PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Ericsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Othello Rhyme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ericsson
vs
Rhyme

225 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Poweful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 Rio de Janeiro, Eric Ericsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Othello Rhyme!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ericsson fails with a takedown attempt.
Rhyme looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Ericsson shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown by Ericsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Rhyme which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ericsson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rhyme!
Ericsson moves to take his opponent's back.
Good control from Ericsson.
Ericsson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ericsson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rhyme for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ericsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rhyme is fending him off so far but Ericsson persists. Nope, Rhyme circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Rhyme. No joy for Ericsson on that attempt.
Ericsson shoots in for a takedown but Rhyme shows good takedown defense.

Rhyme shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ericsson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rhyme wants to stand but Ericsson is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhyme controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ericsson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ericsson trying to control the position here.
Rhyme must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ericsson looking to control.
Ericsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rhyme working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ericsson's head.
Ericsson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Ericsson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ericsson controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ericsson misses with a takedown attempt

and Rhyme counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ericsson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ericsson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rhyme pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ericsson is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eric Ericsson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ericsson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rhyme can do anything to dispel that myth.
Still in half guard, Ericsson seems content to control.
Ericsson moves nicely into side control.
Ericsson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ericsson tries for a takedown but Rhyme circles away easily

so Rhyme counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ericsson pulls Rhyme in close to prevent any damage.
Ericsson keeping full guard, as Rhyme tries to pass.
Rhyme trying to control the position from guard on top but Ericsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ericsson controlling the position.
Ericsson has momentary wrist control but Rhyme slips an elbow through the middle.
Ericsson pulls Rhyme in close to prevent any damage.
Ericsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ericsson pulls Rhyme in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ericsson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rhyme counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ericsson!
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!
Ericsson holds on for dear life.
Rhyme prevents Ericsson from getting the reversal.
Ericsson tries to hold on but Rhyme pushes him away.
Ericsson gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhyme not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ericsson is positioning himself well to prevent Rhyme advancing to mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ericsson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rhyme counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ericsson!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ericsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ericsson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ericsson is pressing down on Rhyme's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rhyme would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Othello Rhyme has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rhyme is fighting to break Ericsson's control of his arms but Ericsson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rhyme's guard.
Ericsson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ericsson shoots and misses
and Rhyme counters with a body kick that stops Ericsson in his tracks momentarily.
Othello Rhyme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ericsson fails with the takedown.

Rhyme fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ericsson sprawls well initially but Rhyme persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ericsson controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Othello Rhyme showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Rhyme moves into the clinch successfully.
Ericsson prevents the takedown attempt.
Ericsson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ericsson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rhyme just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ericsson jumps guard but Rhyme stands there with Ericsson around his waist. Ericsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ericsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ericsson pulls Rhyme into guard.
Ericsson has his hands on Rhyme's head, controlling the position.
Rhyme trying to control the position from guard on top but Ericsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ericsson is pulling down on Rhyme's head to control his posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhyme trying to control but Ericsson is working from the bottom.
Ericsson is trying to keep Rhyme in close.
Ericsson managing to control the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Rhyme rushes Ericsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ericsson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ericsson tries to pull guard but Rhyme won't allow it.
Rhyme is trying to stall.
Ericsson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rhyme just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ericsson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ericsson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ericsson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rhyme smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson has his takedown stuffed

and Rhyme counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ericsson is trying is best to control the position here.
Rhyme is thwarting Ericsson's attempts to control the position.
Ericsson is trying is best to control the position here.
Ericsson gets full guard.
Ericsson seems keen to control Rhyme's posture.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

The referee stands the fighters back up. Eric Ericsson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ericsson blocks the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson tries for a takedown but Rhyme circles away easily

and Rhyme counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ericsson won't be happy with that.

Rhyme thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rhyme working away.
Ericsson stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhyme is looking to take a break and control but Ericsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rhyme gets caught flat footed, as Ericsson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rhyme wants to sweep here but Ericsson controlling him for the moment.
Ericsson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Othello Rhyme comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rhyme has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Othello Rhyme!