PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghengis Congo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Congo has chosen After the Smoke is Clear as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Esperanza
vs
Congo

187 cm
22
220 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

196 cm
21
285 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimmy Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ghengis Congo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esperanza slips a jab and a cross from Congo.
Esperanza is looking to clinch.
Esperanza takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Congo misses the shot to the body.
Esperanza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Congo.
Ghengis Congo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Congo misses with a two punch combination.
A big left from Congo misses.
Some wild striking there from Congo.
Congo misses with a body shot.
Esperanza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Congo.
Congo misses with a body shot.
Esperanza is looking to slow Congo down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza moves in looking to clinch but Congo pushes him off.
Congo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Esperanza shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Congo sprawls well. Congo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Esperanza gets slowly back to his feet.

Esperanza rushes Congo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Congo managing to block the knees to the body from Esperanza.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Congo is blocking nicely.
Congo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Esperanza avoiding damage as Congo throws knees to the body.
Congo tries to break the clinch but Esperanza is controlling the position.
Esperanza managing to block the knees to the body from Congo.

Congo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Congo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Esperanza.
The crowd cheers as Congo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Esperanza doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza tries to clinch but Congo moves out of range.
Congo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Esperanza counters with a slapping leg kick.

Esperanza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Esperanza seems to be looking for submissions.
Esperanza tries to pass the half guard into mount. Congo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Congo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Esperanza.
Congo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esperanza is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Esperanza wants to work for an arm triangle but Congo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Esperanza throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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.

Esperanza is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Congo gets back to full guard.
Esperanza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Esperanza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Congo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Esperanza throws and elbow that misses. Congo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Esperanza's guard. Nice move by Congo!

Esperanza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Congo defends it easily.
Congo wants to stand but Esperanza is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jimmy Esperanza will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Esperanza tries to clinch up but Congo circles away and keeps his distance.
Esperanza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Esperanza pivots, looking for a leg kick but Congo is out of range and Esperanza settles back down.
Congo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Congo thows a body shot but no joy.
Esperanza wants to clinch.
Congo misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Congo avoids it really well and circles away.
Esperanza tries to clinch but Congo moves out of range.
Congo misses with a straight left.
Esperanza is looking to clinch.
Congo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Congo loads up on a big right hand but Esperanza slips the punch.
Congo scores with a hook.
Ghengis Congo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Congo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Congo misses with a hook. Esperanza ducked under it nicely.
Esperanza takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Congo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Esperanza tries to clinch but Congo is having none of it.
Esperanza throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esperanza doesn't manage to clinch there - Congo circles away.

Esperanza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Esperanza drops an elbow to the side of Congo's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Congo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Esperanza seems to be working for a kimura but Congo defends the submission attempt.

Esperanza seems to be looking for submissions.
Esperanza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Congo defending well though.

Congo is defending against the submission attempts here by Esperanza.

Esperanza is trying to work for a kimura but Congo is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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.

Esperanza wants to work for an arm triangle but Congo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Congo works his way to full guard. Good work.

Esperanza drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Esperanza jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Congo has his feet on Esperanza's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Esperanza shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Congo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
You can see the frustration on Congo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghengis Congo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Esperanza ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Esperanza wants to clinch up but Congo keeps it at a distance.
Congo throws out a loose jab but Esperanza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Congo misses with a kick to the body
and Esperanza counters with a left to the body.
Congo throws a predictable looking body shot

and Esperanza counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Esperanza is looking for a kimura but Congo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Esperanza to get the leverage.
Congo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Congo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Esperanza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Congo's head.

Esperanza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Congo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Esperanza.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esperanza seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Congo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Esperanza is looking to advance position but Congo has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Congo wants to control the pace but Esperanza is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Esperanza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Esperanza wants to control but Congo is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esperanza is squirming around, avoiding Congo's attempts to control the action.
Esperanza tries to hold on but Congo pushes him away.
Congo with a couple of short strikes.
Congo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Esperanza is looking to escape.
Jimmy Esperanza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Esperanza tries to reverse the position but Congo maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Congo avoids the attempt from Esperanza to control.
Esperanza is looking to improve his position but Congo isn't that keen on the idea.
Congo controlling the pace for now.
Congo looking to control but Esperanza is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Congo avoids the attempt from Esperanza to control.
Congo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Congo landing strikes from the mount and Esperanza is in trouble!
Esperanza is looking to improve his position but Congo isn't that keen on the idea.
Esperanza tries to lock up and control but Congo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Esperanza is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Esperanza showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Esperanza has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Esperanza!