PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Estrin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Lionheart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Estrin
vs
Lionheart

184 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Estrin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Lionheart!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Estrin throws a combination. Lionheart tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A punch combination from Estrin misses.
Estrin throws a series of punches but Lionheart avoids them all with ease.

Estrin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lionheart loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lionheart loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lionheart stops Estrin from standing up.
Lionheart working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Estrin's head.
Estrin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Estrin is trying to keep Lionheart in close.
Estrin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lionheart in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lionheart looks gassed!
Lionheart thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lionheart working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Estrin holds on and takes a little breather.
Lionheart throwing strikes from guard but Estrin blocks nicely.
Estrin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lionheart throwing strikes but missing.
Lionheart is looking to work some ground and pound but Estrin has wrist control.
Lionheart stopping the sweep attempt from Estrin.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lionheart accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Estrin 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.
Estrin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lionheart prevents Estrin from getting back to his feet.
Lionheart throws a big right hand that misses.
Lionheart thows a big elbow that misses.
Lionheart prevents Estrin from getting back to his feet.
Lionheart throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lionheart throwing strikes from guard but Estrin blocks nicely.
Estrin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Estrin tries to get out of the position.
Lionheart preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lionheart accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lionheart slips nicely into half guard.
Lionheart sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Estrin defending well though.
Estrin wants to get back to his feet.
Lionheart missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lionheart prevents Estrin from standing back up.
Estrin trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lionheart not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lionheart scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Estrin punching from the bottom.
Lionheart sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Estrin defending well though.
Estrin is trying to maintain the position but Lionheart is very close to passing his half guard.
Lionheart is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Estrin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lionheart has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lionheart works his way into side control.
An elbow from Lionheart crashes against the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Lionheart dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Estrin scores with a hook.
Danga de danga de dang - Estrin scores with a four punch combination!
Estrin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nice uppercut there from Estrin.
Estrin throws a low kick, looking for Lionheart's leg but Lionheart calmly moves out of range.
No joy there for Estrin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Estrin misses with a two punch combination.
Lionheart slips a jab and a cross from Estrin.
Ryan Lionheart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lionheart takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Estrin misses with the combination.
Lionheart misses with a double jab
enabling Estrin to counter with a crisp jab.
Estrin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lionheart is breathing heavily.
Lionheart showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Estrin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estrin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lionheart tries for a takedown but Estrin circles away easily
and Estrin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Estrin jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Estrin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lionheart misses with a combination

and Estrin counters by clinching up.

Estrin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Estrin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lionheart has his takedown stuffed

and Estrin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Estrin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estrin wants to pass the guard but Lionheart is keeping the position.
Estrin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Estrin working some strikes from top position.
Estrin is working Lionheart over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lionheart throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Estrin wants to control from the top but Lionheart keeps moving.
Lionheart looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estrin wants to get up but he can't break Lionheart's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Estrin wants to control from the top but Lionheart keeps moving.
Estrin lands a couple of elbows.
Estrin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Estrin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Estrin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Estrin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lionheart works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lionheart keeping moving, preventing Estrin from controlling successfully.
Estrin working some strikes from top position.
Estrin is in close to Lionheart's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Estrin landing with the ground and pound.
Lionheart 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 dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Estrin fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Estrin misses.
Estrin misses with a double jab.
Lionheart shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Estrin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Estrin closes the distance and pushes Lionheart back into the cage.

Estrin gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Estrin throws a big right hand that misses.
Lionheart is looking to sweep but instead, Estrin has passed into half guard.
Lionheart takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Estrin with the ground and pound but Lionheart uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lionheart being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estrin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Estrin is stalling in the full guard.
Estrin wants to stand and escape but instead Lionheart has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Igor Estrin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lionheart prevents Estrin from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Estrin is on top in guard.
Estrin is working Lionheart over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lionheart has a closed guard, preventing Estrin from standing up.
Estrin trying to control but Lionheart is working from the bottom.
Estrin is in close to Lionheart's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Estrin scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Estrin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lionheart looking for a sweep. Not yet Lionheart, not yet.
Estrin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lionheart on the ground.
Estrin looking to pass the guard.

Lionheart is working an open guard so Estrin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Estrin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Estrin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Estrin working Lionheart over with strikes.
Estrin tries to pass to full mount but Lionheart defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estrin wants to get back to his feet.
Estrin controlling the action here.
Estrin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Estrin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Estrin 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:27

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