PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Conrad Calacon (ranked 810 p4p, 108 weight class) and Sven Ludwig (ranked 1499 p4p, 206 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Calacon
vs
Ludwig

185 cm
22
188 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
199 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
Dauntless

Riners Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Conrad Calacon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sven Ludwig!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calacon lands a really nice looking cross but Ludwig seems unphased.

It looks like Sven Ludwig has been cut.
Ludwig takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Ludwig tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Calacon was well out of range. Poor timing from Ludwig.
Calacon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ludwig.
Ludwig is looking to land body kicks.
Calacon throws a body kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ludwig.
Calacon checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ludwig throws a body punch but Calacon moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ludwig throws a leg kick but Calacon sees it coming and moves out of range.
Calacon has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ludwig.
Ludwig moves away from the strike by Calacon.
A thudding body kick lands there by Calacon!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calacon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ludwig manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Calacon has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ludwig ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ludwig looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Calacon is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Calacon looks to land a left hand but Ludwig moved out of range nicely.
Ludwig walks forward, straight into a front kick from Calacon.
Calacon misses with a wild body shot.
Ludwig replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Calacon blocks it well.
Calacon looks for the body kick but Ludwig saw that one coming.
Ludwig bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Ludwig fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Calacon, pushing him back against the cage.
Calacon is looking to control Ludwig's arms but Ludwig gets an underhook and turns him. Now Calacon has his back to the cage.
Calacon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Calacon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Calacon misses with a wild body shot.
Ludwig only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calacon takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Calacon blocks the body kick.
Calacon scores with a jab to the jaw.
Good work by Calacon as he checks the leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Calacon connects with a leg kick. Ludwig looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Calacon connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ludwig throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Calacon connects with a solid leg kick.
Ludwig misses with a body shot.
Calacon appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Calacon avoids a kick to the body.
Ludwig misses with a body kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Calacon misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig looks to land a body kick but Calacon moved away.
Calacon is looking to counter with head kicks.
Ludwig dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Calacon. That did some damage!
Calacon throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Ludwig counters with an outside leg kick.
Ludwig uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Calacon.
Conrad Calacon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A clash of legs there as Calacon blocks the low kick.
Ludwig takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Calacon chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ludwig can pounce on him.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ludwig!
Ludwig on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ludwig throws a chopping leg kick but Calacon manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ludwig scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig swings for the body but Calacon moves out of range.
Calacon misses with a leg kick
and Ludwig counters with a nice body kick.
Calacon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Calacon shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Calacon misses with a hook.
Ludwig tries a quick counter leg kick but Calacon is wise to it.
Calacon throws a low kick but Ludwig moves out of range easily.
Ludwig only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Calacon throws a push kick but Ludwig slaps the foot to one side.
Ludwig on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Calacon thows a body kick. Ludwig tries to catch it but that hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Conrad Calacon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sven Ludwig's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Ludwig.
Calacon takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ludwig takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ludwig uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calacon.
Ludwig is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Calacon with a body shot.
Calacon checks the leg kick.
Ludwig misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Calacon counters with a nice body shot.
Calacon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Calacon walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ludwig.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ludwig shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ludwig showed some decent athleticism there.
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!
Calacon wants to control but Ludwig is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ludwig landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ludwig wants to take a breather but Calacon is having none of it.
Ludwig thows a huge punch but Calacon dodges it nicely.
Ludwig trying to control from half guard but Calacon is working away.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ludwig lands a nice short elbow.
Ludwig has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Calacon is trying is best to control the position here.
Ludwig working Calacon over with strikes.
Calacon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig slips a nice elbow through Calacon's hands, connecting with Calacon's forehead.
Ludwig throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Calacon to regain full guard.
Ludwig working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ludwig trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ludwig working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ludwig keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Calacon's head.
Ludwig postures up in Calacon's guard and throws a big left but Calacon blocks it.
Ludwig wants to control from the top but Calacon keeps moving.
Ludwig throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig pivots, looking for a leg kick but Calacon is out of range and Ludwig settles back down.
Calacon finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ludwig let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ludwig misses with a body punch
and Calacon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Calacon.
Calacon throws a hook but Ludwig blocks it.
Calacon tries to bum rush Ludwig with a series of wild strikes but Ludwig uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ludwig. Calacon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ludwig misses with a low kick.
Conrad Calacon is winning the standup battle so far.
Ludwig lands with a good body shot.
Calacon looks to throw the jab but Ludwig is out of range.

Ludwig rushes Calacon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig can't get the takedown.
Calacon blocking some punches.
Calacon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ludwig misses with a body punch.
Calacon tries a body shot but Ludwig blocks it.
Ludwig taking a breather.
Ludwig tries a knee to the head but Calacon blocks it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Calacon.

Ludwig escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ludwig fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Calacon bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ludwig's head.
Calacon wants to land a leg kick but Ludwig is out of range.
Ludwig fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Calacon has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ludwig looks to land a body kick but Calacon moved away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Ludwig showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sven Ludwig's cut.
That's time! Calacon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Calacon walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ludwig.

Calacon gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ludwig to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Calacon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ludwig.
Calacon managing to control the position.
Ludwig throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ludwig trying to control the position from guard on top but Calacon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calacon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ludwig throws a big right hand that misses.
Calacon has control of Ludwig's left arm, preventing Ludwig from doing any damage.
Ludwig keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Calacon's head.
Ludwig throwing strikes from guard but Calacon blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ludwig accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ludwig slips a jab and a cross from Calacon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ludwig throws a hook but Calacon avoids it easily.
Ludwig ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Calacon moves away.
Calacon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ludwig only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Calacon scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ludwig buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ludwig tries to work over Calacon's front leg with a kick but Calacon checks it.
As Ludwig tries to get set, Calacon tries to push him back and clinch up but Ludwig manages to avoid the attempt.
Ludwig misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Calacon. Ludwig does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ludwig throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Calacon misses with a head kick.
Ludwig with the counter takedown but Calacon avoids it easily.
Ludwig fakes the leg kick and cracks Calacon in the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig throws a half hearted mid kick.
Calacon is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Ludwig clinches.
Calacon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Calacon lands a body punch.
Calacon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ludwig's elbow.
Ludwig prevents a body shot from Calacon.
A bit of stalling here from Ludwig.
Calacon holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ludwig has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Calacon after a bit of a struggle.
Ludwig misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ludwig with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ludwig is looking to break free of the clinch but Calacon has double underhooks.
Calacon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Calacon fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ludwig's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ludwig is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Calacon rather than just go for the knockout.
Ludwig tries to land a leg kick but Calacon saw it coming and moves away.
Calacon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ludwig.
Nice defenses there by Ludwig.
Ludwig looks for the body kick but Calacon saw that one coming.
Ludwig misses with a body shot
letting Calacon counter with a right hand.
Ludwig lands a leg kick that knocks Calacon off balance momentarily.
Ludwig shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Calacon is looking to counter with head kicks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Calacon misses with a hook to the body
and Ludwig counters with a straight right hand.
Ludwig moves out of range of the body kick from Calacon.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ludwig misses with the body kick
and Calacon counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Ludwig comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ludwig 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Ludwig!
A less than humble Sven Ludwig misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.