PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Both (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Ericson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both's entrance music is Can't be Touched. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Both
vs
Ericson

181 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Both!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Danny Ericson!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ericson feints and as Both raises his hands in defense, Ericson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ericson wants to get up but he can't break Both's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ericson content to stall in guard here.

Both is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both keeping moving, preventing Ericson from controlling successfully.
Both wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ericson manages to pass to side control.
Both wants to get back to full guard but Ericson has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Ericson.
Both is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Ericson.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ericson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ericson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Ericson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ericson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Ericson goes for an armbar but Both turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Both.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ericson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Both can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericson keeping moving, preventing Both from controlling successfully.

Both gets to his feet. Ericson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Both 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.
Ericson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ericson, not yet.
Both trying to control the position from guard on top but Ericson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ericson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericson wants to stand and escape but Both is having none of it.
Ericson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ericson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both tries to free his leg and advance position but Ericson is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Both with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ericson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both is trying to drag Ericson to the mat but Ericson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan Both. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ericson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Ericson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ericson shoots in for a double leg but Both sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ericson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ericson has his takedown stuffed

and Both counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bryan Both has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Ericson.
Both lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Both is stalling here. Ericson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Both seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ericson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Both tries to buck Ericson off but Ericson is having none of it.
Both is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sloppy strikes there by Ericson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both is trying to get back to half guard.
Both wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Ericson stands up and beckons Both to his feet.
Both swats away the attempt to clinch by Ericson.
Ericson shoots and misses

and Both counters with a shoot takedown. Ericson fights it but they end up in guard.

Both drops back looking for a leg! Ericson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ericson manages to kick Both off! Both jumps back into Ericson's guard.
Both chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Both gets to his feet. Ericson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ericson tries to land a front kick but Both steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Both clinches with his opponent.

Both breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Ericson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ericson breaks from the clinch.

Both darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ericson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Both closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ericson counters with a head kick.
Both misses with a takedown

and Ericson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ericson stands up from Both's guard - Ericson perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericson tries to clinch there but Both circles away.
Ericson tries to clinch up but Both circles away and keeps his distance.

Both bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Both is looking to take a break and control but Ericson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Both decides to stand back up.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ericson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Both dominated that second round.
That's time! Both's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Both has managed to clinch.
Ericson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Both gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Ericson drags the fight down to the ground.
Both forces his way into half guard.
Both sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ericson moves into full guard.
Both throws and elbow that misses. Ericson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Both's guard. Nice move by Ericson!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both trying to keep a closed guard but Ericson is proving a slippery customer.
Both manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ericson manages to get himself to full guard.
Bryan Both overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Both gets to his feet - Ericson follows without any prompting.
Both doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ericson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Ericson pushes Both up against the cage in a clinch.
Both is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ericson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Both can't fight it off and eventually Ericson manages to take the fight to the floor. Both looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both wants to control but Ericson passes easily into half guard.
Both tries to get to full guard but Ericson has control of the leg.
Ericson is trying to control the action in half guard but Both is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericson prevents Both from improving his position.
Both moves into full guard.
Both is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both keeping moving, preventing Ericson from controlling successfully.
Ericson looking to pass the guard.

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.
Both wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Both. No joy for Ericson on that attempt.
Both with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ericson counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan Both. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both prevents the takedown attempt.
Ericson taking a breather.
Both drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ericson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Both as Ericson tries to tie him up.
Both wants to stall.
Both being controlled against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Ericson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ericson 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Ericson!