PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Devil Jho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jho's entrance music is Into the Abyss. A fine choice. Esqueda has chosen Cant del Barça as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jho
vs
Esqueda

180 cm
28
165 lbs
22 - 6 - 1

179 cm
27
169 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Granite chin

LOD: Affordable Quality
KAISER

Red Hand Clothing
GREEN!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Devil Jho!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping body kick lands there for Jho.
Jho works the jab nicely.
Jho lunges at Esqueda with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Esqueda's hand.
Jho throws a push kick but Esqueda slaps the foot to one side.
Jho lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Esqueda drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Jho throws a low kick but Esqueda moves out of range easily.
Esqueda avoids a kick to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Esqueda.
Jho looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esqueda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jho throws out the jab.
Jho uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Gerard Esqueda has been cut.
Esqueda looks to score with a jab to the body but Jho is just out of range.
Esqueda staying out of range there.
Jho 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jho misses with a looping left.
Esqueda avoids the body shot from Jho.
Jho chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Devil Jho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jho takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Esqueda takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jho ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Esqueda checks the leg kick.
Jho throws a jab when Esqueda was well out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good shot there by Jho.
Esqueda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jho looks for the body kick but Esqueda saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jho misses with an uppercut. Esqueda saw that one coming.
Jho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jho throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Esqueda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Crunch! Jho slams his shin into Esqueda's torso.
Jho throws a leg kick but Esqueda moved away.
Jho tries a head kick but it misses.
Esqueda takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jho swings for the body but Esqueda moves out of range.
Esqueda avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jho lands with a thumping leg kick.
Esqueda takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Esqueda lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Jho walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jho misses with a body kick.

Esqueda closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Esqueda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Jho tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Esqueda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Esqueda throws a strike aimed at the side of Jho's head but Jho avoids it well.
Esqueda throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jho is looking for a sweep.
Esqueda is looking to take a break and control but Jho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Esqueda moves into full mount!
Jho is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jho is squirming around, avoiding Esqueda's attempts to control the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Esqueda misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devil Jho dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Esqueda's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Esqueda scores with a hook to the body. Jho takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Esqueda blocks a jab.
Esqueda avoids a kick to the body.
Esqueda checks the leg kick nicely there.
Jho throws a body kick that misses

and Esqueda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Esqueda there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Esqueda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Esqueda.
Esqueda prevents Jho from standing back up.
Esqueda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jho tries to kick Esqueda off but Esqueda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Esqueda.
Esqueda controlling the action here.
Esqueda moves nicely into side control.
Esqueda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Esqueda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Esqueda throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda is staying tight to Jho's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Esqueda works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Esqueda in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Esqueda is looking to take a break and control but Jho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jho on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Jho takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Esqueda cracks Jho with a big right hand but Jho just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Esqueda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jho keeps working.
Jho can't do much from the bottom here.
Esqueda tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jho is looking to reverse the position.
Esqueda working away.
Jho is looking to regain half guard here but Esqueda keeps moving and retains side control.
Esqueda trying to control the position but Jho is working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esqueda grinds an elbow into Jho's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Esqueda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gerard Esqueda's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jho on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jho.
Jho connects with a good right hand that stumbles Esqueda. Esqueda circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jho checks a leg kick.
Jho lands a body shot.
Esqueda getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Esqueda checks a leg kick.
Esqueda 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.
Jho jabs Esqueda right on the nose. Esqueda blinks but takes it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jho throws a sloppy body shot

and Esqueda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Jho's guard.
Esqueda passes into half guard.
Esqueda wants to pass to mount but Jho is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda winds up and cracks Jho with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jho is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Esqueda's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Esqueda's back!
Esqueda wants to control his opponent's hands but Jho gets his hands free.
Jho is looking to control Esqueda but Esqueda is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Esqueda can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jho is trying to control but Esqueda is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Esqueda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Esqueda wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Esqueda looking very determined here, making life difficult for Jho.
Jho biding his time, controlling Esqueda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda rolls, trying to escape but Jho keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Jho is persistently looking for the submission but Esqueda is defending it well.
Esqueda is keeping busy.
Esqueda trying to control the position but Jho manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Gerard Esqueda just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Gerard Esqueda's cut.
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.

Esqueda slips under a jab from Jho.
Jho misses with a low kick.
Esqueda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Esqueda lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Esqueda scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jho throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Esqueda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Esqueda walks into a straight right hand from Jho.
Jho looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Devil Jho is winning the standup battle so far.
Jho is looking to chop away at Esqueda's legs.
A low kick from Jho is predictable there

and Esqueda counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esqueda tries to score with some ground and pound. Jho controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Esqueda advances to full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jho is wriggling around trying to escape.
Esqueda lands a big shot there that rocks Jho but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Esqueda with good strikes from the mount here!
Jho keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Esqueda has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jho's face.
Esqueda lands a couple of good shots and Jho has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esqueda avoiding Jho 's attempts to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jho staying busy and making it hard for Esqueda to control.
Esqueda scores with punches and elbows.
Esqueda scores with strikes from the back.
Well, with Esqueda on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Jho is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Will Esqueda go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Jho is trying to remain composed but Esqueda is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda wants to control but Jho is keeping busy.
Jho tries to roll but Esqueda sticks to his back.
Esqueda is landing with strikes from the back.
Esqueda missing with strikes.
Esqueda lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Jho hold on?!
Will Esqueda go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Jho trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Esqueda lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jho is covering up but some of the strikes from Esqueda are getting through and doing damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esqueda is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Jho up.
Esqueda is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Esqueda gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Esqueda gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Esqueda apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Jho is rocked!
Jho takes a swing at Esqueda's ribcage but misses.
Oh Jho is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jho throws a jab but it's blocked by Esqueda.
Good exchange - Esqueda coming out on top.
Jho misses with a lunging right hand

and Esqueda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Esqueda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Esqueda passes Jho's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Esqueda dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Esqueda's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jho gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Esqueda.
Jho lands with a good body shot.
Jho seems to have got his legs back now.
Jho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esqueda manages to avoid it.
Esqueda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jho throws out a loose jab but Esqueda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esqueda gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jho just misses with a punch to the body.
Esqueda moves out of range as Jho strikes.
Jho motions for Esqueda to come forward. Jho throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jho misses with a lunging right hand

and Esqueda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Esqueda wants to control from the top but Jho keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda passes into half guard.
Jho is trying to control but can't.
Jho keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Esqueda is looking to advance position but Jho won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esqueda trying to control the action but Jho is working from the bottom.
Devil Jho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jho defending well though.
Esqueda is looking to take a break and control but Jho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gerard Esqueda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Esqueda stalling away here and it's allowed Jho to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Jho working for a triangle but Esqueda defends it easily.
Jho can't keep his opponent in guard - Esqueda advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gerard Esqueda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jho tries to roll over but Esqueda keeps him under control.
Esqueda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Esqueda uses his free foot to push down on Jho's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Jho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jho tries to reverse the position but Esqueda maintains control.
Jho sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Esqueda is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Jho is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esqueda looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerard Esqueda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Esqueda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 46:49
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 46:49
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerard Esqueda! Gerard Esqueda retains his lightweight title!
Gerard Esqueda made sure to mention his sponsor, $300 in his post fight interview.