PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Papo (ranked 3382 p4p, 5840 weight class) and Lucio Esteves (ranked 223 p4p, 325 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Papo
vs
Esteves

160 cm
33
140
7 - 9 - 1

176 cm
26
145
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshi Papo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucio Esteves!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Papo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Papo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Esteves is looking for a sweep.
Esteves is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Papo is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Esteves sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Papo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Esteves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Papo pulls his head out easily.

Esteves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Papo pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Esteves looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esteves actively working from the bottom here.

Esteves looking for submissions off his back.
Esteves tries to get to full guard but Papo has control of the leg.

Esteves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Papo pulls his head out easily.

Esteves has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Papo escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Papo!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esteves looking for a sweep but Papo has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Papo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papo lands with some strikes.
Esteves is working to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Papo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Papo content just to control the position here.
Papo raining down shots from the mount!
Papo controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esteves can't escape the position.
Papo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Esteves sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Papo controlling the action here.
Esteves gets back to full guard.
Papo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Esteves has his foot on Papo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Papo works his way back into a safe position though.
Papo passes Esteves's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papo is taking a breather. Esteves says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Esteves looking for submissions off his back.

Esteves has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Papo escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Papo!
Esteves being controlled for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroshi Papo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Esteves enables Papo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Esteves manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Papo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Papo 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.

Esteves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Papo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Esteves is tightening it up a little... Papo has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Papo reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Papo taps out! Nice BJJ there by Esteves!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Lucio Esteves!
During a confident post fight interview, Lucio Esteves thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.