PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergio Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esposito's entrance music is Sukh Knight. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Esposito
vs
Souza

195 cm
35
285 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

196 cm
28
243 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Syndicate Nutrition

Crippler's Corner

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 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Esposito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergio Souza!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Souza throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Souza connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Esposito momentarily.
Esposito bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Esposito needs to keep his hands up - Souza had a free shot at his head there.
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!
Souza is looking to clinch but Esposito is avoiding it.
Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esposito.
Esposito throws a combination that misses

and Souza moves into the clinch.
Esposito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Souza lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Souza blocking some punches.
Souza lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Souza.
Esposito wants to get back to striking at distance but Souza won't allow it.

Esposito breaks from the clinch.
Souza moves away from the strike by Esposito.
Esposito fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Esposito.
Esposito cracks Souza with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Esposito misses with a hook

and Souza counters by clinching up.
Esposito lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Esposito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esposito lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.
Esposito working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Esposito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esposito throws a punch but it's blocked by Souza.
A nice right hand lands inside from Souza.
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!
Esposito stalling in the clinch but Souza improves position.
Esposito throws a head punch that misses.
Esposito is looking to control Souza's arms but Souza gets an underhook and turns him. Now Esposito has his back to the cage.

Esposito pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Souza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Souza moves into the clinch.
Esposito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esposito manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Souza has Esposito pressed against the cage, preventing Esposito from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Souza.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.
Souza makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Esposito softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Souza lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Esposito.
Souza goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Souza scores with a shot to the side of Esposito's head.
Souza lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esposito backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Souza is keeping busy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esposito.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
Esposito lands a hook to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Esposito - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Esposito throws a head punch that misses.
Souza lands a body punch.
Souza goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Souza misses with a hook from the clinch.
Souza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esposito lands with a short shot to the head.
Souza working aggressively here.
Souza lands a body punch.
Esposito prevents a body shot from Souza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Esposito misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito blocks a body shot from Souza.
Esposito misses with the head strike.
Esposito scores with a hook to the body.
Souza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Souza scores with a hook to the body.
Esposito misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito wants to break the clinch but can't.
Souza working aggressively here.
Souza gets through Esposito's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Souza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Esposito's elbow.
Esposito pushes Souza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Esposito has had enough of the clinch but Souza keeps him there for the moment.
A left hand lands to the body for Esposito.
Souza lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Esposito or not.
Souza pushes Esposito back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Esposito dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Souza slips a straight right by Esposito.
John Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Esposito connects with a single shot there.
Souza gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Esposito.
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Souza.
Souza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esposito.
Souza feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Espositos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Souza uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
John Esposito is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito avoids the body shot from Souza.
Esposito takes a swing at Souza's ribcage but misses.
Souza fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Esposito moves into range and connects with a jab.
Souza looks to score with a jab to the body but Esposito is just out of range.
Souza checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Souza is just out of range.
Esposito misses with a straight left.
Esposito takes a swing at Souza's ribcage but misses.
Souza cracks Esposito with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jab from Souza.
A nice inside leg kick there by Esposito. That's going to slow Souza down.
Esposito throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Souza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Souza.
Nice body punch from Esposito - that landed with a thud.
Esposito takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Souza.
Souza throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Souza lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Esposito trying to control the position but instead, Souza has worked for underhooks and has pushed Esposito into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza lands a left hand.
Souza tries a body shot but Esposito blocks it.
Esposito misses with a punch on the inside.
Esposito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esposito tries to throw a body punch but Souza avoids it by throwing Esposito back against the cage.
Souza takes a shot to the head.
Esposito working aggressively here.
Souza working aggressively here.
Esposito misses with some punches.
A short right from Esposito on the inside.
Souza throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Esposito is trying to maintain a safe position but Souza gets an underhook and turns Esposito into the cage.
Souza throws a head punch that misses.
Souza blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries a body shot but Souza blocks it.
Souza lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Esposito leaning against his opponent.
Souza doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esposito is trying to break the clinch but Souza is controlling him.
Sergio Souza seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Esposito wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Esposito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Souza looking to throw knees to the head but Esposito is blocking nicely.
Esposito wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Esposito is trying to break the clinch but Souza is controlling him.
Esposito misses with the head strike.
Esposito lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Esposito is trying to force a seperation but Souza has the dominant position.
Souza has a couple of punches blocked by Esposito.
Souza misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A frustrated look appears on Esposito's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Esposito swings wildly with an uppercut but Souza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Souza tries to throw a body punch but Esposito avoids it by throwing Souza back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Souza.
Souza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Souza misses with a hook to the ribs.
Souza lands a body punch.
Esposito blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Esposito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Souza lands an uppercut.
Souza blocking some punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Souza is leaning against Esposito and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Esposito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito tries to work over Souza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Souza can't find room to land a body shot as Esposito controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sergio Souza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Esposito punishes Souza's body with a nice straight punch.
A shot to the liver by Esposito. Beautiful body shot.

Souza forces Esposito back against the cage and clinches.
Come on Esposito - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Esposito wants to stall.
Esposito scores with a nice hook to the head.
Esposito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Souza.
Souza misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Esposito lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza missing with knees to the body.
Souza misses with the head strike.
A nice left hand lands by Esposito.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.
Souza doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Souza.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.
Esposito is stalling here.
Esposito trying to control the position but instead, Souza has worked for underhooks and has pushed Esposito into the cage.
Souza lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esposito backwards.
Esposito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Souza pushes Esposito back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito misses with some punches.
Esposito lands a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esposito is looking to break free of the clinch but Souza has double underhooks.
Souza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Souza misses with a punch to the body.
Esposito working aggressively here.
Esposito has a couple of punches blocked by Souza.
Esposito is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Esposito seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Souza is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Esposito blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esposito is looking to control Souza's arms but Souza gets an underhook and turns him. Now Esposito has his back to the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Souza creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Esposito misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito is looking to break free of the clinch but Souza has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Souza.
Esposito misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esposito.
Souza pushes Esposito back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Esposito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Souza lands with a shot to the body.
Esposito looks to land a combination. Souza sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A left lands for Souza.
Souza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esposito.

Souza closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Esposito has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Souza landing knees to the head.

It looks like John Esposito has been cut.
Souza doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esposito effectively controlling the action here.
Esposito can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Souza is working Esposito over against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esposito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Esposito's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Esposito gets through Souza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Souza.
Souza goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Souza.
Souza lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Esposito scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Souza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Souza lands a hook to the side of the head.
Esposito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Souza scores with an uppercut up the middle.

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 John Esposito.
I think Esposito 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Esposito!
John Esposito decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.