenderbotumn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Cunningham rushes Tenderbotumn and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham wants a takedown but no success here.
Tenderbotumn tries to pull guard but Cunningham holds him up against the cage and eventually Tenderbotumn drops back down to his feet.
Tenderbotumn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cunningham wants to break free but Tenderbotumn has control.

Cunningham manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tenderbotumn misses with a takedown attempt

and Cunningham holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tenderbotumn wants a takedown but no success here.
Cunningham misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cunningham tries to pull guard but Tenderbotumn forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cunningham manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tenderbotumn crunches a lovely knee into Cunningham's ribcage.
Tenderbotumn wants to break the clinch but can't.

Cunningham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tenderbotumn throws a sloppy head kick

and Cunningham counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tenderbotumn won't be happy with that.
Cunningham grinds an elbow into Tenderbotumn's temple.

Cunningham looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tenderbotumn takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cunningham tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Cunningham tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cunningham content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Cunningham is stinking the place up with his stalling.

That's four 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.

Cunningham tries for a kimura but Tenderbotumn is defending well.
Tenderbotumn is trying to improve his position.
Cunningham scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tenderbotumn to see if he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tenderbotumn struggling a bit here.
Cunningham moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erich Cunningham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cunningham has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erich Cunningham!