PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Loren Cline (ranked 7719 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Eriksen (ranked 5609 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurt Eriksen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Cline
vs
Eriksen

186 cm
21
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Loren Cline!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kurt Eriksen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eriksen throws a sloppy head kick and Cline moves out of range easily.

Eriksen clinches with his opponent.

Eriksen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Eriksen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cline counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cline.
Cline is looking to work some ground and pound but Eriksen has wrist control.
Eriksen wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cline throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cline wanted to stand there but Eriksen had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cline throws a big elbow that misses.
Eriksen wants to stand and escape but Cline is having none of it.
Cline scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cline postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cline lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cline distracts Eriksen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cline postures up in Eriksen's guard and throws a big left but Eriksen blocks it.
Eriksen wants to sweep but no luck.
Eriksen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eriksen wants to stand and escape but Cline is having none of it.
Cline throws an elbow that misses. Eriksen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cline's guard. Nice move by Eriksen!

Cline is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Eriksen defends well.
Eriksen postures up in Cline's guard and throws a big left but Cline blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cline keeping full guard, as Eriksen tries to pass.
Eriksen wants to control from the top but Cline keeps moving.
Eriksen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cline looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cline wants to stand up but Eriksen is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Eriksen pushes Cline up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cline is working for takedown but Eriksen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Eriksen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cline is trying to push Eriksen away but Eriksen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Eriksen is working for takedown but Cline is calmly controlling the position for now.

Eriksen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eriksen thows a leg kick but Cline checks it

and Cline counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cline.
Eriksen wants to stand up but Cline is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cline throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Eriksen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Eriksen is working an open guard so Cline takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Eriksen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Eriksen shoots in but Cline avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cline is looking to counter the offense by Eriksen and move into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Loren Cline has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Eriksen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Eriksen clinches.

Cline 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.

That was a close round but I would say that Loren Cline will probably get the nod.
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.

Cline misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Eriksen.
Eriksen pushes Cline away with a front kick.

Cline rushes Eriksen and presses him up against the cage.
Eriksen tries to break the clinch but Cline is controlling the position.

Eriksen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eriksen misses with a kick to the body.
Cline takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eriksen takes the fight into the clinch.
Eriksen misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cline changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Eriksen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No luck for Eriksen with that takedown attempt.

Cline gets tackled into the cage by Eriksen. Eriksen maintains the clinch.
Eriksen can't break the clinch.
Cline holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Eriksen wants to break free but Cline has control.

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.
Eriksen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Cline breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cline tries to keep at a distance but Eriksen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cline has Eriksen pushed against the cage.
Cline prevents Eriksen from breaking the clinch.
Eriksen prevents Cline from breaking the clinch.
Eriksen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cline is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eriksen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eriksen shoots for a takedown but Cline saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Eriksen misses with a wild combination.

Eriksen clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Eriksen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Eriksen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Eriksen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cline breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Eriksen fails with a takedown attempt.
Loren Cline has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Eriksen.
Cline tries a head kick but it misses.

Eriksen closes the distance and pushes Cline back into the cage.
Cline is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Eriksen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cline is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Eriksen misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Eriksen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cline dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Eriksen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Eriksen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cline defends it nicely.

Cline drives through with a takedown into guard.
Eriksen is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cline dives into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eriksen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cline wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cline is trying to get an arm triangle but Eriksen is defending well.
Eriksen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Eriksen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Eriksen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cline is not content to let Eriksen control the position.
Cline won't allow Eriksen to pass to mount.
Eriksen is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eriksen wants to take a breather but Cline is having none of it.
Cline regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Eriksen.
Cline has Eriksen pulled in close to control his posture.
Eriksen trying to control but Cline is working from the bottom.
Eriksen looking to sit in guard and control but Cline gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Eriksen wants to sweep but no luck.
Cline wanted to stand there but Eriksen had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Eriksen drives through with a takedown into Cline's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cline wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Eriksen wanted to stand there but Cline had control of the position.
Eriksen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eriksen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Eriksen trying to control but Cline is working from the bottom.
Cline wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cline'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.
Cline looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eriksen is one step ahead there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cline trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cline rushes Eriksen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Loren Cline showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cline has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Loren Cline!