PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Espinoza (ranked 4299 p4p, 4324 weight class) and Paulo Iglesias (ranked 184 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.

Espinoza
vs
Iglesias

175 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
155
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paulo Iglesias!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Espinoza manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Iglesias on his heels. He'll look to pass Iglesias's guard now, I'm sure.
Iglesias pulls Espinoza in close to prevent any damage.

Espinoza drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Espinoza jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Espinoza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Espinoza controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iglesias is striking from the bottom but Espinoza uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iglesias wants to control but Espinoza is keeping busy.

Espinoza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Iglesias is just riding it out for now. Espinoza eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza tries to pass to full mount but Iglesias defends it.
Iglesias striking from the bottom.
Espinoza missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Iglesias is trying to control but can't.
Iglesias is refusing to be controlled, as Espinoza sits in half guard.

Iglesias is defending against the submission attempts here by Espinoza.
Iglesias is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Espinoza content to control rather than advance.
Iglesias wants to control but Espinoza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Espinoza stalling.

Espinoza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Iglesias is just riding it out for now. Espinoza eventually gives up the hold.
Iglesias wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iglesias is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Espinoza's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Espinoza's back!
Espinoza looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Iglesias really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Espinoza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Iglesias thows a strike but Espinoza uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Espinoza as he ends up in Iglesias 's guard!
Espinoza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Iglesias's head.

Iglesias has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Espinoza is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Iglesias.
Espinoza is looking to take a break and control but Iglesias is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Espinoza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Iglesias has escaped the position, nice work there.

Espinoza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Espinoza is trying to get an arm triangle but Iglesias is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Espinoza is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Espinoza dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Espinoza just misses with a punch to the body.

Espinoza shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Iglesias is trying to defend but Espinoza finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Iglesias won't allow Espinoza to pass to mount.
Iglesias has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Espinoza is working away from the top position though.

Espinoza is trying to work for a kimura but Iglesias is defending well.
Iglesias is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Espinoza is working for a kimura but Iglesias is defending it quite comfortably.
Iglesias wants to get back to full guard but Espinoza has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Espinoza is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Iglesias has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Iglesias wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Espinoza wants to finish this one by submission but Iglesias is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Espinoza.
Iglesias wants to hold on but Espinoza pushes him away.
Espinoza lands with some strikes.
Iglesias tries to hold on but Espinoza postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Espinoza is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Iglesias is surviving well by controlling Espinoza's body position as best he can.
Espinoza avoids the attempt from Iglesias to control.
Espinoza controlling from the full mount.
Iglesias is squirming around, avoiding Espinoza's attempts to control the action.
Iglesias is looking to improve his position but Espinoza isn't that keen on the idea.
Espinoza avoids the attempt from Iglesias to control.
Espinoza trying to control but Iglesias is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Espinoza working for a submission but Iglesias is keeping him at bay.
Iglesias is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Iglesias tries to hold on but Espinoza postures up.

Espinoza working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Iglesias turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Espinoza off and cradles Iglesias's limp body as Espinoza celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Thiago Espinoza!