PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronald Espinoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Cain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Espinoza
vs
Cain

163 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ronald Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Todd Cain!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cain.

Cain shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cain showed some decent athleticism there.
Espinoza flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cain wants to take a breather but Espinoza is having none of it.
Cain not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cain wants to work for an arm triangle but Espinoza is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Cain is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Espinoza sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza wants to get back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Cain is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cain is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Espinoza is trying to escape back to his feet but Cain uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Espinoza wants to get back to his feet.
Cain taking a break here but Espinoza is having none of it and regains half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Espinoza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza is staying active underneath Cain, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cain is taking a breather. Espinoza says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Todd Cain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cain shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Espinoza manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cain stands up over Espinoza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cain slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Espinoza being controlled for a moment.
Espinoza is pushing Cain's head away, looking to escape. Cain manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain trying to control the position but Espinoza is working away.
Espinoza wants to get back to his feet.
Espinoza bucks up and tries to throw Cain off but instead Cain has got his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Espinoza avoids the strikes from Cain.
Espinoza wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Cain dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

No luck for Cain with that takedown attempt.

Cain gets a takedown into half guard.
Cain has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cain is keen to just control but Espinoza is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Espinoza is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cain wants to take a breather but Espinoza is having none of it.
Cain performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Cain is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cain is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Espinoza!
Cain connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

It looks like Ronald Espinoza has been cut.
Cain trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Todd Cain has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cain controlling from mount.
Espinoza wants to control but Cain is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cain goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Espinoza turns into him and now he's in Cain's guard.
Espinoza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cain works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Espinoza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cain is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Espinoza could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Espinoza postures up in Cain's guard and throws a big left but Cain blocks it.
Cain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Espinoza is one step ahead there.
Espinoza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cain is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Espinoza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cain's head.
Cain manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Espinoza manages to get himself to full guard.

Espinoza is trying to control the position but Cain postures up.
Cain won't allow Espinoza to get back to his feet.
Cain postures up in Espinoza's guard and throws a big left but Espinoza blocks it.

Cain thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cain trying to control the position from guard on top but Espinoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Espinoza has an active guard here but Cain has managed to pass into half guard.
Cain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Espinoza keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cain perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Cain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ronald Espinoza'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. This is the final round!

Cain closes this distance looking for a takedown but Espinoza circles away.
As Cain looks to move away, Espinoza throws a big counter combo bu Cain just gets out of the way.
Espinoza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cain throws a big counter head kick but Espinoza avoids it with no problem.
Espinoza throws a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Espinoza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cain closes this distance looking for a takedown but Espinoza circles away.
Cain darts in looking for a takedown but Espinoza gets double underhooks and turns Cain into the cage.
Espinoza is looking for a counter combo.
Ronald Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Cain.
Espinoza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Espinoza feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cain's calf.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Espinoza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cain closes the distance and clinches up with Espinoza, looking for a takedown. Cain pushes Espinoza against the cage but Espinoza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Espinoza tries to close the distance and clinch but Cain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cain darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cain stalling away here and it's allowed Espinoza to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Cain wants to control from the top but Espinoza keeps moving.
Espinoza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cain drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Espinoza dives on top into guard.

Cain working for a triangle but Espinoza defends it easily.

Cain had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Espinoza defends it easily.
Espinoza throwing strikes but missing.
Espinoza is looking to work some ground and pound but Cain has wrist control.
Cain is trying to control the position but Espinoza postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Espinoza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cain looking for a guillotine here but Espinoza defends easily.
Espinoza scoring with some ground and pound.
Cain working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Espinoza.
Cain is trying to control the position but Espinoza postures up.
Cain preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Cain working for a triangle but Espinoza defends it easily.
Espinoza landing with the ground and pound.
Cain manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Espinoza manages to get himself to full guard.

Cain won't allow Espinoza to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cain controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Espinoza wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Cain manages to pass to side control.
Cain prevents Espinoza from standing back up.

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 Ronald Espinoza.
I think Cain 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Todd Cain!