PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Guzman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kweli comes into the arena with 2Pac - Hit em up blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kweli
vs
Guzman

160 cm
26
152 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

167 cm
28
151 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Global Nutritional ACME (Q157) 90% ROR on Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Talib Kweli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Esteban Guzman!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kweli closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kweli lands in his opponent's guard.
Guzman wants to stand but Kweli is controlling the position.
Kweli is looking to work some ground and pound but Guzman has wrist control.
Kweli throws a big right hand that misses.
Guzman wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kweli in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kweli trying to control the position from guard on top but Guzman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Guzman is looking to stand up but Kweli isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guzman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kweli wants to pass the guard but Guzman is keeping the position.
Guzman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kweli controlling from the top position.
Kweli trying to control the position from guard on top but Guzman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Guzman wants to clinch

and Kweli counters with a nice double leg into side control. Guzman won't be happy with that.
Guzman can't do much from the bottom here.
Kweli trying to control the action but Guzman is working from the bottom.
Guzman parries the strikes from Kweli easily there. Kweli is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Guzman to escape.
Kweli working away.
A lull in the action here as Kweli stalls from top position.
Kweli landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guzman can't do much from the bottom here.
Kweli throws an elbow but Guzman slips to the side and avoids it well.

Kweli goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Guzman has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kweli but great work by Guzman.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kweli is trying to control Guzman's posture but Guzman avoids it.
Kweli is looking for a sweep.

Guzman decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kweli to his feet.

Kweli scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Guzman avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kweli.
Guzman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kweli is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Guzman sees it coming and defends easily.
Kweli working over Guzman with some ground and pound. Guzman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kweli wants to take a breather but Guzman is having none of it.

Kweli is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Guzman is looking to improve his position.
Kweli prevents Guzman from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kweli shoots in for a double leg but Guzman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Guzman moves in looking to clinch but Kweli pushes him off.
Kweli tries for a takedown but Guzman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kweli misses with a straight right.
Kweli avoids the head kick by Guzman.
Guzman wants to clinch.
Kweli fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Guzman tries to clinch
and Kweli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Talib Kweli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Guzman tries to clinch up

and Kweli counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Guzman's guard now.
Kweli with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kweli accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Guzman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kweli trying to control but Guzman is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guzman wants to stand and escape but Kweli is having none of it.
Kweli tries to free his leg and advance position but Guzman is retaining full guard.
Kweli works over Guzman with some ground and pound from guard.
Kweli pushing down on Guzman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Guzman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kweli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kweli is looking for a kimura here.
Kweli performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guzman looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kweli is trying to control the action in half guard but Guzman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kweli looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kweli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Guzman defends it well.
Nice strikes from Kweli there.
Guzman tries to roll over but Kweli keeps him under control.
Kweli is trying to control the action in half guard but Guzman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Guzman is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kweli is looking to take a break and control but Guzman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Guzman is in trouble now - Kweli has advanced to mount!
Kweli unloads with some shots from mount but Guzman bucks and avoids them well.
Kweli lands a big shot there that rocks Guzman but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Kweli is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Guzman to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Guzman shrugs it off.
Kweli trying to control but Guzman is having none of it.
Guzman takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talib Kweli dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Guzman lands a jab to Kweli's midsection.
Guzman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Guzman tries to clinch but Kweli moves away

and Kweli counters with a nice double leg into side control. Guzman won't be happy with that.
Kweli fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Guzman regains half guard there - taking advantage of Kweli's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Kweli thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kweli wants to control but Guzman is keeping him busy.
Kweli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kweli is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Guzman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kweli working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guzman is looking for a sweep. Kweli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kweli tries to pass to full mount but Guzman defends it.
Kweli slows the pace down in half guard.
Kweli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Kweli is working for a kimura but Guzman is defending it quite comfortably.
Kweli has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kweli is looking to advance position but Guzman won't allow it.
Guzman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kweli.
Kweli prevents Guzman from improving his position.
Guzman is trying to stand back up but Kweli is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli not doing much here.
Guzman is not content to let Kweli control the position.

Kweli is looking for a kimura but Guzman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kweli to get the leverage.
Guzman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Talib Kweli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kweli not doing much here.
Kweli is keen to just control but Guzman is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kweli tries to pass to full mount but Guzman defends it.

Kweli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Guzman defends it well.
Esteban Guzman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kweli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Talib Kweli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Guzman trying to hold on to Kweli's head to control him but Kweli postures up.
Kweli content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Talib Kweli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kweli 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talib Kweli!