PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rolland Heath (ranked 7085 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Ericsson (ranked 5205 p4p, 0 weight class). Rolland Heath has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Heath
vs
Ericsson

209 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
18
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rolland Heath!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Magnus Ericsson!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ericsson rushes Heath and presses him up against the cage.
Ericsson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Heath tries a knee to the head but Ericsson blocks it.
Heath has a couple of punches blocked by Ericsson.
A knee to the head by Heath.
Heath dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Heath swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ericsson leaning against his opponent.
Heath misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ericsson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson keeps control of Heath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ericsson is stalling here.

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

Ericsson pushes Heath up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ericsson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Heath breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ericsson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Heath, pushing him back against the cage.
Heath wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Heath just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ericsson's brow.
Ericsson stalls.
Ericsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Heath misses with a knee to the head.
Heath misses with a punch on the inside.

Heath's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ericsson moves into range and clinches up with Heath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heath taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Heath escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ericsson moves out of range of the body kick from Heath.

Heath has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ericsson is trying to drag Heath to the mat but Heath just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Heath is looking to break free of the clinch but Ericsson has double underhooks.
Ericsson stalling against the cage.
Heath wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ericsson is working for takedown but Heath is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rolland Heath has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magnus Ericsson.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ericsson counters with a straight right hand.

Ericsson moves into the clinch successfully.

Heath breaks the clinch.
Ericsson leaves Heath with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ericsson.

Ericsson has managed to clinch.
Ericsson is working for takedown but Heath is calmly controlling the position for now.

Heath breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heath finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Heath misses with a series of wild punches.
Heath is looking to clinch.
Heath tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ericsson defends well and Heath ends up having to push Ericsson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Heath is breathing heavily.

Ericsson darts in and clinches Heath up against the cage.

Heath breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Heath swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Ericsson to counter with a crisp jab.

Ericsson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee calls for Ericsson to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Magnus Ericsson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Heath tries a low kick but Ericsson avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Ericsson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Ericsson drives through and clinches with Heath against the cage.

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

Ericsson gets a clinch.

Heath manages to break the clinch.

Ericsson clinches.

Heath breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ericsson clinches up with Heath and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Heath breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ericsson gets a clinch.
Heath goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heath breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Heath looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ericsson is fending him off so far but Heath persists. Nope, Ericsson circles away and we're back to standing.
Ericsson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Heath is looking to counter the offense by Ericsson and move into the clinch.
Ericsson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Heath avoids it really well and circles away.

Ericsson moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heath throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Heath manages to break the clinch.
Heath fails with the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Ericsson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Heath gets tackled into the cage by Ericsson. Ericsson maintains the clinch.
Heath wants to break free but Ericsson has control.
Ericsson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ericsson throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Heath is trying to break the clinch but Ericsson is controlling him.
Ericsson tries to circle away but Heath has him pinned against the cage.
Ericsson slowing the pace effectively.
Ericsson lands with a right to the head.
Ericsson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Heath has had enough of the clinch but Ericsson keeps him there for the moment.
Heath has had enough of the clinch but Ericsson keeps him there for the moment.
Heath creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Heath lands with a left to the head.
Ericsson blocks an uppercut.
Heath can't break the clinch.
Ericsson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ericsson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heath stalling in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Ericsson.
Heath swings wildly with an uppercut but Ericsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heath letting Ericsson take a breather here.
Heath throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ericsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ericsson stalls.
Heath tries to break free but Ericsson pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A shot in the inside from Ericsson.
Ericsson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Heath is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Ericsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Heath shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ericsson sprawls well. Ericsson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Heath gets slowly back to his feet.
Heath looks to land a left hand but Ericsson moved out of range nicely.
Rolland Heath is winning the standup battle so far.

Ericsson closes the distance and clinches.

Heath breaks from the clinch.
Heath throws a nice looking combination but Ericsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ericsson clinches up against the cage.

Heath breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rolland Heath seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heath just misses with a punch to the body.

Ericsson clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Heath prevents Ericsson from breaking the clinch.
Ericsson tries to circle away but Heath has him pinned against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ericsson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Heath is defending well.
Heath misses with some punches.
Ericsson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Heath breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ericsson moves into the clinch.

Heath's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson blocks a head kick by Heath.
Ericsson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Heath scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ericsson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ericsson throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Ericsson wants to control but Heath postures up.
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Ericsson regains half guard, as Heath was trying to land strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson trying to control here.

Heath is working for a submission of some sort.
Ericsson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Heath. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Heath not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Heath is trying to work for a kimura but Ericsson is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Heath is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ericsson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Heath.
Ericsson is controlling Heath's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rolland Heath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Heath thows a leg kick but Ericsson checks it
and Ericsson counters with a right hand to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rolland Heath showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ericsson 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Ericsson!