PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karol Cropp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esposito comes to the cage accompanied by Sukh Knight. John Esposito could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Karol Cropp's chin.

Esposito
vs
Cropp

195 cm
43
285 lbs
35 - 22 - 0

209 cm
31
290 lbs
26 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Esposito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karol Cropp!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cropp slips under a jab from Esposito.
Cropp feints the counter takedown.
Esposito jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cropp feints the counter takedown.
Cropp moves out of range as Esposito strikes.
Cropp with the counter takedown but Esposito avoids it easily.
Esposito throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Esposito throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cropp sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cropp with the counter takedown but Esposito avoids it easily.
Cropp has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cropp there as he acknowledges the shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Esposito enables Cropp to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Esposito manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Esposito 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.
Esposito knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cropp on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cropp throwing strikes from guard but Esposito blocks nicely.
Cropp prevents Esposito from getting back to his feet.
Cropp stands up over Esposito, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cropp trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cropp throws a big right hand that misses.
Cropp prevents Esposito from getting back to his feet.
Cropp looking to sit in guard and control but Esposito gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cropp 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.

Cropp is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cropp not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cropp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esposito is one step ahead there.
Esposito has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropp is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cropp throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cropp wants to sweep but no luck.

Cropp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esposito defends it easily.
Cropp looking for a sweep. Not yet Cropp, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cropp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esposito defends it easily.
Esposito postures up.
Esposito won't allow Cropp to sweep him here.
Cropp has a closed guard, preventing Esposito from standing up.
Our spies down at at Vicious Striking inform us that Cropp has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Cropp manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Esposito manages to get himself to full guard.

Esposito wants to sweep here but Cropp controlling him for the moment.
Cropp is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cropp postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropp wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
Cropp throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cropp preventing the sweep.
Esposito seems keen to control Cropp's posture.
Cropp has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cropp trying to control the position from guard on top but Esposito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esposito looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cropp is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A combination from Cropp does no damage.
Esposito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Cropp dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Esposito misses with a hook.
Esposito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cropp moves away.
Cropp is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Esposito.
Esposito looks to land a right hand but Cropp moved out of range.
Cropp displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Esposito throws out the jab.
Esposito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cropp was well out of range. Poor timing from Esposito.
Esposito thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cropp with the counter takedown but Esposito avoids it easily.
Cropp ducks right into an uppercut from Esposito.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick lands from Esposito.
Esposito loads up on a big right hand but Cropp slips the punch.
Esposito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cropp. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cropp throws a right and a left that Esposito avoids nicely.
Esposito throws an off balance right hand

and Cropp counters with a takedown into side control.
Cropp is putting a hurting on Esposito here, landing some big shots from side control.
Esposito is looking for a sweep.
Esposito taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cropp looks up at the clock and then as Esposito takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Cropp smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cropp working away.
Esposito is letting Cropp control him for a moment.
Esposito takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cropp postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cropp is working to tighten his grip on Esposito's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Esposito has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Cropp is really squeezing tight and eventually Esposito passes out! Cropp breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Karol Cropp!
A relieved looking Karol Cropp thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.