PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Estep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lloyd Christmas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Estep kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Courageous. Lloyd Christmas acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Estep
vs
Christmas

183 cm
18
210 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

185 cm
18
210 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Nature's Edge Nutrition

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Estep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lloyd Christmas!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Estep dives in and scores a takedown into Christmas's guard.
Christmas seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Christmas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Estep has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Estep pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Christmas is keeping the position for now.
Estep trying to control but Christmas is working from the bottom.
Christmas managing to control the position.

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

Christmas tries to sprawl but Estep drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas is trying to stand up here but Estep is controlling him well.

Christmas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Estep pulls his head out easily.
Estep wants to control but Christmas is keeping him busy.
Estep with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Estep is pressing down on Christmas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Christmas is holding on for now.
Estep is looking to stall here but Christmas recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christmas keeping moving, preventing Estep from controlling successfully.
Estep passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Christmas works his way to full guard. Good work.
Estep pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Christmas is keeping the position for now.
Estep content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estep throws a big elbow that misses.
Christmas keeping moving, preventing Estep from controlling successfully.

Christmas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Christmas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Christmas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep wants to control from the top but Christmas keeps moving.
Christmas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Brian Estep just wasn't active enough.

Estep shoots in and bounces Christmas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Estep dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Christmas tries to clinch but Estep moves out of range.
Christmas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Christmas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Christmas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Christmas trying to control from half guard but Estep is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep is looking to escape.
Christmas prevents Estep from improving his position.
Christmas blocks the strikes from Estep.
Estep misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Estep trying to hold on to Christmas's head to control him but Christmas postures up.

Christmas decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Brian Estep is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Estep drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Christmas is proving hard to escape from.

Christmas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Estep doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Estep manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Christmas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Estep wants to pass the guard but Christmas is keeping the position.

Christmas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Estep defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estep trying to control but Christmas is working from the bottom.
Estep is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Christmas is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Estep is looking to stand up but Christmas won't let him.
Christmas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Brian Estep.

Estep fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Christmas sprawls well initially but Estep persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep is thwarting Christmas's attempts to control the position.
Estep seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Christmas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Christmas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Estep pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Christmas is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lloyd Christmas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Christmas scores with a takedown into Estep's guard.
Christmas's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Christmas stands and steps away. Estep gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Christmas shoots and misses
and Estep counters with a left and a right that stings Christmas.
Estep throws a nice looking combination but Christmas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Christmas tries to sprawl but Estep drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Estep is looking to advance position but Christmas won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Christmas pushes Estep off looking to stand but Estep dives back in and keeps control.
Brian Estep overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep tries to pass the half guard into mount. Christmas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Christmas wants to control but Estep is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Estep is trying to control the action in half guard but Christmas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Christmas tries to roll over but Estep keeps him under control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brian Estep wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Estep throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Christmas was covering up waiting for the punch and Estep finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Christmas has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Estep should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Christmas has tightened it up now! Estep should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Lloyd Christmas!
Lloyd Christmas managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Nature's Edge Nutrition, into his post fight interview.