PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Esperanza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Ken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jimmy Esperanza has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Esperanza
vs
Ken

187 cm
19
220 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

197 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimmy Esperanza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Don Ken!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ken throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Don Ken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esperanza wants to clinch up but Ken keeps it at a distance.
Ken is looking to chop away at Esperanza's legs.
Esperanza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ken swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ken clinches but Esperanza breaks the clinch

and Esperanza moves into the clinch.
Ken is trying to maintain a safe position but Esperanza gets an underhook and turns Ken into the cage.
Ken is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ken drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ken is trying to break the clinch but Esperanza has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Esperanza pulls guard.
Ken really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Esperanza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ken accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ken postures up.
Ken content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Ken drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Esperanza dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ken looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esperanza is one step ahead there.
Ken keeping moving, preventing Esperanza from controlling successfully.
Ken can't keep his opponent in guard - Esperanza advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ken looks like he's trying to stand up.
Esperanza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ken keeps working.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Esperanza shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ken as he avoids it easily.
Esperanza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ken looks for a takedown but Esperanza sprawls well.
Ken moves in looking to clinch but Esperanza pushes him off.

Ken changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Esperanza looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ken creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Esperanza is trying to control Ken's posture but Ken avoids it.
Ken wants to control but Esperanza is keeping him busy.
Ken looks gassed!
Esperanza avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ken.
Esperanza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Esperanza wants to control but Ken postures up.
Ken wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esperanza keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ken fails with the takedown
and Esperanza counters with a big head kick but Ken shrugs it off.

Ken is rocked!
Jimmy Esperanza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Ken.
Ken avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Esperanza is looking to clinch but Ken is avoiding it.
Esperanza tries to clinch but Ken is having none of it.
Ken circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ken fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Esperanza is looking to clinch but Ken is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Esperanza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Esperanza throws a head kick but Ken moves out of range.
Ken misses with a low kick as Esperanza jumps back.
Esperanza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ken scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Esperanza struggling a bit here.
Esperanza manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ken's best efforts.
Esperanza wants to improve his position but Ken is controlling well.
Esperanza is working hard here to advance position.
Ken controlling the action here.
Ken is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ken is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Esperanza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ken.
Esperanza is looking to control Ken's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Esperanza avoid being mounted?
Esperanza is pressing down on Ken's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Esperanza working for a triangle but Ken defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ken passes Esperanza's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Esperanza is refusing to be controlled, as Ken sits in half guard.
Esperanza wants to improve his position but Ken is controlling well.
Ken is just content to waste time from the top position. Esperanza takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ken wants to get up but he can't break Esperanza's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ken!
Esperanza fails to move to back control.
Ken holds on, trying desperately to control.
Esperanza avoids the attempt from Ken to control.

Ken bucks up and throws Esperanza to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Esperanza looks for a takedown but Ken sprawls well.
Esperanza wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza moves in looking to clinch but Ken pushes him off.
Ken tries to clinch there but Esperanza circles away.
Ken misses with a takedown attempt - Esperanza sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ken shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ken tries to free his leg and advance position but Esperanza is retaining full guard.
Esperanza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ken controls the pace.
Ken slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Ken showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ken misses with a double jab.
Ken shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Esperanza counters by clinching up.
Ken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Esperanza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Esperanza looking for a takedown.
Ken avoiding damage as Esperanza throws knees to the body.
Ken tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jimmy Esperanza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Ken.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esperanza is trying to maintain a safe position but Ken gets an underhook and turns Esperanza into the cage.
Ken is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esperanza throws an elbow but it misses.
Ken wants to break free but Esperanza has control.
Ken takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Esperanza drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ken gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Esperanza keeps control of Ken as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ken is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Esperanza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ken jumps guard but Esperanza stands there with Ken around his waist. Ken gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ken tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Esperanza smiles and moves away.
Esperanza tries to clinch up.
Esperanza lands a high kick!
Ken throws a head kick that misses.
Esperanza fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ken swats away the attempt to clinch by Esperanza.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ken.
Esperanza is looking to clinch.
Esperanza looks to clinch

and Ken counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Don Ken has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ken trying to control the position from guard on top but Esperanza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ken gets to his feet. Esperanza looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ken is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esperanza moves in looking to clinch but Ken pushes him off.
Nice sprawl there from Esperanza as Ken shoots in.
Ken fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ken shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Esperanza as he avoids it easily.
Esperanza tries to clinch up.
Esperanza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ken paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ken shoots for a takedown but Esperanza saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Esperanza throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ken is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ken fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Esperanza tries to clinch up but Ken circles away and keeps his distance.
Esperanza tries to clinch there but Ken circles away.
Ken wants to clinch
and Esperanza counters with a good, hard body kick but Ken shrugs it off.
Esperanza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Esperanza fails in his attempt to 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.
I think Esperanza has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

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