PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Estep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Horton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Estep comes to the cage accompanied by Courageous. Horton has chosen Ironman as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Estep
vs
Horton

183 cm
19
210 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

177 cm
19
210 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Nature's Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Estep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Horton!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Estep misses with a head kick.
Horton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Estep.
Estep stuffs the takedown attempt from Horton. Horton gets slowly back to his feet.
Horton scores with a kick to the body.
Estep is breathing heavily.

Horton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Horton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Estep is looking to get to half guard.
Horton controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton wants to control the pace but Estep is squirming around nicely.

Horton is working for a guillotine from mount but Estep frees his head quite easily.
Horton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Estep tries to lock up and control but Horton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep can't escape the position.
Horton wants to control the pace but Estep is squirming around nicely.

Horton stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Horton shoots in for a takedown but Estep shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Estep changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Horton tries to avoid it but Estep manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Horton to the ground. Horton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Estep. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Estep throws a right and a left that both miss.
Horton rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Estep moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Estep misses with a takedown

and Horton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Horton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Horton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Horton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Estep looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Horton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Horton lands some shots froms side control.
Horton moves into full mount!
Horton trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Estep is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Estep is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Estep is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Estep manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Horton connects with a nice short shot to Estep's temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Estep is holding on to half guard well.

Horton decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Estep enables Horton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Estep manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Horton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Horton 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.
Horton trying to control but Estep is working from the bottom.
Estep keeping full guard, as Horton tries to pass.

Estep is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Horton is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton trying to control but Estep is working from the bottom.
Estep controls Horton momentarily but Horton frees himself.
Estep avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Horton trying to control but Estep is working from the bottom.
Horton controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Horton was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Horton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Horton stands up from half guard.
Estep circles away from the clinch attempt.

Horton moves into the clinch.
Horton can't break the clinch.
Horton wants to take the fight to the mat but Estep manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Horton tries to pull guard but Estep holds him up against the cage and eventually Horton drops back down to his feet.
Horton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Brian Estep has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Horton.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Estep's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Estep fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Horton to the ground. Estep is now in Horton's guard.
Horton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Estep controls the pace.
Estep scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Horton pulls Estep in close to his closed guard and prevents Estep from doing any damage or advancing position.
Estep won't allow Horton to get back to his feet.
Horton is breathing heavily.
Estep scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Horton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep trying to control but Horton is working from the bottom.

Horton pushes Estep off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horton stuffs the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Horton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Horton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Estep gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Horton to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Estep is trying to hold Horton in close to prevent damage but Horton has managed to pass into half guard.
Horton stalling away here and it's allowed Estep to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Horton seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Estep looking to hit a scissor sweep but Horton is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton trying to control but Estep is working from the bottom.
Horton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Estep is keeping the position for now.
Horton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Nick Horton has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Estep stalks Horton and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Horton's face. Horton staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horton lands with a slapping head kick.
Horton 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.
Horton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Estep circles away quickly and effectively.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Estep closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Horton did well to prevent Estep getting side control.
Horton is trying to get back to full guard.
Horton trying to control but Estep postures up.
Estep prevents Horton from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Horton looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Horton throws his legs up looking for a submission but Estep uses it to pass to side control.
Horton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Horton wants to control but Estep postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Estep decides to stand up, so the ref orders Horton to his feet.
Horton has a takedown stuffed.
Horton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Estep.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Estep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horton darts in trying to clinch

and Estep counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nick Horton.
Well Horton 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Horton!
A pretty intense looking Nick Horton took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.