PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dante Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Feyud Rautha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Feyud Rautha told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Esposito
vs
Rautha

178 cm
21
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Esposito !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Feyud Rautha!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito jabs Rautha to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dante Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito 's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rautha under the eye.
Esposito misses with a straight right.
Esposito lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A nice leg kick lands there from Esposito .
Esposito seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Esposito tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A nice combination there by Esposito .

It looks like Feyud Rautha has been cut.
Esposito scores with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito throws a wild body kick that Rautha sees coming a mile off.
Rautha blocks a head kick by Esposito .
Esposito tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rautha misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. Rautha looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Esposito lands a head kick. Rautha smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rautha. Esposito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esposito getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Esposito ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. Rautha looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A swing and a miss from Rautha.
A solid body kick from Esposito .
Esposito throws the kick towards the body but Rautha avoids it.
Esposito throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A good leg kick by Esposito .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rautha takes a head kick and keeps coming.
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!
Good exchange - Esposito coming out on top.
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rautha.
A countering left hand to the body from Rautha misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Esposito .
Esposito wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Esposito throws the left hand but Rautha avoids the punch easily.
Rautha swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rautha throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Esposito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Esposito moves out of range as Rautha strikes.
Esposito lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rautha throws a shot to the body.
Rautha wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rautha throws a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Rautha does no damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rautha. Esposito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esposito went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Esposito throws a nice head kick!
Esposito with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Esposito pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Esposito scores with a leg kick.
Rautha avoids the head kick by Esposito .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a body shot
and Rautha counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rautha is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Esposito rather than just go for the knockout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rautha gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rautha throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rautha thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rautha throws a hook but Esposito avoids it easily.
Esposito lands with a kick to the ribs.
A head kick misses from Esposito .
A shot to the body from Esposito misses
letting Rautha counter with a right hand.
Esposito tries to land a front kick but Rautha steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Esposito jabs at Rautha's body.
Rautha throws a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Feyud Rautha's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Esposito looks to land a left hand but Rautha moved out of range nicely.
A swing and a miss from Rautha.
Rautha moves out of range of the strikes.
Esposito misses the jab.
Esposito takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Esposito ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Esposito swings for the body but Rautha moves out of range.
Esposito looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Esposito , right into the meat.
Esposito misses with a wild body shot.
Rautha swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rautha takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Rautha might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Esposito has got the better of the exchanges.
Rautha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rautha throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Esposito counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Esposito tries a head kick but it misses.
Esposito walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rautha checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Esposito scores with a nice right hand.
Rautha takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rautha misses with a body shot.
Dante Esposito is winning the standup battle so far.
Rautha misses with a wild body shot.
Esposito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rautha was well out of range. Poor timing from Esposito .
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rautha! But no joy.
Esposito swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito clobbers Rautha with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rautha sizes up Esposito with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Dante Esposito has been cut.
Esposito lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rautha's sensitive parts.
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!
A chopping leg kick lands by Esposito .
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito . Rautha does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rautha is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Esposito with a body shot.
Rautha misses the shot to the body.
Esposito moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rautha defending well as Esposito loads up on a big left hand.
Esposito connects with a body shot that sends Rautha's belly button to the back.
Esposito lands with a hook. Rautha tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rautha misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rauthas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Esposito throws an overhand right that lands on Rautha's shoulder, as Rautha tries to avoid the shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Esposito .
A head kick from Esposito lands but Rautha takes it in his stride.
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rautha.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. Rautha looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Esposito looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rautha's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rautha avoids the head kick by Esposito .
Rautha throws a poor cross that misses
and Esposito counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That kick from Esposito tenderised Rautha's leg. Rautha is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rautha jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As Rautha backs away, Esposito returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A leg kick checked by Rautha.
Nice straight punches there by Esposito . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Esposito .
Esposito tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rautha is able to avoid easily.
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rautha.
A shot to the liver by Esposito . Beautiful body shot.
Esposito fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rautha throws a series of punches but Esposito avoids them all with ease.
Esposito is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rautha can do to turn this around?
Rautha looks to score with a jab to the body but Esposito is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rautha staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Rautha on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rautha swings widly with a right hand
and Esposito counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rautha is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Esposito lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rautha throws the left hand but Esposito avoids the punch easily.
Esposito connects with an inside leg kick.
Esposito lands with a slapping head kick.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Rautha moves out of range easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rautha crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Esposito - the referee stops the clock and Rautha gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Esposito . Rautha manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rautha takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Esposito lands a front kick.
Esposito throws a leg kick which misses Rautha's front leg but catches the back leg as Rautha tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esposito slips under a jab from Rautha.
Esposito motions for Rautha to come forward. Esposito throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rautha looks to score with a jab to the body but Esposito is just out of range.
Esposito takes a swing at Rautha's ribcage but misses.
Rautha misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito .
Rautha gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Esposito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esposito takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Esposito misses with a looping left.
Rautha throws out a counter right but Esposito avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito looks for the body kick but Rautha saw that one coming.
Rautha appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Esposito misses with a lunging right hand
and Rautha counters with a nice body shot.
Esposito tries a low kick but Rautha avoids it.
Esposito throws out a powerful jab.
Rautha ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Esposito takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esposito scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Esposito .
A nice inside leg kick there by Esposito . That's going to slow Rautha down.
Esposito tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rautha blocks a head kick by Esposito .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rautha.
Esposito misses with a hook.
It seemed like Rautha was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Esposito connects with a jab.
Esposito swings widly with a right hand
and Rautha counters with a nice uppercut.
Esposito throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Feyud Rautha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A lazy body kick from Esposito
and Rautha cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Esposito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esposito lands a lovely overhand right.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rautha crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Esposito - the referee stops the clock and Rautha gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Esposito . Rautha manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Esposito lands a jab to Rautha's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rautha swings widly with a right hand
and Esposito counters with a left to the body.
Esposito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esposito lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rautha's sensitive parts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esposito takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Esposito throws a body shot but no joy.
Esposito connects with a single shot there.
Esposito motions for Rautha to come forward. Esposito throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rautha throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esposito attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A nice side step and Rautha releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Esposito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Esposito has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Esposito !
Dante Esposito seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.