PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Christian Knowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ace Espinoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Knowles comes into the arena with Chris Knowles blaring out of the sound system. Christian Knowles had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. 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.

Knowles
vs
Espinoza

225 cm
25
225 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

193 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

RAW Nutrition * Recovery 159 : 60$ *
1337 ANZAC

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Knowles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ace Espinoza!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Espinoza throws a head kick that misses.
Espinoza throws a low kick but it's checked well by Knowles.
Espinoza pivots, looking for a leg kick but Knowles is out of range and Espinoza settles back down.
No joy there for Espinoza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Espinoza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knowles connects with a nice looking jab.
Espinoza slips a straight right by Knowles.
Espinoza fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Knowles checks a leg kick.
Knowles throws a series of punches but Espinoza avoids them all with ease.
Knowles throws out a loose jab but Espinoza uses good head movement to avoid it.

Espinoza has taken the fight to the clinch.
Espinoza trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Espinoza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knowles throws the left hand but Espinoza avoids the punch easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Espinoza.

Espinoza has managed to clinch.
Knowles misses with a knee strike.
Knowles wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Espinoza has him pressed against the cage.
Espinoza has Knowles pressed against the cage, preventing Knowles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knowles using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Espinoza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Espinoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the head but Espinoza blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knowles.
Espinoza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Espinoza lands an elbow just above Knowles 's eye.
Espinoza tries to land knees in the clinch but Knowles avoids the damage to the body.
Knowles scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Espinoza with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knowles is looking to break free of the clinch but Espinoza has double underhooks.

Knowles breaks the clinch.
A low kick from Knowles misses
and Espinoza counters with a nice low kick that buckles Knowles's knee momentarily.
Espinoza pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Espinoza closes the distance and pushes Knowles back into the cage.
Knowles can't find room to land a body shot as Espinoza controls the action.
Knowles really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Espinoza breaks the clinch.
Espinoza throws a body kick that misses.

Espinoza gets a clinch.
Espinoza misses with a knee strike.
Espinoza jumps guard but Knowles stands there with Espinoza around his waist. Espinoza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knowles blocks the elbow strike.
Espinoza's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Knowles being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knowles on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Espinoza struggles to land a body shot inside as Knowles controls his hands.
Espinoza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Knowles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knowles prevents a body shot from Espinoza.
Espinoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Knowles blocks it with crossed arms.
Knowles working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but Knowles blocks with his arms.
Knowles is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Espinoza looks gassed!
Knowles connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ace Espinoza has been cut.
Espinoza unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knowles working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Espinoza with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knowles misses with an elbow over the top.
A short left from Knowles.
Espinoza crunches a lovely knee into Knowles's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Espinoza as Knowles tries to tie him up.
Knowles dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Espinoza takes a shot to the head.
Espinoza stalling the fight.
Espinoza managing to block the knees to the body from Knowles.
Knowles blocking some punches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Espinoza.
Knowles tries to circle away but Espinoza has him pinned against the cage.
Espinoza blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Espinoza unloads a knee to the mid-section. Knowles lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Espinoza throws a punch but it's blocked by Knowles.
Espinoza putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Knowles in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knowles misses with a knee strike.
Espinoza stalls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ace Espinoza dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ace Espinoza's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Espinoza lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Knowles checks a leg kick.

Espinoza darts in and clinches Knowles up against the cage.
Knowles scores with a knee to the head.
Espinoza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knowles takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Christian Knowles has been cut.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Espinoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Knowles blocks it with crossed arms.
Come on Espinoza - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Knowles tries a knee to the head but Espinoza blocks it.
Espinoza with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knowles lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Espinoza has a couple of punches blocked by Knowles.

Knowles breaks from the clinch.
That kick from Espinoza tenderised Knowles's leg. Knowles is trying to keep his angry face on.
Espinoza takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Espinoza takes the fight into the clinch.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the head but Espinoza blocks with his arms.
Espinoza wants to stall.
Espinoza tries a knee to the head but Knowles blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Espinoza.
Knowles lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Espinoza managing to block the knees to the body from Knowles.

Knowles breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knowles scores with a kick to the midsection.

Espinoza clinches.
Espinoza connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knowles throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Knowles tries to stall but Espinoza uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Espinoza avoids it.
Espinoza tries a knee to the head but Knowles blocks it.
Knowles on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Espinoza misses with a body punch.
Espinoza connects with a nasty looking knee right to Knowles's face.

Knowles is rocked!
Ace Espinoza seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Espinoza tries a knee to the head but Knowles blocks it.
Oh Knowles is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Espinoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knowles takes an elbow to the forehead.
Espinoza is breathing heavily.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knowles.
Espinoza misses with a knee to the head.
Espinoza lands a damaging elbow.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but Knowles blocks with his arms.
Espinoza putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Knowles in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Espinoza keeps control of Knowles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Espinoza controlling the action here for a moment.
Espinoza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Knowles has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Espinoza lands a knee to the head.
Espinoza misses with a short punch on the inside.
Espinoza looking to throw knees to the head but Knowles is blocking nicely.
Knowles wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Espinoza throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Espinoza tries a knee to the head but Knowles blocks it.
Knowles trying to land knees to the body.
Knowles misses with a knee to the head.
Espinoza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knowles just stands there and leans against the cage.
Espinoza dodges an elbow strike from Knowles.
Espinoza looking to stall.
Knowles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the head but Espinoza blocks with his arms.
Knowles dodges an elbow strike from Espinoza.
Espinoza lands a nice knee to the body.
Knowles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Espinoza is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Knowles to keep the fight standing.
Espinoza tries a knee to the head but Knowles blocks it.
Espinoza tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knowles just stands there and leans against the cage.
Christian Knowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ace Espinoza.
Knowles with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Espinoza jumps guard.
Knowles postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knowles wants to control from the top but Espinoza keeps moving.
Knowles wants to get up but he can't break Espinoza's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Knowles looking to pass the guard.
Knowles seems to have got his legs back now.
Espinoza is pulling down on Knowles's head. It's preventing any offense from Knowles, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Christian Knowles wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Knowles on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Knowles steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Espinoza.

Espinoza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knowles, pushing him back against the cage.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Espinoza in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Espinoza avoids it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knowles is trying to break the clinch but Espinoza has him pressed against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Espinoza.
Knowles unloads a knee to the mid-section. Espinoza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ace Espinoza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Espinoza wants to land a leg kick but Knowles is out of range.
Espinoza misses with a head kick.
A lazy left from Knowles finds it's target.
Espinoza misses with a low kick.
Espinoza scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Espinoza throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Knowles swings for the body but Espinoza moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knowles tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knowles misses with an elbow over the top.

Knowles breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza throws a sloppy head kick and Knowles moves out of range easily.
Espinoza throws a head kick but Knowles moves out of range.
Espinoza throws a lazy head kick
and Knowles counters with a nice leg kick.
Espinoza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Espinoza closes the distance and clinches.
Knowles throws a knee to the head but misses.
Espinoza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knowles has him pressed against the cage.

Knowles breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Espinoza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Espinoza misses with a leg kick
and Knowles counters with an inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Espinoza there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Knowles feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Espinozas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza lands a head kick. Knowles smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Knowles is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Espinoza, right into the meat.
Espinoza is looking to slow Knowles down with leg kicks.
Knowles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Knowles misses.
Espinoza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ace Espinoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Knowles gets tackled into the cage by Espinoza. Espinoza maintains the clinch.
Knowles is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Espinoza trying to land knees to the body.

Espinoza successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza is trying to control the position but Knowles postures up.
Espinoza is adopting a defensive guard.
Knowles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Christian Knowles has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Espinoza drives through and clinches with Knowles against the cage.
Knowles avoids a wild elbow strike from Espinoza.
Espinoza blocks the elbow strike.
Knowles tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knowles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Espinoza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Knowles checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza lands a leg kick that knocks Knowles off balance momentarily.
Espinoza tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Knowles tries to keep at a distance but Espinoza has taken the fight into the clinch.
Knowles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Christian Knowles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knowles misses with a knee strike.

Knowles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knowles moves out of range of the leg kick from Espinoza.
Knowles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Espinoza moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knowles pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ace Espinoza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ace Espinoza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knowles tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ace Espinoza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Espinoza 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ace Espinoza!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Ace Espinoza made sure he mentioned RAW Nutrition * Recovery 159 : 60$ *, along with how happy he was to win his fight.