PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Guzman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BJJ Gracie (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.

Guzman
vs
Gracie

167 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Esteban Guzman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, BJJ Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie checks the leg kick nicely there.
Guzman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guzman throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Guzman motions for Gracie to come forward. Guzman throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Guzman stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.

Guzman gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie trying to control but Guzman is working from the bottom.
Gracie won't allow Guzman to get back to his feet.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie gets to his feet. Guzman looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Guzman throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Guzman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Guzman lands with a nice body kick.
Guzman misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Esteban Guzman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJJ Gracie.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Guzman swivels and escapes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Guzman.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Guzman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Guzman.
Guzman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Guzman. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Guzman lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Guzman.
Guzman throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Guzman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Guzman closes the distance and clinches.

Guzman manages to break the clinch.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Guzman.
A nice leg kick lands there from Guzman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gracie moves out of range as Guzman strikes.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Guzman.
Guzman tries to stand but Gracie is controlling his head.
Gracie is not content to let Guzman control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control Guzman's posture but Guzman avoids it.
Guzman wants to stand but Gracie has his arm trapped.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Guzman dominated that round.
That's time! Guzman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie misses with a takedown
and Guzman counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Guzman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Guzman counters with a takedown into side control.
Esteban Guzman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJJ Gracie.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Guzman postures up.
Gracie is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Guzman is staying active.
Guzman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Guzman misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Guzman stands up and we're back to a striking position.
BJJ Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guzman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Guzman cracks the inside of Gracie's front leg.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Guzman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Guzman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gracie crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Guzman - the referee stops the clock and Gracie gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Guzman. Gracie manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Guzman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Guzman on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Guzman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Guzman lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
Guzman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
A nice leg kick lands there from Guzman.
Guzman tries a head kick but it misses.
Guzman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Guzman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Guzman.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guzman tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Esteban Guzman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Guzman throws a quick inside leg kick.
Guzman scores with a kick to the body.
Guzman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Guzman doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Guzman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Guzman counters with an inside leg kick.
Guzman connects with a high kick.
Guzman throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Guzman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Guzman throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Guzman moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Guzman misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Guzman.
Guzman throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Guzman circles away easily
and Guzman counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Guzman dominated that second round.
That's time! Guzman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Guzman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Guzman counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Guzman.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Guzman counters by clinching up.
Guzman lands a nice elbow.
Gracie jumps guard but Guzman stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Esteban Guzman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BJJ Gracie.

Guzman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Guzman, right into the meat.
Guzman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Guzman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Guzman moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Guzman instigates a clinch.
Guzman lands a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Guzman.
Gracie can't get the takedown.

Guzman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Guzman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guzman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Guzman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Guzman tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Guzman counters with a low kick, right behind Gracie 's knee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Guzman tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Guzman.
Guzman buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Guzman.
Nice takedown defense from Guzman. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Guzman throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Guzman manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Guzman.
Guzman throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Guzman lands with a nice body kick.
Guzman shoots in but no luck this time.
Guzman lands a nice looking body kick.
Guzman swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Esteban Guzman is winning the standup battle so far.
Guzman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Guzman lands a head kick!
BJJ Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guzman goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Esteban Guzman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Guzman lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Guzman goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Guzman.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Guzman. Guzman obviously looking to wear him down.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Guzman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esteban Guzman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Guzman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Guzman!