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. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Esposito
vs
Cropp

195 cm
44
285 lbs
36 - 23 - 0

209 cm
32
290 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Modern Wear Apparel
SP Ultimate Nutrition

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 36 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Esposito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karol Cropp!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cropp momentarily.
Esposito looks to throw the jab but Cropp is out of range.
Esposito misses with a looping right.
Cropp bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cropp uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esposito.
Cropp changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Esposito swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Cropp.
Cropp is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Esposito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cropp moves away.
Esposito loads up on a big right hand but Cropp slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cropp with the counter takedown but Esposito avoids it easily.

Cropp shoots in and gets a takedown into Esposito's guard.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Cropp from controlling successfully.
Cropp cracks Esposito with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cropp throws a big elbow that misses.
Esposito manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cropp manages to get himself to full guard.

Esposito preventing the sweep.

Esposito avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cropp trying to keep a closed guard but Esposito is proving a slippery customer.
Esposito preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cropp working for a triangle but Esposito defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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 bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Esposito's guard.

Esposito working a defensive guard but Cropp passes into half guard.
Esposito is refusing to be controlled, as Cropp sits in half guard.
Cropp missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cropp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Esposito's head.
Cropp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cropp wants to control but Esposito is keeping him busy.
Esposito keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Esposito knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cropp on the ground.
Cropp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esposito trying to control but Cropp postures up.
Esposito is trying to stand.
Cropp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Esposito defending well though.
Esposito is staying active underneath Cropp, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cropp not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Esposito wants to control but Cropp is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cropp looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Esposito with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Esposito tries to kick Cropp off but Cropp keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cropp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Esposito's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Cropp there.
Esposito blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cropp.

Cropp wants to work for an arm triangle but Esposito is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Esposito is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cropp missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Esposito won't allow Cropp to pass to mount.
Esposito is trying to maintain the position but Cropp is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Esposito wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Cropp 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.

Cropp displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Esposito throws out the jab.
Esposito scores with the left hand. Cropp knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice defenses there by Cropp.

Cropp darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Esposito tries to get to full guard but Cropp has control of the leg.
Cropp is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito is looking for a sweep. Cropp is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cropp moves into full mount! Esposito won't be happy about that!
Esposito keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cropp tries to control but Esposito wriggling away.
Cropp with a couple of short strikes.
Cropp is landing with some decent strikes but Esposito is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cropp pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cropp is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Cropp lands with some strikes.
Cropp in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cropp landing strikes from the mount and Esposito is in trouble!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oooh a big shot lands for Cropp! Esposito is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Karol Cropp!
Karol Cropp made sure to mention his sponsor, Modern Wear Apparel in his post fight interview.