PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ahi Esta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake McIntosh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ahi Esta had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Esta
vs
McIntosh

175 cm
18
178 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ahi Esta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Blake McIntosh!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esta throws a sloppy head kick and McIntosh moves out of range easily.
Esta wants to land a leg kick but McIntosh is out of range.

McIntosh closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McIntosh lands in his opponent's guard.
McIntosh won't allow Esta to sweep him here.
McIntosh trying to control but Esta is working from the bottom.
McIntosh not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McIntosh prevents Esta from getting back to his feet.
McIntosh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esta is keeping the position for now.
Esta controls McIntosh momentarily but McIntosh frees himself.
Esta keeping moving, preventing McIntosh from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McIntosh fails with a takedown attempt.
McIntosh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Esta but Esta pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Esta throws a leg kick but McIntosh moved away.
Esta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Esta leaves McIntosh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ahi Esta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake McIntosh.
The fighters circling - Esta throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Esta lunges at McIntosh with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McIntosh's hand.

It looks like Blake McIntosh has been cut.
McIntosh misses with a jab, cross combination.
Esta slaps away a takedown attempt from McIntosh, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McIntosh looks gassed!
Esta moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Esta decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McIntosh wants to control but Esta is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esta works his foot free and advances to mount.
Esta working McIntosh over with strikes here.
McIntosh in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Esta controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Esta.
Esta is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Esta scoring with strikes but McIntosh is staying in there.
Esta unloading with bombs!
Esta trying to control but McIntosh is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esta looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McIntosh is working to get back to half guard.
McIntosh in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Esta lands a heavy elbow.

Esta goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McIntosh turns into him and now he's in Esta's guard.
McIntosh stopping the sweep attempt from Esta.
Esta keeping moving, preventing McIntosh from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esta tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Esta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Esta wants to sweep here but McIntosh controlling him for the moment.
Esta keeping moving, preventing McIntosh from controlling successfully.
Esta wants to sweep here but McIntosh controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Esta.
Esta tries to land a leg kick but McIntosh saw it coming and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahi Esta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Blake McIntosh's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Esta shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McIntosh is trying to defend but Esta finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
McIntosh trying to control here.
McIntosh is pressing down on Esta's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Esta is stalling in the full guard.
McIntosh is trying to control the position but Esta postures up.
Esta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McIntosh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Esta is looking to work some ground and pound but McIntosh has wrist control.
Esta postures up in McIntosh's guard and throws a big left but McIntosh blocks it.
Esta trying to control but McIntosh is working from the bottom.
Esta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McIntosh's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Esta. No joy for McIntosh on that attempt.
Esta tries to clinch but McIntosh moves out of range.
McIntosh blocks a head kick by Esta.

Esta scores with a takedown into McIntosh's guard.
Esta preventing the sweep.
McIntosh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Esta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

McIntosh has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Esta off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Esta looks for a takedown but McIntosh sprawls well.

McIntosh drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McIntosh with a nice head shot there.
McIntosh is looking to work some ground and pound but Esta has wrist control.
Esta keeping moving, preventing McIntosh from controlling successfully.
McIntosh thows a big elbow that misses.
Esta lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McIntosh!
McIntosh regains half guard.
McIntosh misses with some strikes from the bottom.
McIntosh is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Esta tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McIntosh working to try and regain half guard.
Esta looking to control but McIntosh is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Esta landing punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esta scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McIntosh?
McIntosh is trying desperately to improve position.
Esta lands a nice shot to the head.
McIntosh is looking to get to half guard.
Esta with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McIntosh is working to get back to half guard.
Esta unloading with bombs!
McIntosh really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Esta is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McIntosh can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Esta sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Esta fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
McIntosh tries to lock up and control but Esta gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ahi Esta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McIntosh swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
McIntosh is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahi Esta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Blake McIntosh's cut.
That's time! Esta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Esta works over McIntosh's head and body with a nice combination.
Some wild striking there from McIntosh.
McIntosh throws a hook but Esta blocks it.
McIntosh doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Esta counters with a shoot takedown. McIntosh fights it but they end up in guard.
Esta tries to free his leg and advance position but McIntosh is retaining full guard.
McIntosh keeping moving, preventing Esta from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esta is looking to stand up but McIntosh won't let him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McIntosh throws a left and a right that both miss

and Esta decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McIntosh's guard.
McIntosh is trying to control the position but Esta postures up.
McIntosh doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
McIntosh throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
McIntosh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Esta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

McIntosh looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McIntosh throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McIntosh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Esta drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McIntosh prevents Esta from moving into mount.
Esta tries to stand but McIntosh is controlling his head.
McIntosh struggling a bit here.
Esta wants to lay and pray for a moment but McIntosh keeps working.
McIntosh manages to get back to half guard.
McIntosh is doing well to control the position and prevent Esta from advancing to side control.
Esta wants to control but McIntosh is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esta lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
McIntosh is pressing down on Esta's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
McIntosh is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McIntosh lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Esta!
Esta is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ahi Esta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A nice elbow there by McIntosh.
Esta holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as McIntosh tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
McIntosh unloads with some shots from mount but Esta bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Esta holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as McIntosh tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
McIntosh tries to control but Esta wriggling away.
Esta can't escape the position.
McIntosh thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
McIntosh sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Esta can't escape the position.
Blake McIntosh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McIntosh pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahi Esta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Esta has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahi Esta!