PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Horace Cuba (ranked 5103 p4p, 405 weight class) and Marshell Erickson (ranked 5385 p4p, 419 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cuba
vs
Erickson

200 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Horace Cuba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marshell Erickson!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cuba has managed to clinch.
Cuba lands a nice elbow.
Cuba slows down the pace here.
Erickson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Cuba lands an elbow inside that Erickson shrugs off.
Erickson blocking some punches.
Cuba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Marshell Erickson has been cut.
Cuba is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Erickson is defending well.
Erickson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cuba stalling the fight.
Cuba has Erickson pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cuba stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cuba lands a damaging elbow.
Cuba is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Erickson takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuba has a couple of punches blocked by Erickson.
Erickson is trying to pull guard but Cuba has him pressed against the cage.
Cuba is looking for a takedown.
Cuba gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cuba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Erickson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Horace Cuba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Erickson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cuba is fending him off so far but Erickson persists. Nope, Cuba circles away and we're back to standing.
Cuba takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Horace Cuba has been cut.

Cuba moves into the clinch.
Erickson is trying to break the clinch but Cuba has him pressed against the cage.
Cuba struggles to land a body shot inside as Erickson controls his hands.
Erickson wants to break the clinch but can't.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cuba misses with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Erickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cuba missing with knees to the body.
Erickson is trying to break free.
Erickson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cuba looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cuba lands an elbow inside that Erickson shrugs off.
Cuba displaying some good clinch control by pressing Erickson up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cuba - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cuba tries to throw a body punch but Erickson avoids it by throwing Cuba back against the cage.
Cuba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cuba misses with an elbow over the top.
Erickson is working for takedown but Cuba is calmly controlling the position for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cuba just misses with a elbow thrown towards Erickson's brow.
Cuba stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuba leaning against his opponent.
Cuba lands an elbow just above Erickson 's eye.
Erickson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cuba lands an elbow inside.
Cuba lands a nice elbow.
Cuba lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cuba is pushing Erickson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nice elbow from Cuba.
Erickson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cuba throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cuba as Erickson tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cuba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Erickson's defenses.
Cuba is working for takedown but Erickson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cuba lands an elbow that stopped Erickson in his tracks for a moment.
Cuba is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Erickson is defending well.
Cuba misses with a body punch.
Cuba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Erickson's defenses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cuba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Erickson's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cuba.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cuba.
Cuba is looking for a takedown.
Erickson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cuba lands a nice elbow.
Cuba missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horace Cuba dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cuba has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cuba tries to work over Erickson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Erickson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Erickson is trying to force a seperation but Cuba has the dominant position.
Cuba taking a breather.
Cuba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Erickson can do to turn this around?
Cuba throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cuba comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cuba tries a body shot but Erickson blocks it.
Cuba pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cuba pushes off an throws an elbow but Erickson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cuba manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cuba lands an elbow just above Erickson 's eye.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cuba throws an elbow but misses.
Erickson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cuba comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Erickson wants a takedown.
Erickson tries to score a body lock takedown but Cuba shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Horace Cuba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshell Erickson.
Cuba gets through Erickson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cuba controlling the action here for a moment.
Cuba will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Erickson up against the cage.
Cuba gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Cuba lands an elbow that stopped Erickson in his tracks for a moment.
Cuba working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cuba misses with a punch to the body.
Erickson tries to pull guard but Cuba forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cuba stalling in the clinch.
Cuba fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Erickson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Erickson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Erickson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cuba lands an elbow inside.
Erickson wants to take the fight to the mat but Cuba manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cuba lands a body punch in the clinch.
Erickson is breathing heavily.
Cuba lands an elbow inside that Erickson shrugs off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cuba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Erickson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cuba tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Erickson avoids it.
Erickson jumps guard but Cuba turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cuba lands an elbow that stopped Erickson in his tracks for a moment.

That has opened up Marshell Erickson's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Erickson's defenses.
Cuba has Erickson pressed against the cage.
Erickson blocking some punches.
Cuba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Erickson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Erickson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cuba just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cuba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cuba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Erickson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cuba.
Cuba gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cuba creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Erickson's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuba holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cuba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Erickson.
Cuba lands an elbow that stopped Erickson in his tracks for a moment.
Cuba lands an elbow that stopped Erickson in his tracks for a moment.
Cuba displaying some good clinch control by pressing Erickson up against the cage.
Cuba keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Erickson's efforts to push away.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Erickson tries to pull guard but Cuba won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horace Cuba dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cuba rushes Erickson and presses him up against the cage.
Cuba is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Come on Cuba - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Erickson is pressed up against the cage. Cuba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Erickson down to the mat. Erickson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cuba fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cuba has Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.
Erickson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cuba pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Erickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cuba misses with a lunging right hand
and Erickson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cuba tries to clinch up.
And Erickson tries to counter it with a takedown but Cuba pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Erickson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Erickson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cuba closes the distance and clinches.
Cuba fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cuba pressing his opponent against the cage.
Erickson stalling in the clinch but Cuba improves position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cuba.
Erickson tries to pull guard but Cuba won't allow it.
Horace Cuba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshell Erickson.
Cuba lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cuba comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cuba lands an elbow just above Erickson 's eye.
Cuba comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Erickson prevents the takedown attempt.
Cuba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Erickson.
Erickson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson is working for takedown but Cuba is calmly controlling the position for now.
A bit of stalling here from Cuba.
Cuba is trying to drag Erickson to the mat but Erickson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cuba swings wildly with an uppercut but Erickson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Erickson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cuba displaying some good clinch control by pressing Erickson up against the cage.
Cuba slowing the pace effectively.
Cuba seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Erickson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuba has a couple of punches blocked by Erickson.
Cuba lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Erickson takes an elbow to the temple.

The cut above Marshell Erickson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Cuba misses with a body punch.
Cuba lands a damaging elbow.
Cuba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Cuba.
Cuba taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Cuba.
Cuba lands an elbow just above Erickson 's eye.
Horace Cuba has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cuba lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Erickson is rocked!
Cuba gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Erickson is still on wobbly legs! Can Cuba finish him?

Marshell Erickson's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Cuba lands an elbow just above Erickson 's eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cuba avoiding damage.

Cuba has picked Erickson up - he's going for a ride! Cuba dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Cuba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuba is taking a breather. Erickson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cuba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Erickson on the ground.
Cuba has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Cuba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Still in half guard, Cuba seems content to control.
Erickson wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Cuba is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
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.
Erickson is trying to stand back up but Cuba is controlling him
Cuba thows a huge punch but Erickson dodges it nicely.
Erickson seems to have recovered his senses.
Cuba lands strikes from half guard.
Erickson is refusing to be controlled, as Cuba sits in half guard.
Cuba is figuring out what he wants to do next.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Cuba.

And that's the end of the fight!
Horace Cuba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cuba, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Horace Cuba!