PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lucio Esteves (ranked 4056 p4p, 2662 weight class) and Tenshin Nas (ranked 246 p4p, 165 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Esteves
vs
Nas

176 cm
27
145
3 - 2 - 0

172 cm
24
135
7 - 13 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucio Esteves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tenshin Nas!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Lucio Esteves has been cut.

Nas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Esteves is working an open guard so Nas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Esteves appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Nas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Esteves is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Esteves is looking to take this one to the mat.
A shot in the inside from Nas.

Nas gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esteves tries to get to full guard but Nas has control of the leg.

Esteves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nas is looking for a kimura here.
Esteves's coaches at Mapinguari Guerreiro have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esteves keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nas is looking to take a break and control but Esteves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Esteves looking for submissions off his back.

Esteves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Esteves looking for submissions off his back.

Esteves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
It looks like Nas might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Esteves tries to roll over but Nas keeps him under control.
Esteves is staying active underneath Nas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Nas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Esteves is just riding it out for now. Nas eventually gives up the hold.

Esteves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Esteves actively working from the bottom here.
Esteves is not content to let Nas control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nas working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Esteves looking for submissions off his back.
Nas content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Esteves regains full guard. Nicely done.

Esteves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nas trying to control the position from guard on top but Esteves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Esteves working for submissions but it's allowed Nas to get to half guard.
Nas thows a huge punch but Esteves dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nas thows a huge punch but Esteves dodges it nicely.

Esteves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Esteves keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Esteves looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Nas pushes past his half guard into mount!
Esteves takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nas prevents Esteves from getting the reversal.
Esteves avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nas.
Nas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Esteves looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nas looking to finish with strikes here!
Esteves is bucking up trying to escape but Nas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nas punching from mount but Esteves doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Nas content just to control the position here.
Esteves is trying to escape the mount.
Nas landing punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tenshin Nas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lucio Esteves's cut.
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.

Nas has closed the distance and engaged Esteves in a clinch.
Nas is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Nas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nas scores with a head kick.

Esteves is rocked!
Nas scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Nas scores with a takedown into Esteves's guard.
Oh Esteves is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Esteves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Esteves isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Nas stacks Esteves on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Nas!
The strikes coming from Nas are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Esteves seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esteves dodges the ground and pound from Nas.
The ground and pound from Nas seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Esteves is looking to reverse the position.
Nas trying to control the action but Esteves is working from the bottom.

Nas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Esteves has escaped the position, nice work there.
Esteves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esteves is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Esteves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Esteves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nas passes the guard and advances to mount!
Esteves is desperately trying to improve his position but Nas has a good base and remains in mount.
Esteves sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Nas is trying to work for a kimura but Esteves is defending well.
Esteves taking some punishment here, with Nas in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Esteves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Esteves is not content to let Nas control the position.

Esteves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nas stalling.

Nas seems to be working for a kimura but Esteves defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Esteves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Esteves looking for submissions off his back.
Esteves is in trouble now - Nas has advanced to mount!
Esteves working to try and regain half guard.
Esteves taking shots to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nas thowing shots but they're missing.
Esteves can't escape the position.
Nas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Esteves looks a forlorn figure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tenshin Nas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lucio Esteves's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nas scores with a kick to the midsection.
Esteves takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nas!
Nas tries a head kick but it misses.
Esteves attempts a counter takedown but Nas avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nas looking to score a takedown here. Esteves is defending well but Nas drives through and ends up in Esteves's guard.

Esteves working for submissions but it's allowed Nas to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Esteves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Esteves actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Esteves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nas trying to control from half guard but Esteves is working away.
Nas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Nas controlling the pace for now.
Esteves keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nas throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Esteves because Nas loaded up on that one.
Nas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Esteves looks a forlorn figure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esteves blocking the ground and pound.
Esteves regains half guard.

Nas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nas controlling the action here.
Esteves has hold of Nas's hands but Nas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esteves is staying active underneath Nas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Esteves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nas.

Esteves actively working from the bottom here.
Nas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Tenshin Nas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nas prevents Esteves from improving his position.

Esteves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Esteves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nas pulls his head out easily.
Nas thows a huge punch but Esteves dodges it nicely.
Tenshin Nas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nas slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nas is looking for a kimura but Esteves is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nas to get the leverage.
Nas passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Esteves!
Esteves gets back to half guard.
Lucio Esteves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Still in half guard, Nas seems content to control.

Esteves actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Esteves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tenshin Nas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tenshin Nas!
Tenshin Nas seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.