PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Nichols (ranked 6397 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magnus Ericsson (ranked 5812 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Nichols
vs
Ericsson

151 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shelby Nichols!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Magnus Ericsson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ericsson moves into the clinch.
Ericsson's coach down at Rabid Reindeer Training was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ericsson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Nichols breaks the clinch.

Nichols moves into the clinch.
Nichols throws a punch but it's blocked by Ericsson.
Ericsson stalling.
Ericsson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ericsson stalls.
Ericsson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nichols struggles to land a body shot inside as Ericsson controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols controlling the action here for a moment.
A shot in the inside from Ericsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nichols just leaning against Ericsson, taking a breather.
Nichols is working for takedown but Ericsson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ericsson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Nichols breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nichols misses with a straight right.
Ericsson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Ericsson clinches up against the cage.
Ericsson is trying to break the clinch but Nichols has him pressed against the cage.
Ericsson prevents a body shot from Nichols.
Nichols tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ericsson avoids it.
Ericsson letting Nichols take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols being controlled against the cage.
Ericsson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Ericsson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nichols regains guard immediately.

Nichols is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ericsson stalling in the clinch.
Nichols is struggling to control the position.
Ericsson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nichols avoiding damage.
Ericsson prevents Nichols from breaking the clinch.
Ericsson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nichols leaning against his opponent.
Ericsson managing to block the knees to the body from Nichols.
Nichols could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ericsson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The referee calls for Nichols to work.
Stalling in the clinch from Nichols.
Ericsson stalling against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nichols just leaning against Ericsson, taking a breather.
Nichols gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Shelby Nichols.

Ericsson forces Nichols back against the cage and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nichols can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shelby Nichols. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ericsson has hold of one of Nichols's legs. Nichols is fighting the takedown attempt but Ericsson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ericsson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nichols works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ericsson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Nichols is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson wants to control from the top but Nichols keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ericsson throwing strikes from guard but Nichols blocks nicely.

Nichols is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ericsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nichols is keeping the position for now.
Magnus Ericsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nichols working a defensive guard but Ericsson passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Nichols looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ericsson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ericsson trying to mount his opponent but Nichols defends it.
Ericsson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nichols is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Ericsson moves into range and clinches up with Nichols.

Nichols breaks from the clinch.
Shelby Nichols is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ericsson clinches up with Nichols and pushes him back against the cage.

Ericsson lands a takedown into guard.
Nichols preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nichols not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Nichols looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ericsson has picked Nichols up and slammed him! Nichols can't keep hold of the triangle and Ericsson manages to pass to side control!
Nichols is not content to let Ericsson control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is trying to escape the position but Ericsson is controlling the position.
Ericsson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nichols is avoiding damage well.
Ericsson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Nichols is looking for a sweep.
Nichols regains half guard.
Ericsson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nichols is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ericsson pulls his head out easily.
Nichols is staying active underneath Ericsson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
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.
That's time! Nichols's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ericsson has closed the distance and engaged Nichols in a clinch.
Nichols letting Ericsson take a breather here.
Ericsson digs a right hand into Nichols's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nichols's gas tank.
Ericsson being controlled against the cage.
Nichols stalling in the clinch but Ericsson improves position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nichols is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Nichols manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Nichols with that takedown attempt.
Magnus Ericsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ericsson gets a clinch.
Nichols has Ericsson pressed against the cage, preventing Ericsson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Ericsson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Ericsson manages to end up in side control.
Nichols regains half guard there - taking advantage of Ericsson's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Ericsson controlling the pace.
Nichols is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nichols is trying to maintain the position but Ericsson is very close to passing his half guard.
Ericsson is trying to control. Nichols wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nichols regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ericsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Nichols is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ericsson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nichols bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ericsson's guard.

Ericsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nichols is controlling him.
Ericsson looking to control.
Ericsson pulls Nichols in close to his closed guard and prevents Nichols from doing any damage or advancing position.

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.
Ericsson 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nichols gets tackled into the cage by Ericsson. Ericsson maintains the clinch.
Ericsson leaning against his opponent.
Ericsson stalls.
The crowd are getting on Ericsson's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nichols's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shelby Nichols has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ericsson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magnus Ericsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ericsson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

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