PBP Commentary

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

Esperanza
vs
Mailov

187 cm
30
222 lbs
23 - 21 - 0

193 cm
31
209 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 23 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jimmy Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Mailov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mailov cracks Esperanza with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mailov throws a jab when Esperanza was well out of range.
Mailov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Esperanza takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Esperanza takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mailov is looking to chop away at Esperanza's legs.
Esperanza fails to land the takedown.
Esperanza connects with a high kick.
Esperanza moves in looking to clinch but Mailov pushes him off.
Esperanza misses with a head kick.
Esperanza misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Esperanza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mailov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Esperanza checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Esperanza throws a series of punches but Mailov avoids them all with ease.
Esperanza shoots in looking for a takedown but Mailov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Esperanza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mailov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Esperanza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mailov is fending him off so far but Esperanza persists. Nope, Mailov circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Esperanza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esperanza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esperanza just misses with a punch to the body.
Esperanza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jimmy Esperanza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esperanza throws the left hand but Mailov avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza fails with the takedown.
Mailov throws a leg kick but Esperanza moved away.
Mailov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Esperanza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mailov.
Esperanza thows a left - swing and a miss!
Esperanza swings for the body but Mailov moves out of range.
Esperanza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mailov.
Esperanza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esperanza lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mailov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Mailov as Esperanza shoots in.
Esperanza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mailov cracks Esperanza with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mailov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Esperanza misses with a head kick.
Esperanza moves in looking to clinch but Mailov pushes him off.
Esperanza shoots in looking for a takedown. Mailov tries to sprawl out of it but Esperanza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mailov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Esperanza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mailov ducks under a wild hook from Esperanza.
Esperanza scores with a nice strike.
Mailov stuffs the takedown attempt from Esperanza. Esperanza gets slowly back to his feet.
Esperanza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mailov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Esperanza has time to react.
Mailov cracks Esperanza with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mailov motions for Esperanza to come forward. Mailov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Esperanza lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jimmy Esperanza will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mailov lands with a thumping leg kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mailov enables Esperanza to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mailov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Esperanza wanted to stand there but Mailov had control of the position.
Mailov wants to sweep here but Esperanza controlling him for the moment.
Esperanza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Esperanza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mailov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mailov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Esperanza's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jimmy Esperanza wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Esperanza shoots in for a double leg but Mailov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Esperanza pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Esperanza shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mailov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Esperanza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Esperanza drives through with a takedown into Mailov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mailov keeping moving, preventing Esperanza from controlling successfully.
Esperanza wanted to stand there but Mailov had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mailov wants to get back to his feet but Esperanza is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Esperanza looking to pass the guard.
Mailov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Esperanza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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!
Mailov keeping moving, preventing Esperanza from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mailov trying to keep a closed guard but Esperanza is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Esperanza shoots in for a takedown but Mailov shows good takedown defense.
A shot to the liver by Mailov. Beautiful body shot.
Esperanza fails to land with a series of punches.
Mailov takes a swing at Esperanza's ribcage but misses.
Esperanza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mailov ducks under a wild hook from Esperanza.
Mailov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mailov. That's going to slow Esperanza down.
A jab from Esperanza finds it's way through Mailov's defenses.
Jimmy Esperanza is winning the standup battle so far.
Mailov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Esperanza is looking to clinch but Mailov is avoiding it.
Esperanza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mailov tries to avoid it but Esperanza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mailov to the ground. Mailov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Esperanza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mailov lands an overhand right.
Esperanza shoots in for a double leg but Mailov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Esperanza throws a hook but Mailov avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mailov misses with a low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Mailov. No joy for Esperanza on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Esperanza dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mailov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Esperanza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mailov.
No joy there for Esperanza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mailov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mailov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esperanza.
Esperanza staying out of range there.

Esperanza fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mailov sprawls well initially but Esperanza persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Esperanza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Esperanza trying to control the action but Mailov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esperanza performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mailov trying to control but Esperanza postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jimmy Esperanza.
Mailov moves forwards but Esperanza connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mailov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Esperanza waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mailov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esperanza closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Esperanza lands in his opponent's guard.

Mailov wriggles free and stands up.
Mailov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esperanza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mailov.
Mailov throws a shot from downtown. Esperanza moves away and avoids it.
Jimmy Esperanza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mailov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Esperanza checks a leg kick nicely.
Maxim Mailov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mailov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esperanza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mailov avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Esperanza misses the target.
Esperanza fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Esperanza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esperanza is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mailov.
Mailov defending well as Esperanza loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Mailov.
Mailov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Esperanza shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mailov defends it nicely.
Esperanza tries a head kick but it misses.
Esperanza throws a jab when Mailov was well out of range.
Mailov throws a shot from downtown. Esperanza moves away and avoids it.
Jimmy Esperanza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mailov is looking to chop away at Esperanza's legs.
Esperanza misses with a lunging right hand
and Esperanza takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Esperanza moves into the clinch.

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.
Well Esperanza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Esperanza!
A relieved looking Jimmy Esperanza thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.