PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stanislav Jovanovitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jovanovitch has chosen Just Like You Imagined - Nine Inch Nails as his entrance music. Stanislav Jovanovitch told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Esperanza
vs
Jovanovitch

187 cm
22
220 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

195 cm
30
255 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimmy Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stanislav Jovanovitch!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jovanovitch scores with a nice right hand.
Jovanovitch stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Esperanza.
Esperanza moves in looking to clinch but Jovanovitch pushes him off.
Esperanza tries to clinch up but Jovanovitch circles away and keeps his distance.
Jovanovitch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stanislav Jovanovitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jovanovitch lands a right hook to the body.
Jovanovitch throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Esperanza closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jovanovitch did well to prevent Esperanza getting side control.
Esperanza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Esperanza is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Esperanza is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jovanovitch has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jovanovitch controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jovanovitch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jovanovitch.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esperanza wants to control from the top but Jovanovitch keeps moving.
Esperanza throws and elbow that misses. Jovanovitch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Esperanza's guard. Nice move by Jovanovitch!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esperanza looking to control.

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 tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Esperanza looking for subs off his back but Jovanovitch has passed one foot through into half guard.
Jovanovitch is controlling the pace.
Esperanza is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza wants to control but Jovanovitch is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jovanovitch seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Esperanza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jovanovitch trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jovanovitch lands a right hook to the body.
Esperanza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stanislav Jovanovitch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Esperanza is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jovanovitch sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Esperanza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jovanovitch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esperanza tries to clinch up but Jovanovitch circles away and keeps his distance.
Jovanovitch connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jovanovitch checks a low kick from Esperanza.
Jovanovitch connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jovanovitch throws a low kick but it's checked well by Esperanza.

Esperanza tries to keep at a distance but Jovanovitch has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jovanovitch scores a nice knee to the body.
Jovanovitch can't find room to land a body shot as Esperanza controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanislav Jovanovitch dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jovanovitch pushes Esperanza away with a front kick.
Esperanza tries to clinch but Jovanovitch is having none of it.
Esperanza tries to clinch but Jovanovitch moves away
and Jovanovitch counters with a stiff right hand.

Jovanovitch rushes Esperanza and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jovanovitch is looking to control Esperanza's arms but Esperanza gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jovanovitch has his back to the cage.
Jovanovitch lands an elbow just above Esperanza 's eye.
Jovanovitch connects with a nasty looking knee right to Esperanza's face.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Esperanza lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jovanovitch lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jovanovitch avoids it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esperanza just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jovanovitch's brow.
Jovanovitch throws an elbow but it misses.
Esperanza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jovanovitch managing to block the knees to the body from Esperanza.
Jovanovitch stalling against the cage.
Jovanovitch tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Esperanza avoids it.
Jovanovitch manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Jovanovitch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Esperanza blocks it with crossed arms.
Esperanza jumps guard but Jovanovitch stands there with Esperanza around his waist. Esperanza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jovanovitch looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Esperanza trying to land knees to the body.
Jovanovitch lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jovanovitch with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Esperanza gets control of Jovanovitch's arms and successfully pulls guard. Esperanza will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Jovanovitch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jovanovitch wants to pass the guard but Esperanza is keeping the position.

Esperanza has his foot on Jovanovitch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jovanovitch works his way back into a safe position though.
Esperanza wants to sweep here but Jovanovitch controlling him for the moment.
Jovanovitch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jovanovitch trying to control but Esperanza is working from the bottom.
Jovanovitch won't allow Esperanza to sweep him here.
Jovanovitch passes Esperanza's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jovanovitch prevents Esperanza from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esperanza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Esperanza wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jovanovitch changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jovanovitch scores with a nice head shot.
Esperanza tries to clinch
and Jovanovitch counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Esperanza on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Jovanovitch wants to clinch up but Esperanza keeps it at a distance.
Jimmy Esperanza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jovanovitch jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Jovanovitch moves into the clinch.
Esperanza looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Esperanza is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jovanovitch is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jovanovitch walks away with a smile on his face. Esperanza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Esperanza takes a jab right on the kisser.
Esperanza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esperanza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jovanovitch.
Jovanovitch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esperanza was well out of range. Poor timing from Jovanovitch.
Esperanza tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jovanovitch makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Jovanovitch as Esperanza shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Esperanza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jovanovitch closes the distance and clinches.
Esperanza tries to land knees in the clinch but Jovanovitch avoids the damage to the body.
Esperanza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jovanovitch is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Esperanza misses with a knee to the head.
Jovanovitch controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esperanza fails to pull guard.
Jovanovitch is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Esperanza trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanislav Jovanovitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Esperanza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Esperanza avoids the head kick by Jovanovitch.
Esperanza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jovanovitch moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Jovanovitch.
Jovanovitch trying to land knees to the body.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Jovanovitch is blocking nicely.
Esperanza with a knee to the head.
Esperanza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jovanovitch just stands there and leans against the cage.
Esperanza misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esperanza throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jovanovitch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jovanovitch taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Jovanovitch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esperanza connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jovanovitch's face.
Jovanovitch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esperanza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jovanovitch walks away with a smile on his face. Esperanza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jovanovitch changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jovanovitch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esperanza manages to avoid it.

Jovanovitch closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Esperanza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jovanovitch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Esperanza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jovanovitch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Esperanza leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jovanovitch crunches a lovely knee into Esperanza's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jovanovitch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esperanza digs a right hand into Jovanovitch's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Jovanovitch's gas tank.
Esperanza utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Esperanza misses with a knee to the head.
Stanislav Jovanovitch seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Esperanza is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jovanovitch is defending well for now.
Jovanovitch stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Esperanza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jovanovitch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jovanovitch is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Esperanza takes an elbow to the forehead.
Jovanovitch content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Jovanovitch looking to slow down the pace here.
Jovanovitch looking to throw knees to the head but Esperanza is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jovanovitch throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jovanovitch tries to land a knee to the head but Esperanza blocks with his arms.
Jovanovitch managing to block the knees to the body from Esperanza.
Jovanovitch displaying some good clinch control by pressing Esperanza up against the cage.
Jovanovitch using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jovanovitch cracks Esperanza with a nice body shot.
Jovanovitch missing with knees to the body.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Jovanovitch is blocking nicely.
Esperanza managing to block the knees to the body from Jovanovitch.
Jovanovitch misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Esperanza.
Esperanza blocking some punches.
Esperanza stalling in the clinch but Jovanovitch improves position.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jovanovitch avoids it.
Esperanza misses with a punch on the inside.
Esperanza misses with a knee to the head.
Jovanovitch takes a knee to the side of the body.
Esperanza comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Esperanza jumps guard but Jovanovitch stands there with Esperanza around his waist. Esperanza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Esperanza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jovanovitch is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Esperanza is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza pushes off an throws an elbow but Jovanovitch leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jovanovitch takes an elbow to the temple.
Jovanovitch avoids a wild elbow strike from Esperanza.
Jovanovitch tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Esperanza avoids it.
Esperanza misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jovanovitch.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jovanovitch lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Esperanza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jovanovitch has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Esperanza tries to pull guard but Jovanovitch won't allow it.
Jovanovitch is pushing Esperanza up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Esperanza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jovanovitch wants to stall.
Jovanovitch throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jovanovitch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Esperanza's elbow.
Esperanza throws an elbow that misses.
Jovanovitch trying to control the position but instead, Esperanza has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jovanovitch into the cage.
Jovanovitch missing with knees to the body.

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 managing to block the knees to the body from Jovanovitch.
Esperanza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jovanovitch just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jovanovitch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jovanovitch lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Jovanovitch taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Jovanovitch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jovanovitch leaning his opponent against the cage.
Esperanza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jovanovitch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Esperanza just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jovanovitch's brow.
Knees to the body from Esperanza.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jovanovitch as Esperanza tries to tie him up.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Jovanovitch is blocking nicely.
Jimmy Esperanza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jovanovitch lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
Jovanovitch trying to control the position but instead, Esperanza has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jovanovitch into the cage.
Esperanza tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jovanovitch smiles and moves away.

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 Jimmy Esperanza.
I think Jovanovitch has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stanislav Jovanovitch!