PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Estep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jr StClair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Estep comes to the cage accompanied by Courageous. Jr StClair will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Estep
vs
StClair

183 cm
19
210 lbs
8 - 14 - 0

188 cm
19
205 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Estep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jr StClair!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
StClair looks to land a combination but Estep avoids it well.
Estep misses with a takedown attempt - StClair sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
StClair throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
StClair throws a leg kick but Estep moved away.

Estep looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
StClair wants to get back to his feet.
Estep not landing any meaningful shots this time.

StClair kicks off Estep and gets to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
StClair will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

StClair gets caught flat footed, as Estep shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed StClair's guard.
Estep is pressing down on StClair's thigh, looking to free his foot. StClair is holding on for now.

Estep stands up out of the half guard.

StClair gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
StClair keeping moving, preventing Estep from controlling successfully.

Estep stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
StClair closes this distance looking for a takedown but Estep circles away.
StClair tries for a takedown but Estep circles away easily
and Estep makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. StClair really felt that one!
StClair looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Estep is trying hard to land a takedown here. StClair sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Estep shoots in and bounces StClair off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Estep pushing down on StClair's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Estep is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Estep seems to be looking for submissions.
Estep is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
StClair tries to buck Estep off but Estep takes his back!
Estep trying to control momentarily.
StClair holding both Estep 's hands and preventing any damage.
StClair looking very determined here, making life difficult for Estep.

Estep looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

StClair preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Estep.
Estep keeps control of the position easily here as StClair tries to buck him off.
StClair holding both Estep 's hands and preventing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Estep has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for StClair.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Estep dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

StClair throws a leg kick that misses.
StClair lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
StClair closes this distance looking for a takedown but Estep circles away.

Estep decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
StClair blocking the ground and pound attempt from Estep.
Estep works his way into side control.
StClair pushes Estep away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Estep gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Estep decides to stand up, so the ref orders StClair to his feet.
StClair is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Estep shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with StClair but StClair pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
StClair misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
StClair displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Estep.
StClair moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Estep feints and as StClair raises his hands in defense, Estep changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
StClair keeping moving, preventing Estep from controlling successfully.
Estep not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Estep stops StClair from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep forces his way into half guard.
Estep seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but StClair does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Estep is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Estep escapes and gets back to his feet.
StClair throws a right hand that Estep ducks under and follows up with a left that Estep also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estep has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Estep. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Estep fails to land the takedown.
StClair throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Estep on the side of the head.
Estep shoots in looking for a takedown but StClair manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Estep's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
StClair dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Estep fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Estep.
StClair lands with a straight right. Estep didn't see that one coming.
Estep stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Estep wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
StClair misses with a wild combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. StClair darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
StClair throws a lazy head kick
and Estep counters with a leg kick.
StClair misses with a double jab.
StClair fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from StClair as Estep shoots in.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
StClair keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Estep tries for a takedown but StClair sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
StClair doesn't manage to clinch there - Estep circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Estep scores with a four punch combination!
StClair misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Estep dominated that second 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 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.
Estep controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

StClair uses the cage to get back to his feet.
StClair tries to clinch but Estep is having none of it.
StClair fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
StClair fails with the takedown

and Estep counters with a nice double leg into side control. StClair won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Estep decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Estep closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming StClair to the mat! StClair manages to get full guard.
Estep scoring with some ground and pound.
Estep trying to control the position from guard on top but StClair is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Estep controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
StClair wants to get back to his feet but Estep passes into half guard.

StClair is kicking away at Estep from the bottom - trying to push off and stand up. Estep grabs hold of a leg and drops back for a hell hook! The two fighters roll across the mat, with StClair trying to push Estep off... StClair taps! He's tapped! This one is all over! A throwback to the old Pancrase there with an infrequently seen submission hold! Nice work.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Heel Hook). Brian Estep!
Brian Estep managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Nature's Edge Nutrition, into his post fight interview.