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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Stricker (ranked 1375 p4p, 218 weight class) and Leif Erikson (ranked 1327 p4p, 210 weight class). Stricker's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 21 Savage feat. Future - X. Erikson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Into Battle - Ensiferum. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 199 cm
40
219 lbs
21 - 12 - 0 |
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195 cm
26
220 lbs
14 - 11 - 1 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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
21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Stricker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
14 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Leif Erikson !
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erikson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stricker on his heels. He'll look to pass Stricker's guard now, I'm sure.
Erikson content to stall in guard here.
Erikson wants to control from the top but Stricker keeps moving.
Erikson wants to pass the guard but Stricker is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Erikson is looking to work some ground and pound but Stricker has wrist control.
Erikson postures up in Stricker's guard and throws a big left but Stricker blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erikson throws a big right hand that misses.
Stricker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Erikson is controlling him.
Erikson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Erikson trying to control the position from guard on top but Stricker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erikson postures up in Stricker's guard and throws a big left but Stricker blocks it.
Erikson looking to sit in guard and control but Stricker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Erikson is on top in guard.
Erikson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Erikson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Erikson throws a big right hand that misses.
Erikson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stricker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Erikson is controlling him.
Erikson passes into half guard.
Erikson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stricker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Erikson .
Erikson wants to take a breather but Stricker is having none of it.
Erikson lands strikes from half guard.
Erikson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Erikson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stricker's head.
Erikson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Erikson thows a huge punch but Stricker dodges it nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Erikson looks to land a strike but Stricker avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Erikson has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Chris Leben KO Academy . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Erikson wants to pass the guard but Stricker is keeping the position.
Erikson is looking to work some ground and pound but Stricker has wrist control.
Erikson throws an elbow that misses. Stricker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Erikson 's guard. Nice move by Stricker!
Erikson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Erikson controls Stricker momentarily but Stricker frees himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Erikson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Erikson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stricker stands up from Erikson 's guard - Stricker perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stricker misses with a low kick.
Erikson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stricker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Erikson somewhat.
Stricker darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Steve Stricker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Erikson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Erikson wants to free his trapped foot but Stricker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erikson is trying to control the action in half guard but Stricker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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.
Erikson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stricker manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Erikson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Erikson jumps into guard, dragging Stricker to the mat.
Erikson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Erikson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Erikson holds on and takes a little breather.
Erikson looking to control.
Erikson seems keen to control Stricker's posture.
Stricker won't allow Erikson to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stricker has closed the distance and engaged Erikson in a clinch.
Erikson misses with a punch to the body.
Erikson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stricker after a bit of a struggle.
Erikson 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Stricker working aggressively here.
Stricker misses with a punch on the inside.
Stricker can't find room to land a body shot as Erikson controls the action.
Stricker lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Erikson lands a body punch.
Erikson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
It looks like Steve Stricker has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A right handed body shot lands from Erikson .
Erikson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stricker backwards.
Erikson lands a left hand.
Erikson lands a body punch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erikson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stricker is refusing to be controlled, as Erikson sits in half guard.
Erikson thows a huge punch but Stricker dodges it nicely.
Erikson trying to control the action but Stricker is working from the bottom.
Erikson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stricker is trying to stand up here but Erikson is controlling him well.
Erikson is trying to control. Stricker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Erikson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Erikson wants to pass to mount but Stricker is defending the position.
Erikson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Erikson misses with a head shot. Stricker uses the momentum to regain guard.
Stricker keeping moving, preventing Erikson from controlling successfully.
Erikson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Erikson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Erikson trying to control but Stricker is working from the bottom.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stricker loads up on a big right hand but Erikson slips the punch.
A punch combination from Stricker misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erikson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stricker's guard.
Erikson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stricker keeping moving, preventing Erikson from controlling successfully.
Erikson throwing strikes but missing.
Erikson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leif Erikson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Erikson looking to sit in guard and control but Stricker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Erikson is on top in guard.
Erikson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Leif Erikson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steve Stricker's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Erikson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Erikson swings wildly with an uppercut but Stricker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Erikson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stricker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stricker blocks an uppercut.
Stricker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stricker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stricker attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Erikson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Stricker misses with a looping right.
Erikson moves in looking to clinch but Stricker pushes him off.
Erikson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stricker.
Erikson shoots in looking for a takedown. Stricker tries to sprawl out of it but Erikson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stricker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erikson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Left hook, right uppercut from Stricker.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Stricker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stricker throws a good cross that connects.
Erikson moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Stricker fails to land.
Erikson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Erikson misses with a punch to the body.
Stricker manages to break the clinch.
Erikson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stricker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stricker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Stricker misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Stricker.
Stricker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stricker misses with some punches.
Stricker has a couple of punches blocked by Erikson .
Stricker misses with a punch on the inside.
Erikson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steve Stricker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Erikson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stricker tries a body shot but Erikson blocks it.
Erikson struggles to land a body shot inside as Stricker controls his hands.
Stricker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Erikson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stricker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stricker lands with a left to the head.
Stricker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stricker stops a takedown attempt from Erikson .
Steve Stricker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leif Erikson .
Erikson jumps guard but Stricker turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Erikson pushes Stricker back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Erikson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stricker swings wildly with an uppercut but Erikson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stricker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Erikson tries to throw a body punch but Stricker avoids it by throwing Erikson back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stricker.
Stricker tries to throw a body punch but Erikson avoids it by throwing Stricker back against the cage.
Erikson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikson misses with a body punch.
Stricker misses with some punches.
Erikson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stricker blocks it with crossed arms.
Erikson scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Erikson .
Erikson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stricker backwards.
Erikson pulls guard effortlessly.
Erikson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Leif Erikson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Erikson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Stricker preventing the sweep.
Erikson is pulling down on Stricker's head. It's preventing any offense from Stricker, at least for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erikson is continuing to stall.
Erikson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stricker is one step ahead there.
Erikson trying to control the position here.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Stricker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Erikson 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leif Erikson !
After winning the bout, Leif Erikson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
42% |
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