PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dante Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stevie Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Esposito
vs
Ray

178 cm
23
161 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
167 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Esposito !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stevie Ray!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ray slips a jab from Esposito .
Ray is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Esposito with a body shot.
Ray connects with a jab.
Ray misses with a body shot.
Esposito lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ray at a distance.
Esposito loads up on a big right hand but Ray slips the punch.
Esposito sets himself, and Ray steps forward looking for the clinch! Esposito avoids it this time.
Esposito throws a hook to the side of Ray's head but Ray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ray throws out a counter right but Esposito avoids it with no problem.
Ray looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Esposito comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Dante Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Esposito misses
and Ray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Esposito lunges at Ray with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ray's hand.
Esposito definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ray avoids the head kick by Esposito .
Ray looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Esposito loads up on a big right hand but Ray slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Esposito .
Esposito misses with a head kick.
Ray wants to counter with a clinch but Esposito pushes him away.
Ray checks a low kick from Esposito .
A thudding body kick lands there by Esposito !
Ray blocks a head kick by Esposito .
Esposito connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Esposito lands a jab to the head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Esposito .
Esposito wants to land a leg kick but Ray is out of range.
Esposito lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ray avoids the body shot from Esposito .
Esposito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ray was well out of range. Poor timing from Esposito .
Ray looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ray avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Esposito misses the shot to the body.
Esposito misses with a hook to the body
and Ray counters with a straight right hand.
A clash of legs there as Ray blocks the low kick.
Ray wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito pushes Ray away with a front kick.
Esposito throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice body kick there by Esposito .
A leg kick checked by Ray.
Ray takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Esposito throws a front kick that sends Ray stumbling back into the ropes.
Esposito throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Esposito takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray avoids the body shot from Esposito .
Ray looks to land a combination. Esposito sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Esposito misses with an uppercut. Ray saw that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ray throws a right and a left that both miss.
Esposito lands a lovely overhand right.
Esposito scores with a head kick.
Esposito connects with a body shot that sends Ray's belly button to the back.
A telegraphed right hand from Ray misses the target.
Ray blocks a jab.
Esposito looks to throw the jab but Ray is out of range.
Esposito throws a body kick that misses
and Ray connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Esposito attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ray is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Esposito lands a high kick!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Esposito , right into the meat.
Ray throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ray avoids the body shot from Esposito .
Esposito throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Esposito is looking to wear down Ray with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Esposito feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ray's calf.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito cracks Ray with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Esposito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esposito throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ray throws out a counter right but Esposito avoids it with no problem.
Ray tries to clinch up but Esposito circles away and keeps his distance.
Esposito was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ray holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Esposito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esposito lands with a light punch inside.
Esposito struggles to land a body shot inside as Ray controls his hands.
Ray lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Esposito or not.
Ray blocking some punches.
Esposito scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ray lands a body shot in the clinch.
Esposito misses with the head strike.
Esposito struggles to land a body shot inside as Ray controls his hands.
Esposito is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ray can do to turn this around?
Ray misses with the head strike.
Ray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esposito misses with a body punch.
Esposito swings wildly with an uppercut but Ray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ray blocks an uppercut.
Esposito working aggressively here.
Esposito working aggressively here.
Esposito misses with a punch on the inside.
Ray blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ray.
Esposito swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Esposito lands a body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right from Esposito on the inside.
Esposito lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ray tries to break free but Esposito pushes him back against the ropes.
Ray misses with the head strike.
Esposito lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Ray is rocked!
Esposito misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito gets through Ray's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ray is still on wobbly legs! Can Esposito finish him?
Esposito misses with some punches.
Ray swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ray blocking some punches.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Esposito .
Esposito is working Ray over against the ropes.
Esposito swings wildly with an uppercut but Ray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ray lands a left hand.
Esposito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ray backwards.
Ray blocking some punches.
Esposito stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Esposito misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Ray fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.
Esposito lands a hook to the side of the head.
Esposito creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Ray with a big uppercut! Ray tries to clinch up but Esposito pushes him back against the ropes and lands another monster strike that crumples Ray to the mat! Ray covers up and Esposito unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:12 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Dante Esposito !
A very excited looking Dante Esposito made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.