PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Estrin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rodrigues
vs
Estrin

186 cm
18
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricardo Rodrigues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Estrin!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodrigues tries to clinch up but Estrin circles away and keeps his distance.

Estrin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Estrin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Estrin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Estrin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The referee warns Rodrigues that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rodrigues is desperately trying to improve his position but Estrin has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Estrin controlling the pace for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Estrin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rodrigues is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Estrin.
Estrin controlling from the full mount.
Rodrigues bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rodrigues trying to control but Estrin is working from the bottom.
Rodrigues stopping the sweep attempt from Estrin.
Rodrigues is looking to work some ground and pound but Estrin has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues stopping the sweep attempt from Estrin.
Estrin is looking to stand up but Rodrigues isn't so interested in that idea.
Rodrigues in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rodrigues trying to control but Estrin is working from the bottom.
Rodrigues looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Estrin is on top in guard.
Estrin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rodrigues. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Estrin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rodrigues's head.
Estrin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Estrin stops Rodrigues from standing up.
Rodrigues looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigues, not yet.
Estrin lands a couple of elbows.
Estrin throws a strike but Rodrigues rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues stops Estrin from standing up.
Estrin is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Estrin seems keen to control Rodrigues's posture.
Estrin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Estrin controlling Rodrigues's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Estrin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rodrigues gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Estrin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Estrin.
Estrin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rodrigues avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Estrin works over Rodrigues with some ground and pound from guard.
Estrin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Estrin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rodrigues's guard.
Rodrigues can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Estrin controls the pace.
Estrin postures up and lands a big shot to Rodrigues's brow.
Estrin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Estrin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estrin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodrigues is proving hard to escape from.
Estrin 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.
Estrin with a nice head shot there.

Estrin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rodrigues looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rodrigues looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rodrigues!
Rodrigues misses with the ground and pound.
Estrin is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodrigues decides to stand up, so the ref orders Estrin to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodrigues closes the distance but Estrin moves to the side

so Estrin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Estrin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rodrigues has momentary wrist control but Estrin slips an elbow through the middle.
Rodrigues is trying to control the position but Estrin postures up.
Igor Estrin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rodrigues tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Estrin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Estrin working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues has momentary wrist control but Estrin slips an elbow through the middle.
Rodrigues being controlled here, momentarily.
Estrin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodrigues swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Estrin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rodrigues is trying to keep Estrin in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Estrin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodrigues swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Estrin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rodrigues manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Rodrigues trying to control but Estrin is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Estrin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Estrin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rodrigues misses with a takedown

and Estrin counters with a takedown into side control.
Estrin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Estrin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rodrigues manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rodrigues wants to pass the guard but Estrin is defending well.
Estrin wants to get back to his feet.
Rodrigues throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues is keen to just control but Estrin is a slippery customer.
Estrin pushes Rodrigues off looking to stand but Rodrigues dives back in and keeps control.
Rodrigues wants to lay and pray for a moment but Estrin keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Estrin won't allow Rodrigues to pass to mount.
Estrin is looking for a sweep. Rodrigues is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Estrin kicks Rodrigues off and gets back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Estrin!

Estrin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rodrigues to the mat! Rodrigues manages to get full guard.
Estrin postures up in Rodrigues's guard and throws a big left but Rodrigues blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Estrin distracts Rodrigues with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Estrin landing with the ground and pound.
Rodrigues keeping full guard, as Estrin tries to pass.
Estrin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rodrigues's head.
Estrin controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodrigues wants to get back to his feet but Estrin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estrin wants to pass the guard but Rodrigues is keeping the position.
Estrin with a nice head shot there.
Rodrigues working a defensive guard but Estrin passes into half guard.

Estrin is looking for a kimura but Rodrigues is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Estrin to get the leverage.
Rodrigues taking some punishment here, with Estrin in his half guard.
Estrin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Estrin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Estrin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rodrigues with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Estrin is looking for a kimura but Rodrigues is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Estrin to get the leverage.
Estrin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Estrin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Estrin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Igor Estrin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Estrin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Estrin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rodrigues with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Estrin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Estrin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Estrin!