PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cole Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Dexter Erickson enters the cage!

Atkinson
vs
Erickson

219 cm
23
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cole Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dexter Erickson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Erickson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Erickson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Atkinson is keeping the position for now.
Erickson trying to control but Atkinson is working from the bottom.
Erickson throws a big right hand that misses.

Erickson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Atkinson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Erickson, into his guard.

Erickson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Atkinson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Erickson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Atkinson has Erickson in his guard.

Atkinson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Atkinson is looking for a triangle here but Erickson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Atkinson is trying to work for a sweep but Erickson has mounted him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson is working to get back to half guard.
Atkinson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Atkinson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Erickson moves to the back.
Atkinson breaks Erickson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Erickson is trying to control the position but Atkinson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson postures up in Erickson's guard and throws a big left but Erickson blocks it.
Atkinson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Atkinson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Atkinson throwing strikes from guard but Erickson blocks nicely.
Atkinson postures up in Erickson's guard and throws a big left but Erickson blocks it.
Atkinson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Atkinson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Atkinson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Erickson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Atkinson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson trying to control the position.
Atkinson keeping moving, preventing Erickson from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Erickson looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erickson is looking to work some ground and pound but Atkinson has wrist control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Erickson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Erickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And Atkinson counters with a quick kick to the body but Erickson blocks it.
Atkinson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Erickson can pounce on him.

Erickson shoots in and gets a takedown into Atkinson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Erickson gets to his feet - Atkinson follows without any prompting.

Atkinson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Atkinson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Atkinson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Erickson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Atkinson scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Erickson defending well though.
Atkinson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Erickson's head.
Atkinson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Erickson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Erickson is looking to control Atkinson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Erickson avoid being mounted?
Atkinson misses with a head shot. Erickson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Atkinson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Atkinson prevents Erickson from getting back to his feet.
Dexter Erickson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Atkinson with a nice head shot there.
Atkinson connects with a couple of short punches.
Erickson is trying to keep Atkinson in close.
Erickson wants to sweep here but Atkinson controlling him for the moment.
Erickson is breathing heavily.
Atkinson throws an elbow that misses. Erickson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Atkinson's guard. Nice move by Erickson!

Atkinson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Erickson defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson looking to sit in guard and control but Atkinson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Erickson trying to keep a closed guard but Atkinson is proving a slippery customer.
Erickson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Atkinson's guard.

Erickson looking to pass the guard.
Atkinson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Erickson is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson trying to control but Atkinson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Atkinson is wriggling around but Erickson manages to pass to half guard.
Atkinson gets back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Atkinson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cole Atkinson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Atkinson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Erickson wants to counter the offense by Atkinson and move into the clinch position.
Erickson is looking to clinch but Atkinson is avoiding it.
Atkinson is looking to counter punch.
Erickson throws a leg kick
and Atkinson counters with a head kick.
Erickson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Erickson gets a double leg takedown into Atkinson's guard.
Atkinson keeping moving, preventing Erickson from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Atkinson is keeping the position for now.
Erickson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Atkinson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Erickson's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson postures up.
Atkinson throws an elbow that misses. Erickson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Atkinson's guard. Nice move by Erickson!

Atkinson keeping full guard, as Erickson tries to pass.
Atkinson keeping moving, preventing Erickson from controlling successfully.
Atkinson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Erickson won't allow Atkinson to sweep him here.
Atkinson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Atkinson cracks Erickson with a solid left hand.
Erickson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Atkinson throws a big right hand that misses.
Atkinson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Erickson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Atkinson postures up and lands a big shot to Erickson's brow.
Atkinson tries to stand but Erickson is controlling from the bottom.
Atkinson throws a big right hand that misses.

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

Atkinson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Erickson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Erickson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson throws a big elbow that misses.

Erickson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Atkinson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Atkinson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Atkinson throwing strikes but missing.
Atkinson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Atkinson is in close to Erickson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Atkinson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Atkinson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Atkinson!