PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bennett Estes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Denver (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.

Estes
vs
Denver

182 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bennett Estes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jackson Denver!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Denver has managed to clinch.
Estes misses with a punch on the inside.
Estes tries to pull guard but Denver forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Estes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Denver backwards.
Estes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Denver's elbow.

Denver has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Estes uses from the top position.
Denver is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Estes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Denver works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Estes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Estes tries to free his leg and advance position but Denver is retaining full guard.
Estes wanted to stand there but Denver had control of the position.
Estes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bennett Estes just wasn't active enough.
Estes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denver fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Estes to the ground. Denver is now in Estes's guard.
Denver must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Denver looking to sit in guard and control but Estes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Estes wants to control from the top but Denver keeps moving.
Denver looking to control.
Estes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Estes postures up.
Estes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Denver's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Denver working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jackson Denver hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Denver throws a series of punches but Estes moves out of range.

Estes feints and as Denver raises his hands in defense, Estes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Denver is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Estes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Denver wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denver looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Estes!
Denver looks winded!
Estes is looking to reverse the position.
Estes manages to work his way to half guard, despite Denver's best efforts.
Denver is keen to just control but Estes is a slippery customer.
Estes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Denver trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denver trying to control but Estes is working from the bottom.

Jackson Denver has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Denver moves into range and clinches up with Estes.
Estes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Estes struggles to land a body shot inside as Denver controls his hands.
Denver is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Estes is defending well for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Estes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Denver to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bennett Estes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Estes.
Denver trying to stall but Estes improves his position.
Estes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jackson Denver will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Denver has closed the distance and engaged Estes in a clinch.
Estes can't find room to land a body shot as Denver controls the action.
Denver lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Estes.
Estes tries to pull guard but Denver forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Estes jumps guard and drags Denver to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Jackson Denver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Estes will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Estes thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Denver throws a big right hand that misses.

Denver got a little sloppy there for a moment and Estes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Denver has managed to get both his arms back between Estes's legs - danger averted.
Estes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Denver's guard.
Estes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estes wants to control from the top but Denver keeps moving.
Denver utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Denver working a defensive guard here.
Estes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Estes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Denver for as long as he can get away with.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Denver shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denver wants to pass to mount but Estes is defending the position.
Denver trying to control from half guard but Estes is working away.

Denver decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Denver pinned against the cage. Denver gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Denver drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Estes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Denver pushing down on Estes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Estes is looking to improve his position.
Denver has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Denver thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Denver is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Estes has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Estes!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Denver is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jackson Denver will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Denver moves into the clinch.
Denver makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Denver misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Denver comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Denver blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Denver manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Denver has control of Estes's left arm, preventing Estes from doing any damage.

Estes gets to his feet. Denver looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Jackson Denver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Denver thuds his right hand into Estes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Denver closes the distance and clinches.
Estes throws a punch but it's blocked by Denver.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Estes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Denver sprawls well. Denver wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Estes gets slowly back to his feet.
Denver misses with an attempted mid kick.

Denver instigates a clinch.

Denver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Estes takes a jab right on the kisser.
Denver throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Estes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Denver as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Denver has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Estes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Denver takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You can see the frustration on Estes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Denver patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Denver is hanging on to Estes's back as he tries to escape.
Estes trying to control the position but Denver manages to sink in the hooks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Denver doesn't have the hooks in and Estes manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denver wants to hit a switch here but Estes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Denver there!
Estes controlling the pace for now.
Estes wants to control the pace but Denver is squirming around nicely.
Denver tries to lock up and control but Estes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estes lands a nice shot to the head.
Denver wants to hold on but Estes pushes him away.
Estes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Estes landing strikes, looking to finish!
Estes controlling his opponent.
Bennett Estes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson Denver is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Estes lands a big shot there that rocks Denver but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jackson Denver.
I've got Denver 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jackson Denver!