PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Estep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rylan Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Estep comes into the arena with Courageous blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Estep
vs
Hunter

183 cm
18
210 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

195 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Nature's Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Estep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rylan Hunter!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hunter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Estep slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Estep wants to get back to his feet but Hunter is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Estep avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hunter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Estep is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hunter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Estep is keeping the position for now.
Hunter postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Estep is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hunter defends well.
Estep controls Hunter momentarily but Hunter frees himself.
Estep striking off his back but it's not causing Hunter any problems.
Hunter throws an elbow that misses. Estep uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hunter's guard. Nice move by Estep!
Hunter looking for a sweep. Not yet Hunter, not yet.
Estep with a flurry of punches that miss.
Estep wants to control from the top but Hunter keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter wants to sweep here but Estep controlling him for the moment.
Hunter pulls Estep in to control the position.
Estep loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hunter is trying to keep Estep in close.
Hunter looking for a sweep. Not yet Hunter, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Estep is looking to slow Hunter down with leg kicks.
Estep fails with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Estep fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estep stuffs the takedown.
Estep stuffs the takedown.

Hunter shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Hunter was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hunter looks gassed!
Hunter avoids the attempt from Estep to control.
Hunter prevents Estep from getting the reversal.

Hunter swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Estep is now in Hunter's guard. A big mistake from Hunter there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Estep looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunter controls Estep momentarily but Estep frees himself.
Hunter is looking to stand up but Estep isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Estep passes Hunter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brian Estep will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hunter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Estep manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hunter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Estep is looking to improve his position.
Hunter content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Estep keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep is not content to let Hunter control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rylan Hunter was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hunter takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Estep is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Estep is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Estep keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hunter counters by moving into the clinch.
Hunter is looking for a takedown.

Estep pulls guard successfully.
Rylan Hunter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hunter scoring with some ground and pound.
Hunter postures up.

Estep kicks Hunter off and gets to his feet.

Hunter closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Estep to the mat! Estep manages to get full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunter prevents Estep from getting back to his feet.
Hunter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hunter controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Estep is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hunter is controlling him.
Hunter throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter looking to pass the guard.
Hunter won't allow Estep to sweep him here.
Hunter looking to pass the guard.
Hunter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hunter trying to control but Estep is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rylan Hunter was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hunter. Estep does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep shoots in and drives through. Hunter sprawls well.

Hunter closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Estep's guard.
Estep looking to control.
Estep looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hunter is one step ahead there.
Hunter stays in close to Estep's body and controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rylan Hunter 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. This is the final round!

Estep shoots and misses

so Hunter counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Estep is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hunter defends well.
Hunter stays in close to Estep's body and controls the position.
Hunter forces his way into half guard.
Hunter not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter stalling away here and it's allowed Estep to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Estep is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hunter has gone for a leg lock! Estep slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hunter's guard.
Hunter looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Estep trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hunter's guard.
Estep might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hunter can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Estep avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Estep trying to control but Hunter is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunter isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Estep stacks Hunter 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 Estep!
Hunter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hunter is trying to get back to half guard.

Estep decides to stand back up.
Estep fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Estep. No joy for Hunter on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep is looking to clinch.

Hunter closes the distance and clinches.

Hunter decides to pull guard.
Estep wants to control from the top but Hunter keeps moving.

Estep decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hunter, up you get!
Estep shoots and misses

and Hunter counters with a single leg into guard. Estep didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Estep not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter trying to control the position from guard on top but Estep is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Estep is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rylan Hunter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hunter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rylan Hunter!