PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ahi Esta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DK Oakston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Esta
vs
Oakston

175 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

182 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ahi Esta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, DK Oakston!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oakston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Esta swivels and escapes.
Oakston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Esta circles away.
A jab from Esta misses.
Esta cracks Oakston with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like DK Oakston has been cut.
An inside leg kick lands from Esta.
A good leg kick by Esta.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esta throws a right and a left that Oakston avoids nicely.
Esta looks to land a body kick but Oakston moved away.
Esta listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Oakston looks gassed!

Esta drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Esta works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
You can see the frustration on Oakston's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Esta lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esta content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Esta lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esta controlling from side mount.
Esta tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Esta scores with punches from side control.
Oakston is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Esta working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
A lull in the action here.

Esta decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Esta shoots in for a takedown but Oakston shows good takedown defense.
Esta avoids the head kick by Oakston.
Esta throws a push kick but Oakston slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esta tries to work over Oakston's front leg with a kick but Oakston checks it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Esta.

Esta pushes Oakston up against the cage in a clinch.
Esta managing to block the knees to the body from Oakston.
Oakston stalling the fight.

Esta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Oakston on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Esta. Esta obviously looking to wear him down.
Oakston keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Oakston fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ahi Esta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DK Oakston.
Esta throws a right and a left that both miss.
Esta throws a low kick, looking for Oakston's leg but Oakston calmly moves out of range.
Esta looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Oakston pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oakston checks the leg kick nicely there.
Esta looks to land a body kick but Oakston moved away.
Oakston takes one to the chin there.
Esta throws a right and a left that both miss.

Oakston scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esta can't do much from the bottom here.
Esta wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Esta's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Check out the look on Oakston's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Oakston stands up and beckons Esta to his feet.
Oakston lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A big right from Esta misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice elbow from Oakston.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esta prevents the takedown attempt.

Oakston drags the fight down to the ground.

Oakston isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Esta stacks Oakston 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 Esta!
Oakston taking a bit of punishment here - Esta scoring with strikes.

Esta is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Oakston knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Esta wants to take a breather but Oakston manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Esta.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Oakston is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahi Esta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on DK Oakston's cut.
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.

Esta tries to work over Oakston's front leg with a kick but Oakston checks it.
Esta buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ahi Esta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Esta thumps Oakston with a low kick.
Oakston tries for a takedown but Esta circles away easily

and Esta counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Esta.

Esta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Oakston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Esta throws a combination. Oakston tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Oakston has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Oakston there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice sprawl there from Esta as Oakston shoots in.
Esta connects with a single shot there.
Oakston avoids the head kick by Esta.
Nice cross by Esta.

Oakston tries to keep at a distance but Esta has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Esta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esta scoring well with a low kick there.
Esta scores with a hook.
Oakston with a jab.
Oakston fakes the leg kick and cracks Esta in the body.
Esta works over Oakston's head and body with a nice combination.
Esta tries to close the distance and clinch up but Oakston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oakston tries to clinch there but Esta circles away.

Oakston gets caught flat footed, as Esta shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Esta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Esta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Esta wants to stand but Oakston has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Esta throws a strike but Oakston rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Oakston stops Esta from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esta working a defensive guard here.
Oakston sitting in guard here, content to control.
Oakston landing some decent shots from guard.
Oakston with a flurry of punches that miss.
Esta is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Oakston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Esta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Oakston kicks off Esta and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Oakston is defended easily by Esta.
Ahi Esta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DK Oakston.
Esta misses with a low kick.
Oakston shoots in and drives through. Esta sprawls well.
Oakston slips a straight right by Esta.
Esta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Oakston shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Esta's guard.
Oakston wants to control from the top but Esta keeps moving.
Oakston throwing strikes but missing.
Ahi Esta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Esta manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Esta shoots and misses
and Oakston counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Esta misses with a leg kick

and Oakston counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Oakston.
Esta wants to stand but Oakston is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esta keeping full guard, as Oakston tries to pass.
Oakston is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Oakston throws and elbow that misses. Esta uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Oakston's guard. Nice move by Esta!
Esta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Oakston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Esta looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oakston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahi Esta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on DK Oakston's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Oakston.
Esta turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Esta darts in trying to clinch
and Oakston counters with a series of strikes. Esta will be more careful next time no doubt.

Esta looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Esta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oakston keeps working.
Oakston moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Esta throwing strikes from guard but Oakston blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esta trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esta would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Esta tries to free his leg and advance position but Oakston is retaining full guard.
Esta wants to control from the top but Oakston keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Esta tries to keep at a distance but Oakston has taken the fight into the clinch.
Oakston is pushing Esta up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Oakston tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Esta managing to block the knees to the body from Oakston.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Oakston tries to land a knee to the head but Esta blocks with his arms.
Oakston changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Esta fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Oakston moves away from the strike by Esta.
Esta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oakston is fending him off so far but Esta persists. Nope, Oakston circles away and we're back to standing.

Oakston 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.
Oakston throwing strikes from guard but Esta blocks nicely.
Oakston stands up over Esta, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Esta looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oakston is one step ahead there.
Oakston won't allow Esta to get back to his feet.
Esta has control of Oakston's left arm, preventing Oakston from doing any damage.
Oakston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oakston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Esta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Esta misses with a leg kick
and Oakston counters with a nice body kick.
Oakston with a poor takedown
and Esta counters with a good low kick that Oakston was not able to check.
Ahi Esta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ahi Esta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DK Oakston.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Esta, right into the meat.

Oakston looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Esta!
Oakston looking to ground and pound but Esta is blocking nicely.
Oakston avoids the attempt from Esta to control.
Esta is squirming around, avoiding Oakston's attempts to control the action.
Esta sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oakston lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Oakston is keen to just control but Esta is a slippery customer.

Oakston is trying to work for a kimura but Esta is defending well.
Esta is trying to stand up here but Oakston is controlling him well.
Esta tries to get to full guard but Oakston has control of the leg.
Esta wants to get back to his feet.
Esta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Oakston is looking to take a break and control but Esta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
DK Oakston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Esta misses with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
DK Oakston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Esta 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahi Esta!