PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boo Estep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Emmerich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Estep
vs
Emmerich

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Boo Estep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Giovanni Emmerich!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emmerich defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Estep.
Emmerich scores with a leg kick.

Emmerich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Estep to the mat! Estep manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Estep trying to control the position.
Estep pulls Emmerich in close to his closed guard and prevents Emmerich from doing any damage or advancing position.
Emmerich tries to stand but Estep is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boo Estep has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Emmerich closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Estep quickly recovers to half guard.
Estep could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Estep blocking the ground and pound attempt from Emmerich.
Estep is looking to improve his position.
Emmerich throws a strike but Estep avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Emmerich engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Estep scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emmerich closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Emmerich lands in his opponent's guard.
Emmerich content to stall in guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emmerich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Estep swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Emmerich is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Giovanni Emmerich.
Emmerich throws a leg kick which misses Estep's front leg but catches the back leg as Estep tries to avoid it.

Estep gets a double leg takedown into Emmerich's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Emmerich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Emmerich has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Estep off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Emmerich wants to clinch up but Estep keeps it at a distance.

Emmerich shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Emmerich must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Emmerich looks gassed!
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!
Estep not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Estep wants to stand but Emmerich is controlling the position.
Estep trying to keep a closed guard but Emmerich is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Estep keeping moving, preventing Emmerich from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Emmerich dominated that round.
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.

Estep walks into a jab.
Estep tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Emmerich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Estep sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Emmerich somewhat.
Estep shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Emmerich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Estep won't be happy with that.
Estep is looking to regain half guard here but Emmerich keeps moving and retains side control.

Emmerich tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Estep is trying to control Emmerich's posture but Emmerich avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep tries to bench press Emmerich off him but Emmerich keeps the position.

Emmerich tries for a kimura but Estep is defending well.
Emmerich working the ground and pound but Estep is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Emmerich is working Estep over with some ground and pound from side control.
Estep sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Emmerich keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Estep is defending against the submission attempts here by Emmerich.
Emmerich is breathing heavily.
Emmerich tries to pass to full mount but Estep defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emmerich sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Emmerich tries to pass the half guard into mount. Estep knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Emmerich not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Emmerich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Estep to the mat! Estep manages to get full guard.
Emmerich postures up.
Estep has Emmerich pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Estep is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Emmerich is controlling him.
Giovanni Emmerich has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Emmerich wants to control from the top but Estep keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Emmerich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Estep's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Estep wants to clinch up but Emmerich keeps it at a distance.
Boo Estep is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Emmerich looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Emmerich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Estep is keeping the position for now.
Emmerich is looking to work some ground and pound but Estep has wrist control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Estep holds on and takes a little breather.
Emmerich lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Estep has control of Emmerich's left arm, preventing Emmerich from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Boo Estep just wasn't active enough.
Emmerich slips a jab and a cross from Estep.
Emmerich swats away the attempt to clinch by Estep.
Emmerich shoots in looking for a takedown but Estep manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Emmerich's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Estep throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Emmerich was covering up waiting for the punch and Estep finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Emmerich is trying to keep Estep in close.
Emmerich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Estep. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Emmerich keeping moving, preventing Estep from controlling successfully.
Estep tries to free his leg and advance position but Emmerich is retaining full guard.
Emmerich is trying to keep Estep in close.
Emmerich keeping moving, preventing Estep from controlling successfully.

Boo Estep has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Emmerich digs a good hook to Estep's body.

Emmerich bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Estep manages to get back to half guard.

Emmerich looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emmerich is looking to stall here but Estep recovers full guard.
Emmerich trying to control the position from guard on top but Estep is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Boo Estep has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Giovanni Emmerich is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giovanni Emmerich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Emmerich 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giovanni Emmerich!