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TWGC 40 (145lbs, D1): Finals - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the featherweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 23 wins and 37 losses; Vartan Esteves! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 57 wins and 18 losses; John Lee!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Lee clinches.
Lee is trying to trip Esteves. He has hold of a leg but Esteves is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Lee persists though and gets the takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Esteves (0) vs (2) Lee
Esteves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lee gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Esteves wants to hit a sweep here but Lee passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Esteves there! Score +3 for passing guard: Esteves (0) vs (5) Lee
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee prevents Esteves from getting the reversal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee manages to capitalize on a mistake by Esteves to take his back! Score +3 for taking back: Esteves (0) vs (8) Lee
Esteves wants to escape the position.
Lee has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Esteves's body.
Lee controlling well, preventing Esteves from escaping the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esteves is working hard here to advance position.
Esteves trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Lee has good solid back control here.
Lee is hanging on to Esteves's back as he tries to escape.
Esteves trying to control the hands but Lee breaks the grip.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
My spies in SSJ Gym inform me that Lee has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Lee's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Esteves's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Lee biding his time, controlling Esteves.
Esteves wants to control his opponent's hands but Lee gets his hands free.
Esteves is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Esteves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lee is hanging on to Esteves's back as he tries to escape.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee is riding his opponent, not letting Esteves buck him off.
Lee controlling well, preventing Esteves from escaping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lee avoiding Esteves 's attempts to control his hands.
Lee has the hooks in. Esteves is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Esteves tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Esteves tries to reverse the position but Lee maintains control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esteves bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Esteves (2) vs (8) Lee
Lee has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Esteves trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esteves is looking to pass into half guard but Lee pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Lee is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Esteves (2) vs (10) Lee
Lee not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lee won't allow Esteves to sweep him here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Esteves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Esteves isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lee 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 Lee! Score +3 for passing guard: Esteves (2) vs (13) Lee
Esteves tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Lee presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Esteves (2) vs (15) Lee
Lee tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Esteves is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lee controlling from mount.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Esteves regains half guard.
Esteves wants to control but Lee is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Well, if Lee is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Esteves tries to roll over but Lee keeps him under control.
Lee moves nicely into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Esteves (2) vs (18) Lee
Esteves is trying to escape the position but Lee is controlling the position.
Esteves is trying to improve his position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Esteves is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Lee is one step ahead and moves to full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Esteves (2) vs (20) Lee
Esteves wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back. Score +3 for taking back: Esteves (2) vs (23) Lee
Esteves rolls, trying to escape but Lee keeps control of the position.
Lee is riding his opponent, not letting Esteves buck him off.
I really don't envy Esteves right now.
Lee is trying to stick to Esteves's back but Esteves is turning into Lee. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lee's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Esteves. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Esteves (4) vs (23) Lee
Lee wants to sweep but no luck.
Lee is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Esteves stopping the sweep attempt from Lee.
Lee has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Esteves trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Esteves wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lee has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lee looking to control.
Lee controlling Esteves's posture.
Esteves trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Esteves looking to pass the guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Lee is controlling Esteves's posture.
Esteves trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee wants to sweep but no luck.
Esteves drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lee looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lee looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lee! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Esteves (4) vs (27) Lee
Esteves is looking for a sweep.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Lee takes a little break here. Esteves wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Esteves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lee taking a breather here.
Lee passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Esteves! Score +2 for reaching mount: Esteves (4) vs (29) Lee
Esteves wants to hold on but Lee pushes him away.
Esteves tries to reverse the position but Lee maintains control.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Esteves is breathing heavily.
Lee takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Esteves can't escape the position.
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.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Lee is controlling the pace.
Esteves wants to get back to full guard.
Lee perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lee is looking to advance position but Esteves won't allow it.
Esteves looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Esteves manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Lee is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Esteves looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lee passes into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Esteves (4) vs (32) Lee
The referee asks Lee politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Lee prefers to stall for the moment though.
More stalling from Lee.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esteves tries to bench press Lee off him but Lee keeps the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Lee wins on points by 32 to 4.
Our winner, John Lee, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
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