PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Chabala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esqueda is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Cant del Barça. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Chabala
vs
Esqueda

169 cm
31
168 lbs
20 - 7 - 2

179 cm
36
155 lbs
34 - 18 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Héritage!

Namunamu Clothing
Bullet Proof System

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 20 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Matt Chabala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esqueda just misses with a punch to the body.
Chabala scoring well with a low kick there.
Esqueda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chabala.
Chabala works Esqueda's body with a nice hook.
Chabala throws a low kick but Esqueda avoids it.
Esqueda feints the counter takedown.
Esqueda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Good work by Chabala as he checks the leg kick.
Esqueda looks to score with a jab to the body but Chabala is just out of range.
Esqueda lands a jab to the head.
Chabala avoids the body shot from Esqueda.
Chabala appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Matt Chabala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chabala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Esqueda is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That kick from Chabala tenderised Esqueda's leg. Esqueda is trying to keep his angry face on.
Chabala throws a nice inside leg kick.
Chabala lands with a nice body kick.
Esqueda cracks Chabala with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chabala is looking to chop away at Esqueda's legs.
Esqueda feints the counter takedown.
A thudding body kick lands there by Chabala!
Esqueda gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Chabala.
Esqueda checks a leg kick nicely.
Esqueda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chabala manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chabala.
Esqueda looks to land a right hand but Chabala moved out of range.
Chabala slips a jab from Esqueda.
Chabala lands a head shot.
Esqueda checks a leg kick.
Chabala throws a head kick but Esqueda moves out of range.
Esqueda fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chabala.
Esqueda chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Chabala can pounce on him.
Esqueda connects with a leg kick. Chabala looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Esqueda lands a jab.
Chabala definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Esqueda closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A right-left combo lands from Chabala.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Esqueda moves out of range of the strikes.
Esqueda blocks a leg kick.
Esqueda clobbers Chabala with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Esqueda avoids the head kick by Chabala.
Esqueda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A jab from Chabala misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chabala misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esqueda.
Esqueda takes a swing at Chabala's ribcage but misses.
A leg kick checked by Esqueda.
Esqueda moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Esqueda takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Chabala throws a hook but Esqueda blocks it.
Esqueda darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esqueda. Chabala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chabala lands an overhand right.
Chabala just misses with a punch to the body.
Esqueda fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Chabala looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Esqueda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chabala on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Chabala cracks Esqueda with a right hand to the side of the head.
A big left from Chabala misses.
Esqueda checks the leg kick nicely there.
Esqueda fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Chabala throws a quick inside leg kick.
Esqueda has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chabala throws a leg kick that misses.
Chabala thumps Esqueda with a low kick.
Chabala comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Esqueda throws a lazy right hand but Chabala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A leg kick checked by Esqueda.
Chabala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esqueda explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chabala. Esqueda does a little dance to reset his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Chabala misses the target.
Chabala throws out a loose jab but Esqueda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esqueda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chabala throws out the jab.
Esqueda checks a leg kick nicely.
Chabala wants to land a leg kick but Esqueda is out of range.
Chabala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chabala listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Chabala throws out a loose jab but Esqueda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chabala throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chabala misses with a looping left.
Chabala scoring well with a low kick there.
Esqueda takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Chabala, right into the meat.
Esqueda throws a jab when Chabala was well out of range.
Chabala throws an overhand right that lands on Esqueda's shoulder, as Esqueda tries to avoid the shot.
Chabala thumps Esqueda with a low kick.
Chabala shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Esqueda clobbers Chabala with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Chabala lands with a nice combination. Esqueda backs away looking to recover.
Chabala connects with a leg kick. Esqueda looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Chabala misses with a straight right.
Esqueda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chabala throws out the jab.
Esqueda fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chabala throws a hook to the side of Esqueda's head but Esqueda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A telegraphed right hand from Esqueda misses the target.
Esqueda walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Chabala moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Esqueda moves out of range as Chabala strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Chabala 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.

The fighters circle momentarily. Chabala darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Esqueda throws a hook but Chabala avoids it easily.
Chabala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Esqueda can do to turn this around?
Chabala takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The fighters circle momentarily. Esqueda darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Chabala blocks a low kick nicely.
Matt Chabala is winning the standup battle so far.
Esqueda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chabala.
Esqueda's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Chabala fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Esqueda checks it well.
Esqueda blocks the body kick.
Esqueda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chabala.
Esqueda drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Chabala defends it well.
An inside leg kick from Chabala misses.
Esqueda feints the counter takedown.
Chabala throws a hook but Esqueda avoids it easily.
Esqueda checks a low kick from Chabala.
Esqueda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esqueda moves out of range of the leg kick from Chabala.
Esqueda thuds his right hand into Chabala's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Chabala with a nice cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esqueda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Chabala throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Esqueda connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Esqueda there.
Nice shot by Chabala.
Esqueda moves away from the strike by Chabala.
Chabala chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Chabala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chabala uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esqueda.
Chabala thows a body kick. Esqueda tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Esqueda connects with a solid leg kick.
Esqueda checks a leg kick nicely.
Chabala misses with a head kick.
Esqueda lands with a thumping leg kick.
Esqueda throws a body shot but no joy.
Esqueda misses with a hook. Chabala ducked under it nicely.
Esqueda shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Chabala defends it nicely.
Chabala tried to score with a low kick but Esqueda checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda moves away from the strike by Chabala.
A punch lands to the side of Chabala 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Esqueda feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Chabala's calf.
Esqueda closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Chabala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esqueda lands with a good body shot.
Esqueda takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Chabala misses with a low kick as Esqueda jumps back.
Good leg kick by Esqueda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Chabala swings for the body but Esqueda moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esqueda. Chabala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Chabala lands a leg kick that knocks Esqueda off balance momentarily.
Chabala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esqueda.
Chabala wants to land a leg kick but Esqueda is out of range.
Chabala throws a leg kick but Esqueda checks it.
Esqueda checks a low kick from Chabala.
Esqueda looks to score with a jab to the body but Chabala is just out of range.
Esqueda slips a jab from Chabala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chabala scores with a punch to the head.
Esqueda ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Chabala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Esqueda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Esqueda digs a good body shot into Chabala's ribs.
Chabala is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Chabala misses with a looping left.
A slapping body kick lands there for Chabala.
Esqueda misses with a body shot.
Esqueda checks a leg kick nicely.
Chabala pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Esqueda checks a leg kick.
Chabala throws a lazy right hand but Esqueda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Esqueda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chabala.
Chabala throws a body kick that misses.
Chabala throws a low kick but Esqueda moves out of range easily.
Chabala misses with a low kick.
And Esqueda tries to counter it with a takedown but Chabala pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esqueda. Chabala does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Chabala lands a nice shot that snaps Esqueda's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esqueda slips under a jab.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Esqueda might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Chabala has got the better of the exchanges.
Chabala chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Esqueda can pounce on him.
Esqueda connects with a body shot that sends Chabala's belly button to the back.
Chabala jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Esqueda drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Chabala defends it well.
Esqueda blocks a leg kick.
Chabala jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Donk. Esqueda catches Chabala right on the button with a cross.
Chabala lands with a good body shot.
Esqueda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Chabala throws a right and a left that both miss.
Chabala throws a low kick, looking for Esqueda's leg but Esqueda calmly moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Chabala.
Esqueda defending well as Chabala loads up on a big left hand.
Chabala throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Esqueda on the side of the head.
Chabala keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esqueda.
Esqueda misses with a straight right.
Chabala was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Chabala will probably get the nod.
That's time! Chabala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Esqueda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chabala.
Chabala avoids the body shot from Esqueda.
Esqueda fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Chabala on the side of the head.
Esqueda slips a straight right by Chabala.
Esqueda connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Esqueda checks a low kick from Chabala.
Esqueda throws a chopping leg kick but Chabala manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Chabala rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Esqueda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Esqueda throws a shot from downtown. Chabala moves away and avoids it.
Chabala throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Chabala avoids the body shot from Esqueda.
Chabala with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chabala with a hook.
Chabala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esqueda.
Chabala tries to land a leg kick but Esqueda saw it coming and moves away.
Chabala avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Chabala ducks under a wild hook from Esqueda.
A leg kick checked by Chabala.
An attempted straight right counter from Chabala misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chabala throws a leg kick that is checked

and Esqueda counters with a takedown into side control.
Esqueda wants to control but Chabala is keeping him busy.
Chabala on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Esqueda wants to control but Chabala is keeping him busy.
Esqueda looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Chabala is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esqueda is looking to take a break and control but Chabala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chabala on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda landing strikes.
Chabala parries the strikes from Esqueda easily there. Esqueda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Chabala to escape.
Esqueda lands some shots froms side control.
The referee asks Esqueda politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Esqueda prefers to stall for the moment though.
Esqueda throws a strike aimed at the side of Chabala's head but Chabala avoids it well.
Esqueda grinds an elbow into Chabala's temple.
Gerard Esqueda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chabala managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Esqueda.
Chabala takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Esqueda.
Esqueda lands a decent elbow from side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Esqueda working his ground and pound in the gym.
Chabala sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Esqueda thows a huge punch but Chabala dodges it nicely.
Esqueda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Chabala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Esqueda.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chabala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esqueda is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Chabala is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Esqueda thowing shots but they're missing.

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.
Esqueda punishing his opponent with strikes.
Esqueda cracks Chabala with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Chabala manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Chabala is looking for a sweep. Esqueda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Esqueda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Chabala is refusing to be controlled, as Esqueda sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Esqueda working over Chabala with some ground and pound. Chabala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerard Esqueda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Chabala has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Chabala!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Matt Chabala waved his t-shirt featuring Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry's logo in front of the cameras.