PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Coulton Maguire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Esperanza
vs
Maguire

187 cm
23
220 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

187 cm
25
216 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimmy Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Coulton Maguire!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Esperanza clinches up with Maguire and pushes him back against the cage.
Esperanza scores with a shoulder strike.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Esperanza is trying to stall.
Esperanza missing with knees to the body.
Maguire lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
Esperanza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maguire lands an elbow that stopped Esperanza in his tracks for a moment.
Maguire tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A hook to the body from Esperanza.
Esperanza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maguire lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maguire lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
Maguire dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Maguire throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Esperanza landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Esperanza working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esperanza using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Maguire misses with the head strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Esperanza connects with a knee to the head.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Maguire tries a knee to the head but Esperanza blocks it.
Nice body punch from Esperanza - that landed with a thud.
Maguire looks gassed!
Esperanza misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maguire.
A right handed body shot lands from Maguire.
Maguire is leaning against Esperanza and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Maguire has a couple of punches blocked by Esperanza.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza takes an elbow to the temple.
Esperanza landing knees to the head.
Maguire is working Esperanza over against the cage.
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 Maguire walks away with a smile on his face. Esperanza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Esperanza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Coulton Maguire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Esperanza swats away the attempt to clinch by Maguire.
Esperanza circles away from the clinch attempt
and Esperanza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Esperanza tries to clinch up but Maguire circles away and keeps his distance.
Maguire keeps the fight on the outside.
Esperanza scores with a decent looking hook.

Esperanza clinches with his opponent.
Maguire creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Maguire lands a nice shot to the body.
Esperanza connects with a knee to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Maguire.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esperanza.
Maguire misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Esperanza.
Esperanza lands an elbow that stopped Maguire in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maguire working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Esperanza letting Maguire take a breather here.
Maguire misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esperanza looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Maguire - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Maguire lands an uppercut.
Esperanza tries to pull guard but Maguire won't allow it.
Maguire misses with a punch on the inside.
Maguire lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Esperanza.
Esperanza blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Maguire on the inside.
Maguire lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maguire pushes Esperanza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Esperanza lands an elbow just above Maguire 's eye.
Maguire is looking to control Esperanza's arms but Esperanza gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maguire has his back to the cage.
Maguire lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Esperanza throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maguires head.
Maguire managing to block the knees to the body from Esperanza.

Esperanza pulls guard successfully.
Esperanza controls Maguire momentarily but Maguire frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Esperanza is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maguire manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Esperanza is looking to improve his position but Maguire isn't that keen on the idea.
Esperanza wants to control but Maguire is having none of it.
Esperanza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Esperanza is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maguire sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Esperanza keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maguire controlling from mount.
Esperanza sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Esperanza is trying to get back to full guard.
Maguire content to control rather than advance.
Esperanza trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Coulton Maguire will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Esperanza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maguire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Esperanza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maguire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Esperanza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maguire scores with a hook.
Esperanza tries to clinch up.
Esperanza takes one on the button.
Maguire swats away the attempt to clinch by Esperanza.
Maguire tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Esperanza counters with a head kick. That will keep Maguire thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maguire fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maguire tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Esperanza counters with an inside leg kick.
Esperanza is looking to clinch but Maguire is avoiding it.

Esperanza drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maguire sneaks out the side door and pushes Esperanza away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Maguire circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maguire wants to clinch

and Esperanza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Esperanza.
Esperanza lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Esperanza managing to block the knees to the body from Maguire.
Esperanza wants to stall.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Esperanza connects with a knee to the head.
Esperanza with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Esperanza connects with a knee to the head.
Esperanza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short body shot lands from Maguire as the two fighters clinch.
Maguire avoiding damage.
Maguire connects with a nasty looking knee right to Esperanza's face.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but Maguire blocks with his arms.
Maguire presses Esperanza against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maguire lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maguire stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A body shot lands from Maguire.
Maguire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maguire working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Maguire with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Esperanza is trying to maintain a safe position but Maguire gets an underhook and turns Esperanza into the cage.
Maguire throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Maguire fails to land.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maguire.
Esperanza blocks an uppercut.
Esperanza missing with knees to the body.
Maguire scores with a shot to the side of Esperanza's head.
Esperanza is trying to stall.
Maguire is looking to control Esperanza's arms but Esperanza gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maguire has his back to the cage.
Maguire working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Maguire blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A body shot lands from Maguire.
Maguire makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Esperanza tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Maguire lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Maguire lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
Maguire trying to stall but Esperanza improves his position.
Maguire is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Esperanza has denied him.
Maguire lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Esperanza or not.
Esperanza lands an elbow inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maguire makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Maguire as the two fighters clinch.
Maguire tries a knee to the head but Esperanza blocks it.
Maguire lands a right hand.
Esperanza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maguire has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Maguire just misses with a elbow thrown towards Esperanza's brow.
Esperanza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Coulton Maguire seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Maguire scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esperanza connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maguire's face.
Maguire lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Maguire on the inside.
Esperanza misses with an elbow over the top.
Maguire lands a body shot in the clinch.
Maguire misses with a knee to the head.
Maguire lands a nice uppercut.
Maguire 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.
Esperanza putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maguire in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Esperanza is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esperanza throws an elbow but misses.
Maguire working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Maguire lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
Maguire presses Esperanza against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Maguire tries to stall but Esperanza uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Maguire just misses with a elbow thrown towards Esperanza's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Esperanza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Esperanza closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Esperanza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maguire wants to get back to his feet.
Esperanza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Esperanza looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Esperanza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Esperanza missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maguire wants to control but Esperanza is keeping busy.
Esperanza wants to free his trapped foot but Maguire is holding on for dear life with his legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maguire clinches but Esperanza breaks the clinch

and Esperanza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Esperanza.
Esperanza misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Coulton Maguire will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 closes the distance but Maguire moves to the side

and Maguire counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maguire misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esperanza lands a good knee to the midsection. Maguire won't want to take too many of those.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esperanza.
A hook to the body from Maguire.
Esperanza landing knees to the body.
Maguire lands a knee to the body.
Esperanza fails to pull guard.
Esperanza stalls.
Esperanza lands an elbow inside that Maguire shrugs off.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.
Maguire lands a left hand.
Esperanza blocks an elbow strike.
Maguire tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esperanza scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Esperanza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Esperanza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maguire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
An inside leg kick from Esperanza misses.
Esperanza tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Maguire counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maguire misses with a body punch.
Maguire takes a knee to the side of the body.
Maguire makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Maguire goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maguire trying to stall but Esperanza improves his position.
Esperanza working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Esperanza jumps guard but Maguire stands there with Esperanza around his waist. Esperanza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maguire stalling in the clinch but Esperanza improves position.
Esperanza using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Esperanza with a knee to the head.
Maguire throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Esperanza lands an elbow just above Maguire 's eye.
Maguire gets through Esperanza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Maguire misses with an elbow over the top.

Esperanza drags the fight down to the ground.
Esperanza is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maguire trying to control but Esperanza is working from the bottom.

Esperanza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maguire defends it easily.
Esperanza wants to sweep but no luck.
Esperanza has a closed guard, preventing Maguire from standing up.
Maguire really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Esperanza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maguire trying to control the position from guard on top but Esperanza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maguire tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Esperanza counters by moving into the clinch.
Maguire misses with some punches.

Esperanza jumps guard and drags Maguire to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

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

Maguire gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maguire fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Esperanza shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Esperanza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esperanza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jimmy Esperanza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esperanza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maguire tries to close the distance and clinch but Esperanza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maguire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A left lands for Maguire.
Maguire is looking to clinch but Esperanza is avoiding it.
Esperanza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Maguire drives through and clinches with Esperanza against the cage.
Maguire misses with a punch on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Esperanza gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Esperanza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maguire has a couple of punches blocked by Esperanza.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maguire tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maguire on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Coulton Maguire is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Esperanza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Maguire is blocking nicely.
Esperanza tries to pull guard but Maguire won't allow it.
Esperanza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maguire blocks it with crossed arms.
Maguire lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esperanza backwards.
Maguire lands a body punch in the clinch.
Maguire lands a nice elbow.
Maguire lands with a left to the head.

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 Maguire 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Coulton Maguire!