PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Prince Naz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Esperanza
vs
Naz

187 cm
26
213 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

195 cm
25
200 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmy Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Prince Naz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Esperanza clinches with his opponent.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Esperanza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Naz avoids a wild elbow strike from Esperanza.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Naz wants a takedown.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Naz is blocking nicely.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but Naz blocks it.
Esperanza scores a nice knee to the body.
Esperanza with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Esperanza tries to land knees in the clinch but Naz avoids the damage to the body.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Naz is blocking nicely.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.
Esperanza misses with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Esperanza.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but Naz blocks it.

Naz has hold of one of Esperanza's legs. Esperanza is fighting the takedown attempt but Naz gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Naz throwing strikes but missing.

Naz stands and steps away. Esperanza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esperanza rushes Naz and presses him up against the cage.
Come on Esperanza - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Naz dodges an elbow strike from Esperanza.
Esperanza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Esperanza is breathing heavily.

Naz wants the takedown. Esperanza is fighting it off but Naz persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Esperanza's guard against the cage.
Naz wants to control from the top but Esperanza keeps moving.

Naz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Esperanza manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Naz has Esperanza in his guard.

Naz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Esperanza doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Esperanza manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naz wants to sweep but no luck.
Naz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Naz has an active guard here but Esperanza has managed to pass into half guard.
Esperanza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Naz defending well though.
Naz tries to get to full guard but Esperanza has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Esperanza is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Esperanza is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Naz tries to roll over but Esperanza keeps him under control.
Esperanza looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Naz wants to improve his position but Esperanza is controlling well.
Esperanza is thwarting Naz's attempts to control the position.
Naz tries to get to full guard but Esperanza has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Esperanza trying to control the action but Naz is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jimmy Esperanza wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Naz has his takedown stuffed

and Esperanza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Esperanza.
Esperanza scores with a knee to the head.
Esperanza lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Naz backwards.
Esperanza misses with a knee to the head.
Esperanza lands a nice knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Esperanza.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but Naz blocks with his arms.
Esperanza gets underhooks to prevent Naz's takedown attempt.
Jimmy Esperanza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Prince Naz.
A knee to the head by Esperanza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Esperanza dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Esperanza gets a clinch.
Esperanza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Naz is working for takedown but Esperanza is calmly controlling the position for now.
Esperanza unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Esperanza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Esperanza tries to land a knee to the head but Naz blocks with his arms.
Esperanza misses with a knee to the head.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.
Naz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esperanza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Naz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Naz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Esperanza prevents it.
Esperanza stops a takedown attempt from Naz.
Jimmy Esperanza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Prince Naz.
Esperanza looking to stall.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza misses with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Esperanza scores with a nice short uppercut.
Naz managing to block the knees to the body from Esperanza.
Esperanza is trying to stall.
Naz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esperanza looking to throw knees to the head but Naz is blocking nicely.
Esperanza throws an elbow that misses.
Esperanza content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Esperanza misses with a knee strike.
Esperanza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Naz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Esperanza gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Naz blocking some punches.
Esperanza connects with a nasty looking knee right to Naz's face.

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.
Naz looking for a takedown.

Esperanza ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Esperanza no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Esperanza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Naz stands and throws Esperanza's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Naz fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Naz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Naz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Esperanza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Esperanza is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Naz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Naz in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Esperanza tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Naz!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Prince Naz!