PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bennett Estes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bennett Estes has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Estes
vs
Smith

182 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bennett Estes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith closes the distance and clinches.

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

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Estes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Estes blocks nicely.

Smith drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Estes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smith has Estes in his guard.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Estes won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Estes's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Estes stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.

Smith drives through with a takedown into Estes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Estes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Estes.
Smith wants to control from the top but Estes keeps moving.
Estes wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Estes is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estes stops Smith from standing up.
Estes cracks Smith with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Estes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Estes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Estes tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Estes can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Estes decides to pull guard.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith tries to stand but Estes is controlling from the bottom.
Smith wants to stand and escape but instead Estes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Smith looks winded!
Estes wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Estes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Estes controls the pace.
Estes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Estes wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estes stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.

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

Smith throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Estes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Smith is in Estes's guard.
Estes strikes from his own guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Estes is on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith keeping full guard, as Estes tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Estes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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 Bennett Estes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Estes connects with a right hand. Smith shakes it off.
Estes shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
John Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Estes throws a combination that misses

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Estes wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Estes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
John Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Estes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Smith has eaten all the pies!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith avoiding damage as Estes throws knees to the body.
Estes misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estes tries to pull guard but Smith forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Smith working Estes over with knees to the body.
Smith lands a nice knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Smith just misses with a elbow thrown towards Estes's brow.
Estes is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bennett Estes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith avoiding damage as Estes throws knees to the body.
Estes tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Estes drops back down to his feet.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bennett Estes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.

Smith successfully pulls guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Estes preventing the sweep.
Estes lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to sweep here but Estes controlling him for the moment.
Estes postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Estes is aware though and is defending well.
Estes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Estes manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Estes wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estes is working hard here to advance position.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Estes dives on top into guard.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Estes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Estes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith 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!

Smith scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Estes gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Estes is on top in guard.
Estes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Estes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith is trying to keep Estes in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estes looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Estes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Estes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Estes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Estes!
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Estes decides to stand up, so the ref orders Smith to his feet.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estes is looking to reverse the position.
Estes regains half guard.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Estes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Estes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Estes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Estes lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Estes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Estes maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estes controlling the position easily from mount.
Smith is in a horrible position here. Estes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Estes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Estes content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estes landing strikes from the mount and Smith is in trouble!

Smith defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Estes.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Estes raining down hammerfists from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Estes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?

And that's the end of the fight!
Bennett Estes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Estes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!