PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Javier Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Babushka Fandango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Esposito
vs
Fandango

186 cm
23
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
216 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Babushka Fandango!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito. Fandango does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fandango throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fandango takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fandango misses with a double jab
and Esposito counters with a nice body kick.
Fandango shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Esposito sprawls well. Esposito wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fandango gets slowly back to his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Esposito.
No joy there for Fandango, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Fandango decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Esposito gets full guard.
Esposito looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fandango pushing down on Esposito's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Esposito avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fandango.
Esposito is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Hunter MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fandango throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fandango winds up and cracks Esposito with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Esposito is trying is best to control the position here.
Fandango sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Esposito defending well though.
Fandango thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fandango throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fandango not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fandango throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fandango missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fandango passes into side control, despite Esposito's attempt to control the position.
Fandango wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esposito keeps working.
Fandango throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Esposito's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fandango fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fandango tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Esposito takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fandango is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fandango misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Fandango crashes against the mat.
Fandango working the ground and pound but Esposito is defending the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito is trying to control Fandango's posture but Fandango avoids it.
Esposito tries to improve position but can't.
Fandango throws an elbow but Esposito slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fandango throwing strikes but Esposito manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fandango is looking to reverse the position.
Esposito controls the position.
Esposito in the domination position with Fandango hanging on.
Fandango tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Esposito easily slips into full mount!
Esposito content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fandango wants to control but Esposito is having none of it.
Fandango is in all sorts of trouble here.
Esposito controlling from the full mount.
Esposito has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Esposito.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Javier Esposito will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fandango tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Esposito defends well and Fandango ends up having to push Esposito into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Esposito ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Fandango drives through with a takedown into Esposito's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Esposito is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Esposito working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fandango.
Fandango trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Fandango is in close to Esposito's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Esposito wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fandango lands a couple of elbows.
Esposito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Esposito is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fandango works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fandango lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Fandango throwing strikes from guard but Esposito blocks nicely.
Fandango loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fandango postures up in Esposito's guard and throws a big left but Esposito blocks it.
Esposito bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fandango's guard.

Esposito decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fandango fails to land with a series of punches.
Esposito swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Fandango throws a right hand that Esposito ducks under and follows up with a left that Esposito also avoids with ease.
Esposito swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Fandango scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Fandango 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fandango misses with a wild combination.
Esposito walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fandango is trying hard to land a takedown here. Esposito sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fandango shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Esposito but Esposito pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Javier Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Babushka Fandango.

Fandango shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Esposito preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Fandango missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fandango throwing shots but Esposito is blocking nicely.
Esposito is looking to improve his position.
Esposito flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Esposito manages to get to full guard.
Fandango postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fandango postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fandango wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
Esposito looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Babushka Fandango has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fandango throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Esposito keeping full guard, as Fandango tries to pass.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Fandango from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fandango falls off balance throwing a combination
and Esposito counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Esposito keeps Fandango at a distance using the push kick.
Fandango takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Esposito lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fandango misses with a wild combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Esposito.
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 Javier Esposito will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Esposito connects with a solid leg kick.
Fandango shoots in but Esposito avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fandango throws a series of punches but Esposito avoids them all with ease.
Fandango misses with the combination.
Fandango throws a jab when Esposito was well out of range.
Some wild striking there from Fandango.
A big right from Esposito misses.
Fandango takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Babushka Fandango has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Esposito. No joy for Fandango on that attempt.
Fandango tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Esposito defends well and Fandango ends up having to push Esposito into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Javier Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Babushka Fandango.
Fandango takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Fandango takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Fandango is rocked!
Esposito jabs Fandango to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fandango is still on wobbly legs! Can Esposito finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fandango tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Javier Esposito is winning the standup battle so far.
Fandango takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Esposito.
Esposito fakes the leg kick and cracks Fandango in the body.
Esposito lands a jab and follows it up with a massive straight that knocks Fandango out cold! Fandango is crumpled in the corner, his head only propped up by the cage! That's one for the organiziational promos right there! Wow, what a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Javier Esposito!