PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zver Bortsuha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mercito Gesta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Bortsuha
vs
Gesta

195 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zver Bortsuha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mercito Gesta!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gesta has closed the distance and engaged Bortsuha in a clinch.

Gesta breaks from the clinch.

Gesta darts in and clinches Bortsuha up against the cage.

Gesta jumps guard.
Gesta lands a decent shot there.
Bortsuha trying to control the position from guard on top but Gesta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bortsuha tries to free his leg and advance position but Gesta is retaining full guard.
Gesta looking for a sweep. Not yet Gesta, not yet.
Bortsuha sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gesta is trying to control the position from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Zver Bortsuha wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Gesta shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gesta showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bortsuha is not content to let Gesta control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gesta works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gesta dominating with strikes here.
Gesta tries to control but Bortsuha wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Gesta dominating with strikes here.
Gesta trying to control but Bortsuha is having none of it.
Gesta putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Gesta looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Gesta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bortsuha keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gesta controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gesta punishing his opponent with strikes.
Gesta lands a big shot there that rocks Bortsuha but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bortsuha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gesta on the ground.
Bortsuha is squirming around, avoiding Gesta's attempts to control the action.
Bortsuha really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Gesta is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Bortsuha drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gesta is trying to control Bortsuha's posture but Bortsuha avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Gesta's face as Bortsuha controls the position.
Bortsuha is breathing heavily.
Bortsuha working the strikes but Gesta uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Bortsuha trying to control from Gesta's half guard. Gesta has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gesta is on top in guard.
Gesta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gesta advances position into side control!
Bortsuha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bortsuha tries to get out of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gesta is looking to take a break and control but Bortsuha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mercito Gesta dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bortsuha doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gesta moves into the clinch.
Gesta lands an elbow inside.
Bortsuha wants a takedown.

Gesta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bortsuha takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bortsuha misses with a takedown

and Gesta decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bortsuha's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zver Bortsuha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gesta is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gesta keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bortsuha's head.

Bortsuha is looking for a triangle here but Gesta uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gesta wants to control but Bortsuha is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bortsuha takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Gesta stands up.
Bortsuha sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gesta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Gesta lands a big head kick that sends Bortsuha tumbling to the mat! Gesta takes a step backwards and waves Bortsuha back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Bortsuha is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gesta scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Oh Bortsuha is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gesta is controlling the pace.
Bortsuha seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gesta works his foot free and advances to mount.
Bortsuha is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gesta trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mercito Gesta has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gesta goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bortsuha is on top in guard.
Bortsuha trying to control but Gesta is working from the bottom.

Bortsuha got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gesta has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bortsuha has managed to get both his arms back between Gesta's legs - danger averted.
Gesta wants to get back to his feet but Bortsuha is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gesta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bortsuha wants to control from the top but Gesta keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gesta wants to get back to his feet but Bortsuha is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gesta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bortsuha has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Bortsuha gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gesta with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mercito Gesta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bortsuha has his takedown stuffed
and Gesta counters with a head kick.
Gesta scores with a push kick.

Gesta lands a big head kick that sends Bortsuha tumbling to the mat! Gesta takes a step backwards and waves Bortsuha back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Gesta scores with a takedown into Bortsuha's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gesta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bortsuha wants to get back to his feet but Gesta passes into half guard.
Gesta 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.
Gesta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gesta slips a nice elbow through Bortsuha's hands, connecting with Bortsuha's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Gesta there.
Gesta controlling the action here.
Gesta wants to take a breather but Bortsuha is having none of it.
Gesta content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Gesta decides to return to a standing position.

Gesta shoots in and bounces Bortsuha off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Gesta thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gesta trying to control but Bortsuha is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gesta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gesta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bortsuha's head.

Gesta stands up from Bortsuha's guard - Gesta perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mercito Gesta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gesta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gesta lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Bortsuha staying out of range there.

Gesta moves into the clinch.

Gesta manages to pull guard.
Gesta is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bortsuha looking to sit in guard and control but Gesta gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bortsuha can't keep his opponent in guard - Gesta advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Gesta in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Bortsuha tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Gesta!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mercito Gesta!