PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Walcott (ranked 1075 p4p, 171 weight class) and Leif Erikson (ranked 1305 p4p, 200 weight class). Walcott comes to the cage accompanied by The Way Of The Fist. Erikson has chosen Into Battle - Ensiferum as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Walcott
vs
Erikson

187 cm
31
198 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

195 cm
25
220 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Pit Bull Development

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Walcott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Leif Erikson !
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walcott throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Erikson changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jab, jab by Walcott - just one landing.
Walcott 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.
Erikson needs to keep his hands up - Walcott had a free shot at his head there.
Erikson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Erikson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Walcott seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Walcott misses the jab.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Erikson has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Walcott misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Walcott is looking to slow Erikson down with leg kicks.
Walcott wants to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Erikson ! But no joy.
Erikson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erikson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Erikson dives in and grabs Walcott's left leg, looking for a takedown. Walcott pushes down on Erikson 's head and hops out.
Walcott misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erikson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Erikson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A punch combination from Erikson misses.
Erikson ducks right into an uppercut from Walcott.
Joe Walcott is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Walcott fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Erikson manages to avoid it.
Walcott doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Walcott delivers a nice body kick.
Erikson jabs Walcott right on the nose. Walcott blinks but takes it well.
Walcott fails in his attempt to clinch.
Walcott fails to land with a series of punches.
Walcott is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Walcott tries to bum rush Erikson with a series of wild strikes but Erikson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Erikson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Erikson checks the leg kick.

Erikson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Erikson lands in his opponent's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Walcott manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walcott tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Walcott throws an elbow that misses.
Erikson lands a body punch.
Erikson misses with a punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Erikson scores with a shoulder strike.
Erikson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Erikson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Walcott's elbow.
Walcott lands a body punch in the clinch.
Erikson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walcott misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Erikson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Erikson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short left from Walcott.
Walcott misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walcott can't find room to land a body shot as Erikson controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walcott swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Erikson dodges an elbow strike from Walcott.
Erikson misses with a punch on the inside.
Erikson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Erikson misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Walcott.

Erikson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Erikson is stalling here. Walcott is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Erikson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Walcott has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Erikson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erikson regains half guard.
Erikson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Walcott content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Walcott prevents Erikson from improving his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Erikson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Erikson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Walcott's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Walcott's back!
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 Joe Walcott will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Walcott dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Joe Walcott seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walcott bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Walcott looks to land a left hand but Erikson moved out of range nicely.
Walcott bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Erikson 's head.
Walcott throws a front kick aimed at Erikson 's knee but Erikson avoids it well.
Erikson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Walcott moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice cross by Walcott.
Erikson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Walcott at a distance.
Walcott scores with a jab to the body.
Erikson checks the leg kick.
Erikson feints the counter takedown.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Erikson , right into the meat.
Walcott with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Walcott has Erikson up against the cage in a clinch.
Walcott misses with a short punch on the inside.
Walcott is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Erikson can do to turn this around?
Erikson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Walcott.
Walcott swings wildly with an uppercut but Erikson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Erikson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Walcott regains guard.
Erikson wants to pass the guard but Walcott is keeping the position.
Erikson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Walcott wants to sweep here but Erikson controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Erikson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Walcott struggling a bit here.
Erikson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Walcott is not content to let Erikson control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walcott defending against the ground and pound.
Erikson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Walcott is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Erikson .
Erikson in side control, throwing shots but Walcott defends.
Erikson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Walcott is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Erikson trying to control the position but Walcott is working away.
Erikson throwing strikes but Walcott manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Erikson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Walcott's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikson missing with punches from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Walcott wants to control but Erikson is keeping him busy.
Erikson tries to get to full guard but Walcott has control of the leg.
Erikson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Erikson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Walcott stopping the sweep attempt from Erikson .
Walcott wants to control from the top but Erikson keeps moving.
Erikson wants to sweep here but Walcott controlling him for the moment.

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.
Erikson keeping moving, preventing Walcott from controlling successfully.
Walcott preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice uppercut there from Erikson .
Erikson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
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 Joe Walcott will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Walcott defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Erikson .
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Walcott here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Walcott closes the distance and clinches.
Erikson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Erikson jumps guard and drags Walcott to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Walcott controlling from the top position.
Erikson keeping moving, preventing Walcott from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Erikson is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erikson wants to control from the top but Walcott keeps moving.
Erikson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walcott preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Walcott utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Erikson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Walcott is keeping the position for now.
Erikson is looking to work some ground and pound but Walcott has wrist control.
Erikson throws a strike but Walcott rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Erikson looking for a sweep. Not yet Erikson , not yet.
Erikson working a defensive guard here.
Walcott controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Leif Erikson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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.

Erikson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Joe Walcott is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leif Erikson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Walcott controls the position.
Erikson throwing strikes but Walcott recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Erikson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Walcott's head.
Erikson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Erikson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Erikson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walcott avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Erikson .
Erikson thows a huge punch but Walcott dodges it nicely.
Erikson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Erikson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Walcott is looking for a sweep. Erikson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Walcott avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Erikson .
Erikson trying to control from half guard but Walcott is working away.
Walcott avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Erikson .
Walcott slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Erikson connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erikson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Erikson throwing strikes but missing.
Erikson throws an elbow that misses. Walcott uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Erikson 's guard. Nice move by Walcott!

Erikson wants to sweep here but Walcott controlling him for the moment.
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.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erikson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Erikson scoring with strikes to the body and head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leif Erikson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Walcott 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joe Walcott!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Joe Walcott waved his t-shirt featuring Pit Bull Development's logo in front of the cameras.
The defeated Leif Erikson had this to say: 'I will now rape and pillage!'.