PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gary Finkler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Finkler
vs
Esposito

170 cm
26
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gary Finkler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Finkler as Esposito shoots in.
Esposito tries to clinch but Finkler moves out of range.
Finkler stuffs the takedown attempt from Esposito. Esposito gets slowly back to his feet.
Esposito tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An inside leg kick lands from Finkler.

Finkler drives through with a takedown into guard.
Finkler slips nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkler is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Finkler definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Esposito looks winded!
Finkler landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Finkler gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Finkler scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Finkler decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Finkler bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Finkler tries to score with some ground and pound. Esposito controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
A lull in the action here as Finkler stalls from top position.

Finkler stands up and beckons Esposito to his feet.

Esposito gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Finkler to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Finkler stands up and waves to Esposito to follow him.

Finkler shoots in and gets a takedown into Esposito's guard.

Finkler stands up from Esposito's guard - Finkler perhaps looking for a knockout.

Finkler darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkler wants to free his trapped foot but Esposito is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Finkler throwing shots but Esposito is blocking nicely.
Esposito felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Finkler slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Finkler stands up and beckons Esposito to join him on the feet.

Finkler clinches.

Finkler gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Finkler scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Finkler missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Finkler stands up out of the half guard.

Finkler shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finkler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Esposito's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Finkler dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Finkler instigates a clinch.

Finkler manages to break the clinch.

Finkler decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Finkler decides to return to a standing position.

Finkler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Esposito tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Finkler is in Esposito's guard.
Finkler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Finkler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkler wants to pass the guard but Esposito is keeping the position.
Esposito is breathing heavily.

Finkler decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Finkler shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Esposito manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Finkler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Finkler wants to stand but Esposito is controlling his posture from full guard.

Esposito is working an open guard so Finkler takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Finkler pushes Esposito up against the cage in a clinch.

Esposito is fighting off a takedown attempt but Finkler is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Esposito to the mat. Esposito regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Finkler decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Esposito tries to keep at a distance but Finkler has taken the fight into the clinch.

Finkler manages to pull guard.
Finkler trying to keep a closed guard but Esposito is proving a slippery customer.
Finkler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Esposito is working an open guard so Finkler takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Finkler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finkler stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Finkler drives through with a takedown into guard.
Finkler has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Esposito is proving hard to escape from.

Finkler stands and steps away. Esposito gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Esposito gets caught napping as Finkler dives in and scores a takedown. Esposito manages to retain guard.
Finkler wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
Finkler wants to stand but Esposito is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finkler pushing down on Esposito's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Finkler in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Esposito tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Finkler!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gary Finkler!
The defeated Pablo Esposito had this to say: 'I would like to thank Dr. Jones for the chance to fight in his promotion and i will come back even stronger, i promise!'.