PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luke Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralja Esteba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Taylor
vs
Esteba

195 cm
21
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 Montreal, Luke Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ralja Esteba!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Esteba moves into the clinch.
Esteba is trying to break the clinch but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taylor has a couple of punches blocked by Esteba.
Esteba is trying to break free.
Esteba lands a shoulder strike.
Esteba working hard to break the clinch.
Esteba slows down the pace here.
Esteba misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor working hard to break the clinch.
Esteba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Taylor fails to pull guard.
A frustrated look appears on Esteba's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Esteba lands a body shot.
Esteba lands a shot to the body.
Esteba tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the cage.
Esteba lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esteba is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esteba working hard to break the clinch.
Esteba lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Taylor trying to control the position but instead, Esteba has worked for underhooks and has pushed Taylor into the cage.
A shot in the inside from Esteba.

Esteba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Esteba circles away from the clinch attempt
and Esteba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ralja Esteba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Esteba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab, jab by Taylor - just one landing.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor looks for a takedown but Esteba sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esteba fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taylor, pushing him back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Esteba.
Esteba tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor keeps control of Esteba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Esteba scores with a nice hook to the head.

Esteba manages to break the clinch.
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!
Taylor tries to clinch up but Esteba circles away and keeps his distance.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Esteba lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Esteba throws a series of strikes that have Taylor backpedaling.
Taylor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Esteba.
Taylor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taylor gets tackled into the cage by Esteba. Esteba maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Esteba.
Esteba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Esteba is trying to push Taylor away but Taylor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Esteba wants to break free but Taylor has control.
Esteba wants to break free but Taylor has control.
Esteba is trying to break the clinch but Taylor has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taylor prevents Esteba from breaking the clinch.
Taylor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Esteba pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Esteba takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Taylor has Esteba pressed against the cage, preventing Esteba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Taylor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Esteba keeps him there for the moment.
Esteba wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as Esteba controls his hands.
Taylor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esteba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
Esteba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Esteba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Esteba has taken the fight to the clinch.
Esteba blocks a body shot from Taylor.
Taylor wants to break free but Esteba has control.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Esteba is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Taylor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taylor wants to stand but Esteba is controlling the position.
Taylor controls Esteba momentarily but Esteba frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralja Esteba dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Esteba blocks an uppercut.
Taylor has Esteba pressed against the cage, preventing Esteba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Esteba blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esteba wants to break the clinch but can't.
Esteba misses with a body punch.
A frustrated look appears on Taylor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taylor prevents Esteba from breaking the clinch.
Esteba is trying to force a seperation but Taylor has the dominant position.
Esteba stalling in the clinch.
Taylor is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Esteba is keeping busy.

Esteba manages to break the clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch but Esteba is having none of it.
Esteba fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esteba moves into the clinch successfully.

Esteba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taylor looks to score with a jab to the body but Esteba is just out of range.
Esteba misses with the combination.
Esteba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taylor circles away quickly and effectively.
Ralja Esteba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esteba misses with a few strikes there.
Esteba throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Esteba.
Esteba wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Esteba keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor tries to bum rush Esteba with a series of wild strikes but Esteba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Esteba scores with a crisp jab that stopped Taylor in his tracks.
Danga de danga de dang - Esteba scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Esteba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Esteba takes the fight into the clinch.

Esteba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor is looking to clinch but Esteba is avoiding it.
Esteba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Esteba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Taylor shoots in but Esteba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Esteba keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taylor.
Taylor wants to clinch but Esteba slips to the side
enabling Esteba to counter with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Taylor there as he acknowledges the shot.
Esteba's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Esteba duly obliges.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor moves in looking to clinch but Esteba pushes him off.

Esteba has managed to clinch.
Taylor keeps control of Esteba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esteba wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Esteba wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Esteba tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Esteba throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taylors head.

Esteba manages to break the clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch but Esteba is having none of it.
Nice jab there from Esteba.
The fighters circling - Taylor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Esteba closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Esteba's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Esteba is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.
Esteba blocking some punches.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Esteba is looking to break free of the clinch but Taylor has double underhooks.
Ralja Esteba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esteba lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Esteba taking a breather.
Esteba is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Esteba has him pressed against the cage.
Esteba has had enough of the clinch but Taylor keeps him there for the moment.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
Esteba is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esteba's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Esteba wants to get back to striking at distance but Taylor won't allow it.
Esteba wants to break the clinch but can't.
Taylor is trying to break free.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor tries for a takedown but Esteba manages to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A frustrated look appears on Esteba's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taylor working aggressively here.
Taylor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Esteba walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralja Esteba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Taylor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Esteba takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taylor.
Taylor tries to circle away but Esteba has him pinned against the cage.
Taylor trying to stall but Esteba improves his position.
Taylor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Esteba.
Esteba working hard to break the clinch.
Esteba is trying to break free.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Esteba walks away with a smile on his face. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Esteba's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Esteba duly obliges.
Esteba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taylor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esteba throws a combination. Taylor tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Esteba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Esteba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Esteba closes the distance and pushes Taylor back into the cage.
Esteba is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esteba tries to break free but Taylor pushes him back against the cage.
Taylor lands a shot to the body.
Esteba lands with a light punch inside.
Taylor tries to score a body lock takedown but Esteba shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Esteba is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esteba is leaning against Taylor and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Taylor keeps control of Esteba as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Esteba breaks from the clinch.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Esteba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taylor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Esteba fails with an attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taylor. Esteba does a little dance to reset his feet.

Esteba clinches.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esteba effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esteba wants to break the clinch but can't.

Esteba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taylor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Esteba throws a series of punches but Taylor avoids them all with ease.
Esteba tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Taylor misses the target.
Taylor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Esteba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Esteba lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Taylor backs up against the cage.
Esteba keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Esteba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Esteba has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has Esteba pressed against the cage, preventing Esteba from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Esteba wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esteba.
Esteba misses with a punch on the inside.
Taylor jumps guard but Esteba turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Esteba's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taylor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Esteba tries to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling the position.
Taylor misses with the head strike.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Esteba holds him up against the cage and eventually Taylor drops back down to his feet.

Taylor breaks the clinch.
Taylor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Esteba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Esteba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Taylor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esteba swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Taylor tries to keep at a distance but Esteba has taken the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Esteba creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ralja Esteba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Esteba won't allow it.
Taylor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Esteba has him pressed against the cage.
Esteba is trying to break the clinch but Taylor is controlling him.
Taylor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor is trying to force a seperation but Esteba has the dominant position.
A left hand lands to the body for Esteba.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esteba.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esteba is trying to push Taylor away but Taylor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Luke Taylor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralja Esteba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Esteba winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralja Esteba!