PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leif Erikson (ranked 1987 p4p, 294 weight class) and Rickson Moura (ranked 1835 p4p, 275 weight class). Erikson comes into the arena with Into Battle - Ensiferum blaring out of the sound system. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Erikson
vs
Moura

195 cm
24
220 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

185 cm
28
215 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Leif Erikson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rickson Moura!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Erikson .
Erikson has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Chris Leben KO Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Erikson cracks the inside of Moura's front leg.
Moura throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Moura blocks a low kick nicely.
Moura tries to score a power double leg takedown but Erikson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moura somewhat.
Moura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Erikson .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Erikson misses.
Erikson misses with a straight right.
Moura blocks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Moura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erikson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Moura ducks under a wild hook from Erikson .
Erikson misses with the combination.
Erikson throws a body punch but Moura moves out of range.
Moura throws a body shot but no joy.
Erikson slaps away a takedown attempt from Moura, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And Erikson counters with a quick kick to the body but Moura blocks it.
Erikson dips to his left and cracks Moura with an uppercut!
Moura takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Moura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Erikson .
Erikson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moura was well out of range. Poor timing from Erikson .
Moura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erikson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Erikson throws a body shot but no joy.
Moura throws an overhand right that lands on Erikson 's shoulder, as Erikson tries to avoid the shot.
It appears Erikson was looking to counter with a kick there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moura.
Leif Erikson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Moura.
Nice cross by Erikson .
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab from Erikson .
Erikson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Erikson throws a sloppy head kick and Moura moves out of range easily.
Moura jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Moura throws a big shot that misses.
Erikson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Moura has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Erikson throws a hook to the side of Moura's head but Moura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A punch lands to the side of Moura 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Moura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Erikson .
Erikson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Moura.
Erikson misses with a straight right.
Moura fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Erikson lands a high kick to the side of Moura's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Erikson dives into guard, looking to finish.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moura looking to control.
Erikson stopping the sweep attempt from Moura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moura trying to control the position.
Moura being controlled here, momentarily.
Moura is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Erikson trying to control but Moura is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Moura punching from the bottom - just letting Erikson know he's still in a fight.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Erikson misses with a hook.
Moura slips under a jab from Erikson .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Erikson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Moura slips a straight right by Erikson .
Leif Erikson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Erikson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Moura with the counter takedown but Erikson avoids it easily.
Moura fails with a takedown attempt.
Moura listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Erikson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moura.
Moura drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Erikson defends it well.
Erikson fails to land with a series of punches.
Erikson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Moura at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erikson feints and then cracks Moura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Moura down.
Erikson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Moura.
Moura takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Erikson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Erikson lands.
Moura jabs at Erikson 's body.
Erikson looks to throw the jab but Moura is out of range.
Moura with the counter takedown but Erikson avoids it easily.
Erikson throws a body punch but Moura moves out of range.
Erikson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Moura counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Moura working over Erikson with some ground and pound. Erikson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Erikson wants to improve his position but Moura is controlling well.
Moura not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Erikson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Moura is working away from the top position though.
Moura lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moura looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Erikson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moura tries to pass to full mount but Erikson defends it.

Moura trying to work for an americana but Erikson has managed to regain full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Erikson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Moura is trying to control but can't.
Moura has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Moura is trying to control but Erikson manages to pass to mount!
Erikson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Moura tries to reverse the position but Erikson maintains control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moura sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Moura trying to hold on to Erikson 's head to control him but Erikson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moura tries to roll over but Erikson keeps him under control.
Moura wants to control but Erikson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Erikson there.
Rickson Moura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moura is trying to control but can't.
Erikson lands strikes from half guard.

Moura is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Erikson pulls his head out easily.
Moura wants to control but Erikson passes into side.
Moura tries to bench press Erikson off him but Erikson keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Erikson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Moura loads up on a big right hand but Erikson slips the punch.
Moura ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Erikson moves away.
Erikson throws a big counter combination but Moura scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Erikson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Erikson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Moura swinging wildly here.
Erikson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Erikson lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Erikson .
Erikson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Moura closes this distance looking for a takedown but Erikson circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Erikson dominated that second round.
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. 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.

Erikson throws the left hand but Moura avoids the punch easily.
Moura misses with a takedown
and Erikson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Moura throws a hook but Erikson avoids it easily.
Erikson throws a jab but it's blocked by Moura.
Moura checks a leg kick nicely.
Erikson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Erikson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Moura eats them both and turns towards Erikson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Leif Erikson is winning the standup battle so far.
Erikson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Moura manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erikson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Moura's hands.
Moura avoids the head kick by Erikson .
Erikson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Moura manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erikson lands with an overhand left.
Moura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Moura's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Moura duly obliges.
Erikson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Moura.
Moura checks a leg kick.
Erikson connects with a solid leg kick.
Erikson looks to land a right hand but Moura moved out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Erikson as Moura shoots in.
Moura moves away from the strike by Erikson .
Erikson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And Moura tries to counter it with a takedown but Erikson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Moura moves out of range of the body kick.
Moura lands a slapping body shot.
Rickson Moura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Erikson misses.
Moura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Erikson can pounce on him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Erikson looks to throw the jab but Moura is out of range.
Erikson throws a series of punches but Moura moves out of range.
Erikson misses the jab.
Moura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Erikson .
Moura tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Erikson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Moura moves away.
Moura throws a body shot but no joy.
An attempted straight right counter from Erikson misses the target.
Erikson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Moura counters with a nice double leg into side control. Erikson won't be happy with that.
Moura trying to control the action but Erikson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Moura advances to mount.
Erikson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Leif Erikson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Moura scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Moura sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Moura landing strikes from the mount and Erikson is in trouble!
Moura misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Moura postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Erikson looks a forlorn figure.
Erikson is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erikson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Moura tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Moura misses with a head shot.
Moura trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Moura looking to ground and pound but Erikson is blocking nicely.
Moura lands with some strikes.
Erikson is trying to escape the mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moura throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Erikson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Moura can do to turn this around?
Erikson tries to hold on but Moura pushes him away.
Moura throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Erikson because Moura loaded up on that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rickson Moura.
I think Erikson 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leif Erikson !
Our winner, Leif Erikson , made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.