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. The crowd seem to be enjoying Horton's choice of entrance music: Ironman. Nick Horton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Estep
vs
Horton

183 cm
19
210 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

177 cm
19
210 lbs
5 - 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 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Estep!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick Horton!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Estep fails with the takedown

and Horton counters with a head kick that drops Estep to the mat! Estep scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Estep is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Horton rushes Estep and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Oh Estep is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Estep jumps guard but Horton turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Estep seems to have got his legs back now.

Estep manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Horton drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Horton jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Horton controlling from the top position.
Estep keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Horton is looking to work some ground and pound but Estep has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estep keeping full guard, as Horton tries to pass.
Horton preventing the sweep.

Horton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Estep is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Horton defends well.
Horton advances position into side control!
Estep is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estep is looking for a sweep.
Estep stops Horton from passing to mount.
Estep taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sloppy strikes there by Horton.
Horton prevents Estep from escaping the position.

Horton goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Estep has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Horton but great work by Estep.
Horton wants to control but Estep postures up.
Horton might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Estep kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Horton is pushing Estep's head away, looking to escape. Estep manages to hold on to the position though.
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!
Horton regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horton slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Horton trying to control the position.
Estep stopping the sweep attempt from Horton.
Estep landing some decent shots from guard.
Horton is trying to keep Estep in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep stands up out of Horton's guard for a moment - Horton manages to land a nice upkick.
Horton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Estep is one step ahead there.
Estep tries to free his leg and advance position but Horton is retaining full guard.

Estep gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Horton gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horton cracks Estep with a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horton is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Estep will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Horton tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Horton has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Horton dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Horton tries to keep at a distance but Estep has taken the fight into the clinch.
Horton has Estep pressed against the cage, preventing Estep from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Horton turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nick Horton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Estep is not content to let Horton control the position.
Estep manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Estep has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Horton is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton wants to take a breather but Estep is having none of it.

Horton is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Estep defends it well.

Horton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Horton is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Estep manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Estep uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Horton as Estep shoots in.
Horton shoots in for a double leg but Estep sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horton throws a sloppy head kick and Estep moves out of range easily.
Horton shoots in for a takedown but Estep shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Estep shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Horton but Horton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Estep stuffs the takedown attempt from Horton. Horton gets slowly back to his feet.
Brian Estep has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Horton.
Horton is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estep misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horton shoots in for a takedown but Estep shows good takedown defense.
Horton tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Estep counters with a straight right hand.

Horton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Estep avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Horton.
Estep is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estep wants to control but Horton postures up.
Horton advances nicely into full mount.
Horton content just to control the position here.
Horton looking to finish Estep with some ground and pound. This is bad for Estep!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Estep is trying to escape the mount.
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 corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Horton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Horton scores with punches from side control.

Horton tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Horton has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Horton laying and praying for a moment but Estep takes advantage and regains half guard.

Horton stands up and beckons Estep to join him on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton shoots in but no luck this time.
Estep lands with a nice combination. Horton backs away looking to recover.
Estep tries to clinch up.
Estep throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Horton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Horton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Horton shoots and misses
and Estep counters with a slapping leg kick.
Brian Estep has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Horton.
Horton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Estep tries to avoid it but Horton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Estep to the ground. Estep escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Horton tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Estep counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Estep.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Estep is working for takedown but Horton is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Estep escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Estep misses with a takedown attempt - Horton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Estep misses with a series of wild punches.
Nick Horton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horton lands a high kick!

Estep clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Estep.
Estep lands with a right to the head.
Horton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Horton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Estep is trying hard to land a takedown here. Horton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Estep dives in and grabs Horton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Horton pushes down on Estep's head and hops out.
Estep wants to clinch up but Horton keeps it at a distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Horton.
Horton shoots in looking for a takedown. Estep tries to sprawl out of it but Horton keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Estep manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Horton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Estep to the mat! Estep manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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.
Horton stopping the sweep attempt from Estep.
Horton wants to control from the top but Estep keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Horton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Horton winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Horton!
Nick Horton took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.