PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Rough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rough
vs
Esperanza

180 cm
22
206 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

187 cm
26
213 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jim Rough!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmy Esperanza!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rough misses with a takedown attempt

and Esperanza counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Esperanza taking a breather.
Rough tries to pull guard but Esperanza holds him up against the cage and eventually Rough drops back down to his feet.
Esperanza with a knee to the head.

It looks like Jim Rough has been cut.
Esperanza connects with a knee to the head.
Rough tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Rough. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rough jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Esperanza walks away with a smile on his face. Rough gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Esperanza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Esperanza content to control rather than advance.
Esperanza's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Rough actively working from the bottom here.
Esperanza controlling the action here.

Rough is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Esperanza pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Rough looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rough actively working from the bottom here.
Rough is breathing heavily.
Esperanza trying to control the pace.
Rough avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Esperanza.
Esperanza content to control rather than advance.

Rough looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Esperanza lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rough actively working from the bottom here.
Esperanza landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Rough actively working from the bottom here.
Esperanza sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rough has hold of Esperanza's hands but Esperanza slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rough is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Esperanza tries to stand and escape but Rough is controlling the position.
Ground and pound from Esperanza.
Esperanza takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Esperanza has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Esperanza frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rough is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza controlling the pace for now.
Rough looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Esperanza controlling from the back.
Esperanza is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Esperanza gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Esperanza gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Esperanza apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Rough dives in and scores a takedown into Esperanza's guard.
Esperanza trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Esperanza is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rough tries to free his leg and advance position but Esperanza is retaining full guard.
Rough preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza pulls Rough in to control the position.

Esperanza pushes Rough off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rough misses with a takedown attempt
and Esperanza counters with a leg kick.

Esperanza drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rough being controlled here, momentarily.
Esperanza forces his way into half guard.

Rough looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rough has a hand on Esperanza's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Esperanza takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Esperanza takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Esperanza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Rough's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Esperanza gets a clinch.
Rough fails to pull guard.
Rough wants a takedown but no success here.
Rough fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Rough. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esperanza with a knee to the head.
Rough changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Esperanza fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Esperanza takes the fight into the clinch.
Rough changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Esperanza fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rough manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Esperanza on his heels. He'll look to pass Esperanza's guard now, I'm sure.
Rough wants to pass the guard but Esperanza is keeping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

Esperanza pushes Rough off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esperanza closes the distance and clinches.
Esperanza with a knee to the head.

Rough is fighting off a takedown attempt but Esperanza is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rough to the mat. Rough regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Esperanza stands up and waves to Rough to follow him.

Esperanza darts in and clinches Rough up against the cage.
Esperanza landing knees to the body.

Esperanza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rough misses with a takedown

and Esperanza counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Esperanza is pushing Rough 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 connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rough's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Esperanza prevents the takedown attempt.
Rough takes a knee right on the jaw!
Esperanza leaning against his opponent.

Esperanza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rough tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jim Rough is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Esperanza scores with a head kick. Rough tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esperanza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rough misses with a takedown attempt

and Esperanza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Esperanza.
Rough letting Esperanza take a breather here.

Esperanza decides to pull guard.
Rough looking to pass the guard.

Rough drops back, looking for a kneebar! Esperanza looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Esperanza looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Esperanza!
A lull in the action here as Esperanza stalls from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rough is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Esperanza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rough has escaped the position, nice work there.
Esperanza moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rough is trying to get back to half guard.

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 controls the position.
Esperanza gets to mount! Rough was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rough is working to get back to half guard.
Esperanza content just to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esperanza landing strikes from the mount.
Esperanza lands a big elbow.
Rough looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Esperanza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jim Rough's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rough shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Esperanza counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Esperanza's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Esperanza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rough has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esperanza has managed to get both his arms back between Rough's legs - danger averted.
Esperanza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Esperanza controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Esperanza scoring with some ground and pound.

Rough escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Esperanza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Esperanza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Rough is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Esperanza is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rough looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Esperanza controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Esperanza wants to stand but Rough is controlling his posture from full guard.
Esperanza forces his way into half guard.
Esperanza takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rough slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Rough had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esperanza defends it easily.
Esperanza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Esperanza stays in close to Rough's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esperanza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Esperanza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Esperanza controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Esperanza advances to half guard.
Jimmy Esperanza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Esperanza perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Rough is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Esperanza pulls his head out easily.

Rough looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza works his foot free and advances to mount.
Esperanza controlling from the full mount.
Jimmy Esperanza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Esperanza putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rough is looking to improve his position but Esperanza isn't that keen on the idea.
Esperanza looking to finish Rough with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rough!
Esperanza controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rough tries to reverse the position but Esperanza maintains control.
Esperanza manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rough to take his back!
Good control from Esperanza.
Esperanza is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Rough. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Esperanza is riding his opponent, not letting Rough buck him off.

Rough is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Esperanza gets his way!
Esperanza is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Jim Rough has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rough is trying to get back to his feet but Esperanza has full control of the position and if anything, Rough has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Esperanza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Esperanza has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

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