PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elwood Hester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Ebola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Elwood Hester has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hester
vs
Ebola

174 cm
25
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

192 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Elwood Hester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Ebola!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Hester lands a leg kick that knocks Ebola off balance momentarily.

Hester is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ebola's half guard.
Hester could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hester lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ebola is looking for a sweep. Hester is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ebola makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ebola.
Ebola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ebola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hester gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ebola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hester's guard.

Ebola sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hester's guard.

Ebola seems to be working for a kimura but Hester defends the submission attempt.
Ebola passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ebola is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hester has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hester!
Hester throwing strikes but missing.
Hester with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ebola wants to sweep here but Hester controlling him for the moment.
Ebola is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Ebola has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hester can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ebola manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hester manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ebola advances to half guard.
Ebola is looking to advance position but Hester won't allow it.
Ebola is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hester is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ebola passes Hester's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Ebola seems to be working for a kimura but Hester defends the submission attempt.

Ebola is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hester won't allow Ebola to pass to mount.
Ebola is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Ebola postures up.
Ebola passes Hester's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hester won't allow Ebola to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ebola trying to advance position but Hester counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hester manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ebola manages to get himself to full guard.

Hester missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hester preventing the sweep.
Hester throwing strikes from guard but Ebola blocks nicely.
Hester won't allow Ebola to sweep him here.
Ebola looks winded!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hester postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ebola looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hester is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Igor Ebola will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hester gets the takedown into side control.
Ebola tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hester wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ebola looks to move to half guard but instead Hester has passed into mount! Damn!
Ebola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ebola avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hester.

Hester is working for a guillotine from mount but Ebola frees his head quite easily.
Ebola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hester unloads with some shots from mount but Ebola bucks and avoids them well.
Ebola is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebola sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ebola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hester.

Hester is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ebola manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hester loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Ebola looking for a guillotine here but Hester defends easily.

Ebola is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hester is aware though and is defending well.
Ebola is breathing heavily.
Ebola looking for a sweep. Not yet Ebola, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ebola throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hester escapes and throws Ebola's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ebola regains half guard.
Ebola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hester.
Ebola tries to roll over but Hester keeps him under control.
Hester not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hester throwing shots but Ebola is blocking nicely.
Ebola is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hester's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hester's back!

Ebola is looking for the choke from the back position but Hester is controlling his hands well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ebola doesn't have the hooks in and Hester manages to turn into his guard.
Hester throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hester stopping the sweep attempt from Ebola.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hester accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ebola 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.
Hester in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hester throws a big elbow that misses.
Hester throws a big elbow that misses.

Hester got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ebola has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hester has managed to get both his arms back between Ebola's legs - danger averted.

Hester avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ebola looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hester scoring with some ground and pound.
Ebola wants to sweep here but Hester controlling him for the moment.
Hester working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hester postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Ebola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hester gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hester lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ebola 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.
Ebola 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.

Elwood Hester dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hester dives in and scores a takedown into Ebola's guard.
Hester throws a big right hand that misses.

Ebola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hester gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ebola throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hester working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ebola is on top in guard.

Hester has control of Ebola's left arm, preventing Ebola from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebola slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ebola takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ebola tries to move to full mount but Hester actually manages to regain half guard.

Ebola wants to work for an arm triangle but Hester is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Ebola is working for a submission of some sort.
Ebola looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ebola keeps trying to improve his position.
Hester is looking to improve his position.

Ebola is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ebola trying to pass the guard but Hester defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ebola wants to advance to full mount but Hester doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Hester bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ebola's guard.

Elwood Hester overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ebola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ebola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hester throwing strikes from guard but Ebola blocks nicely.
Hester chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hester stopping the sweep attempt from Ebola.

Ebola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hester gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ebola is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hester defends well.
Hester connects with a couple of short punches.
Hester works over Ebola with some ground and pound from guard.
Hester in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ebola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hester postures up in Ebola's guard and throws a big left but Ebola blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ebola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hester throwing strikes from guard but Ebola blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Elwood Hester.
Well Hester 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Igor Ebola!
An out of breath Igor Ebola thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.