PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Esqueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustav Grimwald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esqueda comes to the cage accompanied by Cant del Barça. The crowd seem to be enjoying Grimwald's choice of entrance music: NoMeansNo - Mr. In Between. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Esqueda
vs
Grimwald

179 cm
37
155 lbs
35 - 21 - 2

173 cm
30
163 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 35 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Esqueda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gustav Grimwald!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimwald lands with a thumping leg kick.
Grimwald has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Esqueda is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Grimwald waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Esqueda.
Grimwald swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Grimwald misses the jab.
Grimwald lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Grimwald blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Esqueda. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Esqueda.
Grimwald throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Grimwald tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esqueda throws a half hearted mid kick.
Esqueda has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Barracks - LOD in the buildup to the fight.
Grimwald missing with a left hand there. Esqueda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Esqueda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Esqueda ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Grimwald misses with an uppercut. Esqueda saw that one coming.
Grimwald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Grimwald misses the target.
Grimwald wants to slow Esqueda down by chopping away at his legs.
Esqueda works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grimwald throws a head kick that misses.
Grimwald throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimwald just misses with a punch to the body.
Grimwald throws a leg kick but Esqueda sees it coming and moves out of range.
Esqueda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Esqueda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Grimwald's hands.
Grimwald tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A good leg kick by Esqueda.
Grimwald throws a leg kick but Esqueda sees it coming and moves out of range.
Good shot there by Esqueda.
Esqueda throws a low kick but Grimwald moves out of range easily.
Esqueda cracks Grimwald with an open hand slap.
Esqueda misses the body punch
and Grimwald counters with a stiff right hand.
Grimwald just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Esqueda misses the target.
Grimwald avoids a kick to the body.

Esqueda shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Grimwald manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esqueda wants to control from the top but Grimwald keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimwald 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.
Grimwald looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Esqueda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Esqueda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grimwald wants to sweep here but Esqueda controlling him for the moment.
Esqueda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Esqueda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Esqueda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda postures up in Grimwald's guard and throws a big left but Grimwald blocks it.
Esqueda sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Grimwald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esqueda is one step ahead there.
Grimwald keeping moving, preventing Esqueda from controlling successfully.
Grimwald utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Esqueda lands a couple of digs.
Grimwald wants to sweep here but Esqueda controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grimwald seems keen to control Esqueda's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Esqueda throws a big elbow that misses.
Esqueda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grimwald is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Grimwald throws out a leg kick but Esqueda moves out of range and Grimwald only half commits.
Grimwald throws a hook to the side of Esqueda's head but Esqueda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Grimwald ducks under a wild hook from Esqueda.
Esqueda fails with a takedown attempt.
Gustav Grimwald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esqueda fails with the takedown.
Esqueda scores with a nice head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Esqueda dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Esqueda slips under a jab from Grimwald.
Esqueda throws a nice outside leg kick.
Esqueda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Grimwald looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Esqueda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grimwald manages to avoid it.
Esqueda looks to score with a jab to the body but Grimwald is just out of range.
Esqueda looks to score with a jab to the body but Grimwald is just out of range.
Grimwald changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Grimwald throws out a loose jab but Esqueda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grimwald connects with a leg kick. Esqueda looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Grimwald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esqueda moves away.
Esqueda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Grimwald sprawls and moves away.
Esqueda throws a low kick but Grimwald moves out of range easily.
Grimwald throws a leg kick that is checked

and Esqueda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grimwald controls Esqueda momentarily but Esqueda frees himself.
Esqueda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grimwald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grimwald is pulling down on Esqueda's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esqueda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grimwald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grimwald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grimwald is controlling Esqueda's posture.
Esqueda throws an elbow that misses. Grimwald uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Esqueda's guard. Nice move by Grimwald!

Esqueda has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Grimwald works over Esqueda with some ground and pound from guard.
Grimwald postures up and lands a big shot to Esqueda's brow.
Esqueda keeping moving, preventing Grimwald from controlling successfully.
Esqueda looking for a sweep. Not yet Esqueda, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esqueda controls Grimwald momentarily but Grimwald frees himself.

Esqueda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Grimwald distracts Esqueda with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Esqueda keeping moving, preventing Grimwald from controlling successfully.

Esqueda is looking for a triangle but Grimwald pushes his legs off easily.
Esqueda has momentary wrist control but Grimwald slips an elbow through the middle.
Grimwald trying to control the position from guard on top but Esqueda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esqueda working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grimwald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimwald makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Esqueda looking for a sweep. Not yet Esqueda, not yet.
Grimwald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Esqueda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Esqueda keeping moving, preventing Grimwald from controlling successfully.
Grimwald postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Grimwald wants to pass the guard but Esqueda is keeping the position.
Grimwald wants to control from the top but Esqueda keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Grimwald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Esqueda.
Esqueda uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Esqueda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Grimwald. Grimwald obviously looking to wear him down.
Esqueda takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Grimwald. Those never looked like landing.
Esqueda staying out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Grimwald misses the target.
Esqueda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grimwald.
Grimwald takes a swing at Esqueda's ribcage but misses.
Esqueda scoring well with a low kick there.
Esqueda takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Grimwald punishes Esqueda's body with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grimwald steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Esqueda. That one must have hurt.
Esqueda throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grimwald lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Grimwald tries to bum rush Esqueda with a series of wild strikes but Esqueda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grimwald will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Grimwald lands with a thumping leg kick.
Esqueda throws a leg kick but Grimwald sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Grimwald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Esqueda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Esqueda takes a swing at Grimwald's ribcage but misses.
Grimwald throws a body shot but no joy.
Esqueda throws a nice outside leg kick.
Grimwald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esqueda.
Grimwald keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Esqueda backing away here, and Grimwald unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Esqueda doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gustav Grimwald seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esqueda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grimwald.
Esqueda misses with a low kick.
Grimwald fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grimwald throws a low kick, looking for Esqueda's leg but Esqueda calmly moves out of range.
Esqueda changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grimwald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esqueda goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Esqueda throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Grimwald counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gustav Grimwald has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Esqueda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grimwald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Grimwald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimwald works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Esqueda taking some punishment here, with Grimwald in his half guard.
Grimwald looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Esqueda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Esqueda looking for submissions off his back.
Grimwald trying to control from half guard but Esqueda is working away.
Grimwald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Esqueda's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Grimwald lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esqueda has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Grimwald escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Grimwald!
Esqueda gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Grimwald landing strikes, looking to finish!
Grimwald trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Grimwald is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Esqueda can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Grimwald lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Esqueda hang on?
Grimwald putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimwald wants to control the pace but Esqueda is squirming around nicely.
Grimwald landing strikes, looking to finish!
Grimwald working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Grimwald cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Grimwald scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Esqueda?

Esqueda is rocked!
Esqueda is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Grimwald drops a big elbow. That's hurt Esqueda! More shots from Grimwald and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gustav Grimwald!
An out of breath Gustav Grimwald thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.