PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ed Erickson (ranked 24959 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saifulla Rakhmonov (ranked 3973 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakhmonov has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. The key to victory for Ed Erickson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Erickson
vs
Rakhmonov

181 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 9 - 0

168 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ed Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saifulla Rakhmonov!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erickson throws a head kick but Rakhmonov moves out of range.
Rakhmonov with a poor takedown

and Erickson moves into the clinch.

Erickson breaks the clinch.
Erickson tries to clinch up but Rakhmonov circles away and keeps his distance.
Rakhmonov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nice takedown defense from Rakhmonov. No joy for Erickson on that attempt.
Erickson blocks a head kick by Rakhmonov.
Rakhmonov stuffs the takedown.
Rakhmonov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Erickson rushes Rakhmonov and presses him up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Erickson.
Rakhmonov looks winded!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakhmonov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Erickson smiles and moves away.
Rakhmonov dives in and grabs Erickson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Erickson pushes down on Rakhmonov's head and hops out.
As Rakhmonov looks to move away, Erickson throws a big counter combo but Rakhmonov just gets out of the way.
Ed Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saifulla Rakhmonov.

Erickson drops Rakhmonov with a beautiful combination! Rakhmonov stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Erickson is looking for the KO!

It looks like Saifulla Rakhmonov has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Erickson has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rakhmonov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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

Rakhmonov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Erickson defends it easily.
Rakhmonov is trying to control the position but Erickson postures up.
Erickson tries to stand but Rakhmonov is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rakhmonov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Erickson stopping the sweep attempt from Rakhmonov.
Erickson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Erickson is trying to work for a kimura but Rakhmonov is defending well.
Erickson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Erickson wants to free his trapped foot but Rakhmonov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rakhmonov is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Erickson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rakhmonov defends it well.
Rakhmonov wants to get back to full guard.
Rakhmonov won't allow Erickson to pass to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Erickson moves into range and clinches up with Rakhmonov.
Rakhmonov tries to break the clinch but Erickson is controlling the position.
Rakhmonov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Erickson just stands there and leans against the cage.

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.
Erickson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Erickson manages to break the clinch.
Erickson misses with a double jab.
Rakhmonov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Erickson defends it well.
Rakhmonov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Erickson pinned against the cage. Erickson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Erickson closes the distance and clinches.
Erickson tries to land a knee to the head but Rakhmonov blocks with his arms.
Rakhmonov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rakhmonov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Erickson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saifulla Rakhmonov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Erickson shoots in but Rakhmonov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rakhmonov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Erickson tries to bum rush Rakhmonov with a series of wild strikes but Rakhmonov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Rakhmonov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rakhmonov wants a takedown but no success here.
Erickson tries to pull guard but Rakhmonov holds him up against the cage and eventually Erickson drops back down to his feet.

Rakhmonov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ed Erickson is winning the standup battle so far.
Rakhmonov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ed Erickson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Erickson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rakhmonov, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Erickson misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson looks for a takedown but Rakhmonov sprawls well.
Rakhmonov is breathing heavily.
Rakhmonov tries to clinch up but Erickson circles away and keeps his distance.
Ed Erickson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Erickson tries for a takedown but Rakhmonov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Erickson shoots for a double leg takedown but Rakhmonov sprawls well. He's pushed Erickson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rakhmonov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Erickson swivels and escapes.
Erickson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rakhmonov dives in for a single leg takedown but Erickson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Erickson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rakhmonov shoots in looking for a takedown but Erickson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rakhmonov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Erickson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rakhmonov swivels and escapes.
Rakhmonov lands with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmonov throws a nice head kick!
Erickson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rakhmonov leaves Erickson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Erickson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Erickson gets tackled into the cage by Rakhmonov. Rakhmonov maintains the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rakhmonov lands a right hand.
Rakhmonov is trying to stall.
Rakhmonov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rakhmonov is trying to break the clinch but Erickson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmonov blocks an elbow strike.

Erickson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rakhmonov fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Erickson is defended easily by Rakhmonov.
Erickson shoots in for a takedown but Rakhmonov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Erickson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Erickson leaves Rakhmonov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Erickson looks for a takedown but Rakhmonov sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmonov stuffs the takedown attempt from Erickson. Erickson gets slowly back to his feet.
Erickson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rakhmonov.
Nice takedown defense from Rakhmonov. No joy for Erickson on that attempt.
Rakhmonov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rakhmonov shoots in but Erickson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erickson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rakhmonovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Erickson pushes Rakhmonov up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saifulla Rakhmonov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saifulla Rakhmonov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Erickson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rakhmonov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Erickson, pushing him back against the cage.

Erickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Erickson has managed to clinch.
Erickson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rakhmonov is defending well.
Rakhmonov has had enough of the clinch but Erickson keeps him there for the moment.
Rakhmonov pushes off an throws an elbow but Erickson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Erickson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rakhmonov as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Erickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Erickson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rakhmonov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Erickson is in Rakhmonov's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rakhmonov holds on and takes a little breather.
Rakhmonov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakhmonov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rakhmonov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Rakhmonov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rakhmonov dodges the punch combination from Erickson.
Rakhmonov unleashes a big counter combination but Erickson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rakhmonov misses with a takedown attempt
and Erickson counters with a stiff right hand.
Erickson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rakhmonov circles away.
Rakhmonov is looking for the big counter here.

Erickson clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmonov is trying to maintain a safe position but Erickson gets an underhook and turns Rakhmonov into the cage.
Erickson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rakhmonov after a bit of a struggle.
Rakhmonov wants to take the fight to the mat but Erickson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Erickson wants a takedown but no success here.
Erickson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rakhmonov walks away with a smile on his face. Erickson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Rakhmonov darts in and clinches Erickson up against the cage.
Erickson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rakhmonov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Erickson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rakhmonov is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rakhmonov tries to clinch there but Erickson circles away.
Rakhmonov shoots in for a takedown but Erickson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Erickson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rakhmonov circles away.
Rakhmonov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Erickson defends it nicely.
Erickson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rakhmonov tries to avoid it but Erickson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rakhmonov to the ground. Rakhmonov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rakhmonov dives in and grabs Erickson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Erickson pushes down on Rakhmonov's head and hops out.
Erickson shoots in but Rakhmonov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Erickson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson wants to clinch.
Erickson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rakhmonov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Erickson fails with a takedown attempt.
Rakhmonov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Rakhmonov rushes Erickson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rakhmonov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Erickson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ed Erickson has scored more points in the clinch so far.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Saifulla Rakhmonov.
I think Rakhmonov 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saifulla Rakhmonov!