PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rene Espinoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Espinoza
vs
McGregor

186 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rene Espinoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Leonardo McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGregor looks for a takedown but Espinoza sprawls well.
Espinoza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McGregor.
McGregor jabs Espinoza right on the nose. Espinoza blinks but takes it well.
Espinoza takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Horrible takedown attempt by McGregor or perhaps it was just good defense by Espinoza, which made it look bad.
Espinoza tries to counter by moving into the clinch but McGregor manages to circle out of the way.
Rene Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo McGregor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Espinoza rushes McGregor and presses him up against the cage.
Espinoza tries a knee to the head but McGregor blocks it.
Espinoza misses with an elbow strike.
McGregor blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor tries to break the clinch but Espinoza is controlling the position.
McGregor blocks an elbow strike.
Espinoza gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McGregor.
McGregor blocks an elbow strike.
McGregor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Espinoza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McGregor is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Espinoza to keep the fight standing.
McGregor is looking for a takedown.
Espinoza misses with a punch on the inside.

McGregor turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Espinoza manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

McGregor is trying to work for a kimura but Espinoza is defending well.
McGregor looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from McGregor.
McGregor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McGregor is pushing down on Espinoza's leg trying to pass to half guard. Espinoza is fighting to maintain full guard but McGregor has managed to sneak the leg through.
McGregor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McGregor wants to take a breather but Espinoza is having none of it.
Espinoza is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGregor seems to be looking for submissions.
McGregor wants to pass the guard but Espinoza is defending well.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Espinoza is trying to stand up here but McGregor is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Espinoza darts in looking for a takedown but McGregor gets double underhooks and turns Espinoza into the cage.
McGregor tries for a takedown but Espinoza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Espinoza throws a big counter combination but McGregor scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
McGregor looks for a takedown but Espinoza sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McGregor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Espinoza appears to be looking for a big counter.
Espinoza connects with a high kick.
Nice takedown defense from Espinoza. No joy for McGregor on that attempt.
McGregor tries for a takedown but Espinoza circles away easily
and Espinoza counters with a series of strikes. McGregor will be more careful next time no doubt.
McGregor looks winded!
Espinoza fails with an attempt to clinch.
McGregor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGregor misses with a wild combination.
Espinoza seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Espinoza dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McGregor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Espinoza swivels and escapes.
McGregor shoots in looking for a takedown but Espinoza manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McGregor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rene Espinoza is winning the standup battle so far.
McGregor shoots in and drives through. Espinoza sprawls well.
Rene Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo McGregor.
McGregor closes the distance and clinches up with Espinoza, looking for a takedown. McGregor pushes Espinoza against the cage but Espinoza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from McGregor.
Espinoza defending well as McGregor loads up on a big left hand.
It looked like Espinoza was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
McGregor darts in looking for a takedown but Espinoza gets double underhooks and turns McGregor into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor tries a head kick but it misses.
McGregor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McGregor is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor closes the distance and clinches.
Espinoza lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McGregor backwards.

Espinoza manages to break the clinch.
Espinoza dodges the punch combination from McGregor.
McGregor with a poor takedown

and Espinoza moves into the clinch.
Espinoza pressing his opponent against the cage.
McGregor tries to pull guard but Espinoza holds him up against the cage and eventually McGregor drops back down to his feet.
Espinoza misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Espinoza scores with a nice hook to the head.
Espinoza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Espinoza looking to throw knees to the head but McGregor is blocking nicely.
Espinoza is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGregor can do to turn this around?
Espinoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
McGregor blocks an elbow strike.
Espinoza misses with a punch on the inside.
McGregor blocks an elbow strike.

Espinoza breaks the clinch.
McGregor jabs Espinoza to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Espinoza blocks the body kick.
Espinoza tries to counter by clinching up but McGregor breaks away and moves out of range.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza misses with an elbow over the top.
McGregor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McGregor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

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

McGregor clinches up against the cage.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but McGregor blocks with his arms.
Espinoza tries a body shot but McGregor blocks it.
McGregor blocks the elbow strike.
McGregor trying to stall but Espinoza improves his position.

Espinoza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGregor throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGregor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Espinoza trying to stall but McGregor improves his position.
Espinoza throws a knee to the head but misses.

Espinoza manages to break the clinch.
McGregor darts in looking for a takedown but Espinoza gets double underhooks and turns McGregor into the cage.

McGregor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Come on McGregor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Espinoza throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McGregor blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Espinoza fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Espinoza working aggressively here.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Espinoza dominated that second round.
That's time! Espinoza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McGregor throws a head kick that misses.
Espinoza tries to counter by moving into the clinch but McGregor manages to circle out of the way.

McGregor moves into range and clinches up with Espinoza.
Espinoza lands a right hand.
Espinoza trying to stall but McGregor improves his position.
McGregor is looking to break free of the clinch but Espinoza has double underhooks.
Espinoza gets underhooks to prevent McGregor's takedown attempt.
Rene Espinoza has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Espinoza misses with a knee to the head.
Espinoza lands an elbow just above McGregor 's eye.
Espinoza swings wildly with an uppercut but McGregor uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGregor working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espinoza stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Espinoza lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Espinoza with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espinoza throws a knee to the head but misses.
Espinoza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGregor holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Espinoza misses with a hook to the ribs.
Espinoza scores with a shoulder strike.

Espinoza breaks the clinch.
McGregor fails with a takedown attempt.
Espinoza is looking to counter the offense by McGregor and move into the clinch.
McGregor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rene Espinoza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo McGregor.
McGregor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Espinoza's waist but Espinoza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McGregor off to one side.
Rene Espinoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor has his takedown stuffed

and Espinoza counters by clinching up.
Espinoza tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Espinoza obliges.
A head punch on the inside from Espinoza fails to land.
Espinoza lands with a short head shot on the inside.
McGregor fails to pull guard.

Espinoza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McGregor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Espinoza displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McGregor.
Espinoza seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espinoza throws a sloppy head kick and McGregor moves out of range easily.
Espinoza closes the distance looking to clinch
and McGregor counters with a stiff right hand.

McGregor moves into the clinch.
Espinoza pushes off an throws an elbow but McGregor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McGregor tries to score a body lock takedown but Espinoza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Espinoza breaks the clinch.
Espinoza throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

McGregor clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Espinoza throws an elbow but misses.
McGregor is trying to break the clinch but Espinoza has him pressed against the cage.
McGregor can't break the clinch.
Espinoza creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
McGregor has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Espinoza after a bit of a struggle.
Espinoza's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
McGregor is looking for a takedown.
Espinoza gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
McGregor is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGregor avoids the elbow strike from Espinoza, against the cage.
Espinoza keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McGregor's efforts to push away.
Leonardo McGregor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rene Espinoza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Espinoza lands a hook that snaps the head of McGregor backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rene Espinoza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Espinoza, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rene Espinoza!