PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sven Backlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Ericson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danny Ericson looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Backlund
vs
Ericson

184 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
22
173 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sven Backlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Danny Ericson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backlund tries to clinch but Ericson is having none of it.
Ericson misses with a series of wild punches.
Ericson keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Backlund looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Backlund tries to bum rush Ericson with a series of wild strikes but Ericson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Backlund throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ericson.

Ericson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ericson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Backlund is in all sorts of trouble here.
Backlund tries to lock up and control but Ericson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Backlund gets back to half guard.
Backlund is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Ericson prevents Backlund from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backlund gets back to full guard.
Backlund striking off his back but it's not causing Ericson any problems.
Backlund trying to keep a closed guard but Ericson is proving a slippery customer.
Backlund bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ericson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Backlund loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Backlund trying to control but Ericson is working from the bottom.
Backlund throws a strike but Ericson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Backlund is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Backlund is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backlund preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ericson stands up from Backlund's guard - Ericson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Backlund throws a series of punches but Ericson avoids them all with ease.

Ericson has managed to clinch.

Ericson successfully pulls guard.
Backlund makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Backlund wants to pass the guard but Ericson is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Backlund's guard.
Ericson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ericson wants to stand but Backlund is controlling his posture from full guard.
Backlund throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Ericson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ericson wants to control from the top but Backlund keeps moving.
Backlund looking to control.

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.

Backlund has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ericson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ericson wants to stand but Backlund has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Backlund has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ericson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ericson passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Backlund trying to hold on to Ericson's head to control him but Ericson postures up.
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 Sven Backlund 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.

Ericson drives through and clinches with Backlund against the cage.
Backlund is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Backlund has had enough of the clinch but Ericson keeps him there for the moment.
Backlund fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ericson tries to pull guard but Backlund won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ericson.
Backlund tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ericson smiles and moves away.
Backlund looks to clinch

and Ericson moves into the clinch.
Backlund is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ericson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sven Backlund. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ericson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Backlund missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ericson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Backlund scores with a takedown into Ericson's guard.
Ericson has Backlund pulled in close to control his posture.
Ericson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Backlund is one step ahead there.
Backlund is working Ericson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Backlund prevents Ericson from getting back to his feet.
Backlund scoring with some ground and pound.
Ericson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ericson, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ericson has momentary wrist control but Backlund slips an elbow through the middle.
Ericson trying to control the position.
Backlund makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ericson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ericson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Backlund uses it to pass to side control.
Backlund will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Backlund is looking to take a break and control but Ericson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ericson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Backlund 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backlund scores with a couple of short elbows.
Backlund wants to control but Ericson is keeping him busy.
Backlund misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Backlund wants to stand but Ericson is controlling his arm.
Ericson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Backlund connects with a decent elbow.
Ericson is not content to let Backlund control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good work by Ericson as he checks the leg kick.
Backlund darts in trying to clinch

and Ericson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ericson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Backlund wants a takedown.
Ericson presses Backlund against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Ericson pulls guard successfully.
Backlund slips nicely into half guard.
Backlund wants to free his trapped foot but Ericson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Backlund missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Backlund throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ericson trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sven Backlund will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Backlund fails to land with a series of punches.

Ericson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Backlund is staying active underneath Ericson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Backlund tries to roll over but Ericson keeps him under control.
Ericson is trying to control the action in half guard but Backlund is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ericson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Backlund's head.
Backlund punching from the bottom.
Ericson stops Backlund from getting back to his feet.
Backlund trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Backlund fails with the takedown

and Ericson counters with a takedown into side control.
Backlund is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ericson off and has taken his back!
Ericson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Backlund connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ericson to escape the position.
Ericson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Backlund cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ericson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Backlund is landing with some decent strikes but Ericson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Backlund with shots to the head and body - Ericson looks very uncomfortable down there.
The referee warns Ericson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ericson tries to buck Backlund off but he can't manage it.
Ericson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Backlund not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ericson is staying active underneath Backlund, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Backlund is looking for a kimura but Ericson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Backlund to get the leverage.
Backlund tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ericson controls his leg.

Backlund seems to be looking for submissions.
Ericson trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericson is not content to let Backlund control the position.
It looks like Backlund is going to stand back up.
Sven Backlund overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Some wild striking there from Backlund.
Ericson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ericson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ericson works his way into side control.
Backlund is trying to get back to half guard.
Backlund striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericson trying to control the action but Backlund is working from the bottom.
Backlund wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Backlund tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Backlund is not content to let Ericson control the position.
Backlund is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ericson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Ericson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Backlund 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Backlund!