PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cengiz Toprak (ranked 4639 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Erickson (ranked 25110 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Toprak
vs
Erickson

177 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cengiz Toprak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ed Erickson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toprak throws a right hand that Erickson ducks under and follows up with a left that Erickson also avoids with ease.
Erickson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Toprak drives through with a takedown into Erickson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Toprak slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Erickson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Toprak controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toprak trying to control the position from guard on top but Erickson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Erickson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toprak is looking to stand up but Erickson won't let him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Erickson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Toprak engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Toprak pushing down on Erickson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Toprak seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Toprak's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Toprak wants to pass to mount but Erickson is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
Toprak shoots in looking for a takedown but Erickson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Toprak's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Toprak bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Toprak swings around for an armbar but Erickson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Toprak's guard.
Toprak wants to sweep but no luck.

Toprak is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Toprak is on top in guard.

Toprak has gone for a leg lock! Erickson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Toprak's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toprak isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Erickson stacks Toprak on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Erickson!
Toprak bucks up and tries to throw Erickson off but instead Erickson has got his back!
Toprak turns into Erickson and is now in his guard.
Toprak trying to control the position from guard on top but Erickson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Erickson 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson wants to get back to his feet but Toprak is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Toprak looking to pass the guard.
Toprak sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Erickson's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Toprak in particular looking to stall.
Toprak wants to control but Erickson is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cengiz Toprak dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Toprak fails to land with a series of punches.
Cengiz Toprak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Erickson shoots in for a takedown but Toprak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Toprak rushes Erickson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Toprak tries to pull guard but Erickson holds him up against the cage and eventually Toprak drops back down to his feet.
Erickson wants a takedown but no success here.
Toprak misses with a hook to the ribs.
Toprak has Erickson pressed against the cage.
Toprak prevents the takedown attempt.
Cengiz Toprak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ed Erickson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toprak is working for takedown but Erickson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Erickson jumps guard.
Toprak sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Toprak slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson missing with punches from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Toprak is working for a submission of some sort.
Erickson is trying to get back to full guard.
Cengiz Toprak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Erickson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Toprak works his way into full mount!
Toprak mounts Erickson! Really nice guard pass there!
Erickson regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Toprak.
Toprak is looking to stall here but Erickson recovers full guard.

Erickson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Toprak controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Erickson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Erickson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Toprak doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Toprak manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Erickson being controlled here, momentarily.
Toprak tries to free his leg and advance position but Erickson is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toprak attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Toprak darts in and clinches Erickson up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cengiz Toprak dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Toprak instigates a clinch.
Erickson tries to circle away but Toprak has him pinned against the cage.

Toprak breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Erickson scores with a hook.
Erickson shoots in and drives through. Toprak sprawls well.

Toprak moves into the clinch.
Toprak tries for a takedown but Erickson manages to get underhooks.
Toprak jumps guard but Erickson stands there with Toprak around his waist. Toprak gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Erickson jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erickson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Toprak defends it easily.
Toprak content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Erickson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Erickson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Erickson shoots in looking for a takedown. Toprak tries to sprawl out of it but Erickson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Toprak manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Erickson throws a head kick but Toprak moves out of range.
Toprak shoots for a double leg takedown but Erickson sprawls well. He's pushed Toprak's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cengiz Toprak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toprak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ed Erickson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Toprak closes the distance and clinches.
Toprak is trying to pull guard but Erickson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Erickson is trying to pull guard but Toprak has him pressed against the cage.

Toprak has Erickson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Toprak pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Erickson tumbling to the mat - Toprak dives into Erickson's guard.
Toprak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Erickson keeping moving, preventing Toprak from controlling successfully.
Toprak 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toprak would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Toprak throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toprak advances position into side control!
Toprak trying to control the action but Erickson is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cengiz Toprak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Toprak has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cengiz Toprak!