PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Iancu Calmuschi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Espinoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Calmuschi
vs
Espinoza

177 cm
20
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Iancu Calmuschi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tony Espinoza!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calmuschi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Calmuschi throws a shot from downtown. Espinoza moves away and avoids it.
Espinoza swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've been told by Calmuschi's head coaches at Den of Tears (22 coaches) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Espinoza moves into range and clinches up with Calmuschi.
Espinoza is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Espinoza lands a body punch.
Espinoza misses with a punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Calmuschi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Calmuschi's elbow.
Calmuschi stalling in the clinch but Espinoza improves position.
Calmuschi stalling against the cage.

Espinoza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calmuschi misses with a looping left.

Espinoza clinches up against the cage.

Calmuschi breaks the clinch.
Espinoza tries to clinch up.
Calmuschi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Espinoza has taken the fight to the clinch.

Calmuschi manages to break the clinch.
Calmuschi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Calmuschi throws a jab when Espinoza was well out of range.

Espinoza clinches up with Calmuschi and pushes him back against the cage.

Calmuschi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Calmuschi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Espinoza tries to clinch up.
Calmuschi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As Calmuschi backs off Espinoza throws a huge counter combo but Calmuschi manages to avoid it all.
Iancu Calmuschi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Calmuschi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Espinoza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza darts in trying to clinch
and Calmuschi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Calmuschi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Espinoza. That did some damage!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Espinoza has closed the distance and engaged Calmuschi in a clinch.

Calmuschi manages to break the clinch.
Espinoza wants to clinch.
Calmuschi jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Calmuschi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Calmuschi throws a leg kick that misses.
Espinoza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Calmuschi circles away.
Espinoza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calmuschi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Calmuschi seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Calmuschi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Calmuschi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Calmuschi, as that shot connected.
Calmuschi throws a poor cross that misses
and Calmuschi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Calmuschi lands a nice looking body shot.
Calmuschi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Espinoza under the eye.

Espinoza moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Calmuschi.
Espinoza taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Espinoza misses with a hook from the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Espinoza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi digs a good body shot into Espinoza's ribs.
Espinoza tries to clinch there but Calmuschi circles away.

Espinoza has managed to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Calmuschi blocks a body shot from Espinoza.
Espinoza misses with a punch to the body.
Espinoza misses with a hook to the ribs.

Calmuschi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Calmuschi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Espinoza's calf.
Calmuschi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Espinoza's hands.
A nice leg kick lands there from Calmuschi.

Espinoza has closed the distance and engaged Calmuschi in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Calmuschi.
Espinoza leaning against his opponent.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Calmuschi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iancu Calmuschi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Espinoza avoids the body shot from Calmuschi.
A little jabbing left from Espinoza on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Espinoza drops his hands momentarily and Calmuschi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Calmuschi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Espinoza.
Espinoza moves out of range as Calmuschi strikes.
Calmuschi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Espinoza.
Calmuschi throws a jab when Espinoza was well out of range.
Espinoza is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Calmuschi sizes up Espinoza with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Espinoza closes the distance looking to clinch
and Calmuschi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Calmuschi throws a chopping leg kick but Espinoza manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Espinoza throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Calmuschi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Espinoza is in Calmuschi's guard.
Calmuschi keeping full guard, as Espinoza tries to pass.

Espinoza drops back looking for a leg! Calmuschi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Calmuschi manages to kick Espinoza off! Espinoza jumps back into Calmuschi's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza looking to pass the guard.
Calmuschi wants to sweep here but Espinoza controlling him for the moment.
Calmuschi managing to control the position.
Espinoza advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Espinoza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Calmuschi keeps working.

Espinoza thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Calmuschi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Espinoza wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Calmuschi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Espinoza is looking to take a break and control but Calmuschi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
My spies in Odins Body Workshop inform me that Espinoza has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Espinoza goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Calmuschi rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Espinoza's guard! Nice work there by Calmuschi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Calmuschi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Espinoza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Calmuschi has managed to get both his arms back between Espinoza's legs - danger averted.
Espinoza keeping full guard, as Calmuschi tries to pass.

Espinoza working for a triangle but Calmuschi defends it easily.
Espinoza wants to sweep here but Calmuschi controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Calmuschi trying to control the position from guard on top but Espinoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Calmuschi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Espinoza keeping moving, preventing Calmuschi from controlling successfully.
Espinoza wants to sweep here but Calmuschi controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Calmuschi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iancu Calmuschi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Espinoza tries to clinch up but Calmuschi circles away and keeps his distance.
Calmuschi misses the shot to the body.

Espinoza darts in and clinches Calmuschi up against the cage.

Calmuschi breaks from the clinch.
Espinoza lands a slapping body shot.
A jab from Calmuschi finds it's way through Espinoza's defenses.
Calmuschi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Espinoza tries to clinch there but Calmuschi circles away.
Iancu Calmuschi is winning the standup battle so far.
Calmuschi scores with a jab. Espinoza acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Espinoza moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Calmuschi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Espinoza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Calmuschi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Espinoza moves away.
Calmuschi throws the kick towards the body but Espinoza avoids it.
Espinoza drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Calmuschi defends it well.
Espinoza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza tries to clinch but Calmuschi is having none of it.
Espinoza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Calmuschi tries to keep at a distance but Espinoza has taken the fight into the clinch.

Calmuschi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Calmuschi misses with a straight right.
Espinoza is looking to clinch.
Calmuschi cracks Espinoza with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Espinoza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Espinoza avoids the body shot from Calmuschi.
Calmuschi connects with a body shot that sends Espinoza's belly button to the back.

Espinoza moves into range and clinches up with Calmuschi.
Espinoza misses with some punches.

Calmuschi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Espinoza's calf.
Calmuschi throws a low kick, looking for Espinoza's leg but Espinoza calmly moves out of range.
Calmuschi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Calmuschi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tony Espinoza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Espinoza moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Calmuschi breaks from the clinch.
Espinoza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Espinoza misses with a takedown attempt
and Calmuschi counters with a right hand to the body.
Espinoza moves away from the strike by Calmuschi.
Espinoza tries to clinch there but Calmuschi circles away.
Calmuschi lands a nice hook to Espinoza's body. Espinoza takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Espinoza clinches.
Calmuschi trying to control the position but instead, Espinoza has worked for underhooks and has pushed Calmuschi into the cage.
Espinoza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi wants to stall.
Calmuschi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Espinoza pushes Calmuschi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Espinoza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Espinoza with a poor takedown
and Calmuschi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Iancu Calmuschi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Espinoza.
Espinoza looks to throw the jab but Calmuschi is out of range.
Calmuschi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Calmuschi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Espinoza tries to clinch up
and Calmuschi counters with a nice uppercut.

Espinoza moves into range and clinches up with Calmuschi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Espinoza.

Calmuschi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Calmuschi throws an overhand right that lands on Espinoza's shoulder, as Espinoza tries to avoid the shot.
Espinoza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calmuschi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Calmuschi lands with a cross.
Calmuschi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Calmuschi throws the left hand but Espinoza avoids the punch easily.
Calmuschi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Calmuschi connects with an inside leg kick.
Espinoza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calmuschi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Calmuschi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Espinoza uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calmuschi.

Espinoza moves into the clinch.
Tony Espinoza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Iancu Calmuschi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Espinoza has a couple of punches blocked by Calmuschi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iancu Calmuschi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Calmuschi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iancu Calmuschi!