PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Finley (ranked 8098 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jinzo Ryota (ranked 6705 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Finley
vs
Ryota

150 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Esteban Finley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jinzo Ryota!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryota tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Finley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ryota misses with a wild combination.
Finley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

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

Finley makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ryota fails with an attempt to clinch.
Finley wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Finley darts in and clinches Ryota up against the cage.

Finley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ryota drives through with a takedown into guard.

Finley has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ryota off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jinzo Ryota seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryota gets a double leg takedown into Finley's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Finley manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Ryota wants to break the clinch but can't.
Finley is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Finley tries a body shot but Ryota blocks it.
Finley can't break the clinch.
Finley is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Finley holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Finley manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Finley gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finley tries to throw a body punch but Ryota avoids it by throwing Finley back against the cage.

Ryota pulls guard.
Finley preventing the sweep.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Finley scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ryota will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ryota thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Ryota working for submissions but it's allowed Finley to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finley slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryota has hold of Finley's hands but Finley slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Finley slips a nice elbow through Ryota's hands, connecting with Ryota's forehead.
Ryota keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ryota is trying to maintain the position but Finley is very close to passing his half guard.
Finley is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Finley landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ryota is looking to improve his position.

Finley is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ryota defends it well.

Finley is looking for a kimura but Ryota is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Finley to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Finley dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ryota wants to clinch.
Ryota misses with a two punch combination.
Finley tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ryota manages to circle out of the way.

Ryota shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ryota was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Finley explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Finley gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ryota to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Finley uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Finley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ryota can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryota goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Esteban Finley has been cut.

Ryota closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Finley quickly recovers to half guard.
Ryota is looking to pass Finley's guard but actually Finley recovers to full guard.
Finley managing to control the position.
Ryota in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ryota is one step ahead there.
Esteban Finley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ryota being controlled here momentarily.
Ryota looking to sit in guard and control but Finley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ryota working for a triangle but Finley defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ryota wants to control the position but Finley says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Finley controlling the action here.
Ryota is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ryota has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Finley is working away from the top position though.
Ground and pound from Finley.
Finley content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ryota missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Finley dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Esteban Finley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ryota throws a nice head kick!

Ryota closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Finley's guard.
Finley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ryota is looking to improve his position.
Ryota tries to kick Finley off but Finley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Finley is looking for a kimura but Ryota is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Finley to get the leverage.
Finley slips a nice elbow through Ryota's hands, connecting with Ryota's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finley looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ryota is trying to stand up here but Finley is controlling him well.
Finley keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ryota is looking to get back to full guard here but Finley has managed to pass to side control instead.
Finley slows the pace down.
Ryota is working to avoid the ground and pound but Finley connects with a decent elbow.
Ryota is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Finley is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryota keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Finley tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Finley avoids the attempt from Ryota to control.
Ryota can't escape the position.

Finley is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Finley!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Esteban Finley!