PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Prince Melo Gapuz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavlo Esca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Prince Melo Gapuz looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Melo Gapuz
vs
Esca

187 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

189 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Infliction Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Prince Melo Gapuz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pavlo Esca!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esca throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gapuz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Gapuz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Esca as he avoids it easily.
No luck for Gapuz with that takedown attempt.

Esca changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gapuz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Esca tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esca scoring with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esca is putting a hurting on Gapuz here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gapuz tries to bench press Esca off him but Esca keeps the position.
Esca working the head with strikes.
Esca scoring with punches and elbows.
Esca creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gapuz tries to bench press Esca off him but Esca keeps the position.
Esca scores with punches from side control.
Esca throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Esca is chipping away with strikes.
Gapuz is looking to reverse the position.
Esca really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gapuz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gapuz dodges the ground and pound from Esca.
Esca cracks Gapuz with a big right hand but Gapuz just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Esca grinds an elbow into Gapuz's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esca looks up at the clock and then as Gapuz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Esca smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Esca working the head and body with strikes.
Esca tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Esca postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Esca lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gapuz down.
Gapuz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gapuz defending against the ground and pound.
Esca tries to move to mount but Gapuz blocks the move with his legs.
Gapuz tries to improve position but can't.
Esca in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Esca landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Esca in side control, throwing shots but Gapuz defends.
Gapuz gets back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Esca connects with a nice short shot to Gapuz's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz landing strikes from the bottom.
Gapuz gets full guard.
Gapuz keeping full guard, as Esca tries to pass.
Gapuz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gapuz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Esca missing with punches from the bottom.
Esca landing small, sideways elbows.
Esca moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Esca throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Esca tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Esca tries to strike from the bottom.
Esca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gapuz is one step ahead there.
Esca tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Esca scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Esca landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Esca lands a decent elbow from side control.
Esca is working Gapuz over with some ground and pound from side control.
Esca looks up at the clock and then as Gapuz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Esca smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Esca lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ground and pound from Esca seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Esca scores with punches from side control.
Gapuz tries to buck Esca off but Esca is having none of it.
Esca lands some shots froms side control.
Gapuz tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Gapuz wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Gapuz throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Esca lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esca misses with a takedown

so Gapuz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Esca tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Esca manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gapuz manages to get himself to full guard.
Gapuz looking for a sweep. Not yet Gapuz, not yet.
Esca scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esca with a flurry of punches that miss.
Esca working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gapuz's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esca throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Esca with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Esca is pushing down on Gapuz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gapuz is fighting to maintain full guard but Esca has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gapuz tries to roll over but Esca keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavlo Esca dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Esca shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Esca has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gapuz's face.
Gapuz avoids a series of strikes thrown by Esca.
Esca looking to finish with strikes here!
Esca scoring with strikes but Gapuz is staying in there.
Esca raining down shots from the mount!
Gapuz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Esca is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Esca in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gapuz is working to get back to half guard.
Esca lands a big shot there that rocks Gapuz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esca dominating with strikes here.
Gapuz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gapuz holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Esca tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gapuz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Esca lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gapuz is trying desperately to improve position.
Esca looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gapuz regains half guard.
Esca tries to pass to full mount but Gapuz defends it.
Esca throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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.
Esca lands with a punch from half guard.
Esca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gapuz's head.
Esca seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Esca working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Esca not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Esca not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gapuz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Esca.
Nice strikes from Esca there.
Gapuz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gapuz taking some punishment here, with Esca in his half guard.
Esca thows a huge punch but Gapuz dodges it nicely.
Esca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gapuz's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Esca darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Esca wants to free his trapped foot but Gapuz is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gapuz wants to improve his position but Esca is controlling well.
Esca wants to pass to mount but Gapuz is defending the position.
Esca is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Esca throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gapuz gets full guard.
Esca wants to pass the guard but Gapuz is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Esca closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gapuz takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Esca scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esca working the ground and pound.
Gapuz is trying to get back to half guard.
Gapuz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Esca works his foot free and advances to mount.
Pavlo Esca has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gapuz in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Esca lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gapuz hang on?
Gapuz avoids a series of strikes thrown by Esca.
Gapuz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gapuz is looking to improve his position but Esca isn't that keen on the idea.
Gapuz in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavlo Esca showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Esca shoots and misses

and Gapuz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gapuz preventing the sweep.
Gapuz lands a couple of digs.
Esca doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Esca tries to strike from the bottom.
Esca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gapuz is one step ahead there.
Esca trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Esca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gapuz is one step ahead there.
Esca manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gapuz manages to get himself to full guard.
Esca postures up and lands a big shot to Gapuz's brow.
Gapuz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Esca!
Gapuz landing strikes from the mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gapuz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Esca hang on?
Esca wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gapuz.
A nice elbow there by Gapuz.
A nice elbow there by Gapuz.
Esca is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gapuz landing shots from mount.
Gapuz lands a heavy elbow.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Esca can do anything to dispel that myth.
Esca keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gapuz working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esca is desperately trying to improve his position but Gapuz has a good base and remains in mount.
Esca throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gapuz. What's that going to do exactly?
Esca is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Esca regains half guard.
Esca missing with punches from the bottom.
Esca misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Esca makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Esca.
Gapuz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gapuz throwing strikes from guard but Esca blocks nicely.
Esca manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz is looking to improve his position but Esca isn't that keen on the idea.
Esca scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Esca cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gapuz is working to get back to half guard.
Esca raining down shots from the mount!
Esca looking to finish Gapuz with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gapuz!
Gapuz has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gapuz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Esca cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Esca scoring with strikes but Gapuz is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Esca throws some wild stikes that Gapuz manages to avoid easily.
Gapuz regains half guard.
Esca drops an elbow to the side of Gapuz's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Esca connects with a nice short shot to Gapuz's temple.
Gapuz is looking to improve his position.
Esca seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Esca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Esca not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gapuz moves into full guard.
Esca postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esca passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Esca lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Prince Melo Gapuz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Esca 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavlo Esca!