PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Tolander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Jessup (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.

Tolander
vs
Jessup

183 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Tolander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathan Jessup!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tolander, right into the meat.
Jessup checks the leg kick nicely there.

Tolander fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jessup, pushing him back against the cage.

Tolander manages to pull guard.
Jessup slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jessup working the ground and pound from side control.
Tolander can't do much from the bottom here.

Jessup tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jessup has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tolander is looking to regain half guard here but Jessup keeps moving and retains side control.

Jessup is trying to get an arm triangle but Tolander is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolander takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Tolander tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jessup wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Jessup working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tolander manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Tolander looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tolander trying to control from the bottom.

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.
Tolander throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Jessup is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tolander moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tolander lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Tolander wants to sweep here but Jessup controlling him for the moment.
Jessup controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jessup pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tolander is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jessup trying to control the position from guard on top but Tolander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tolander throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Jessup is looking to work some ground and pound but Tolander has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tolander tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jessup swivels and escapes.
Tolander tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jessup swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ben Tolander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jessup looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Jessup looks gassed!
Tolander controlling Jessup's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jessup thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jessup pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tolander is keeping the position for now.
Tolander not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Jessup drops back looking for a leg! Tolander is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tolander manages to kick Jessup off! Jessup jumps back into Tolander's guard.
Tolander looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tolander drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tolander wants to control but Jessup is keeping him busy.
Tolander is chipping away with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Jessup's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jessup tries to bench press Tolander off him but Tolander keeps the position.
Tolander is looking to take a break and control but Jessup is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jessup tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jessup parries the strikes from Tolander easily there. Tolander is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Jessup to escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jessup avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tolander doesn't manage to clinch there - Jessup circles away.
Jessup fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jessup is breathing heavily.
Tolander is looking to clinch but Jessup is avoiding it.
Jessup takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ben Tolander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tolander is looking to clinch but Jessup is avoiding it.
No luck for Jessup with that takedown attempt.
Tolander tries to close the distance and clinch but Jessup swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Tolander shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Tolander trying to mount his opponent but Jessup defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jessup is trying to get back to full guard.
Jessup is refusing to be controlled, as Tolander sits in half guard.
Jessup missing with punches from the bottom.
Tolander wants to take a breather but Jessup is having none of it.
Tolander working Jessup over with strikes.
Jessup trying to control from the bottom.

Jessup actively working from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tolander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jessup misses with a takedown attempt

and Tolander counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jessup's guard now.
Ben Tolander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Jessup.

Tolander thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jessup looking to control.

Jessup is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tolander trying to control but Jessup is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolander looking to pass the guard.

Tolander is posturing up here but Jessup has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Tolander tries to roll out but it's too tight and Tolander has to tap! Slick submission there by Jessup!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nathan Jessup!