PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phil High (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

High
vs
Esposito

190 cm
25
205 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

186 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Phil High!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito throws a hook to the side of High's head but High sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

High gets caught flat footed, as Esposito shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
High utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
High keeping full guard, as Esposito tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
High working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Esposito.
Esposito stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. High swivels though and keeps the full guard.
High pulls Esposito in close to his closed guard and prevents Esposito from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
High utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Esposito trying to control but High is working from the bottom.
Esposito preventing the sweep.
High seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito trying to control but High is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Esposito listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Esposito drives through with a takedown into High's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Esposito is stalling in the full guard.
High has control of Esposito's left arm, preventing Esposito from doing any damage.
High manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Esposito manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as High accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Esposito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
High being controlled here momentarily.
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.

High is pressing down on Esposito's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Esposito preventing the sweep.
Esposito sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed High's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Esposito not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Esposito seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but High does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Esposito throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Esposito working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Esposito seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Esposito is trying to control. High wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Esposito has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Esposito seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
High wants to control the action here but instead Esposito manages to pass to full mount!
Esposito controlling from mount.
Esposito dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
High is in a horrible position here. Esposito smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
High is squirming around, avoiding Esposito's attempts to control the action.
High is bucking up trying to escape but Esposito cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Esposito postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. High looks a forlorn figure.
High takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Esposito with the ground and pound from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esposito content just to control the position here.
High slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Esposito tries to land a front kick but High steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
High pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Esposito pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Esposito plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Esposito misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
High was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Esposito works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheers as Esposito lands an impressive looking overhand right. High doesn't seem phased though.
Esposito goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

High is rocked!
High misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Esposito counters with a monster hook and another for good measure! High falls to the ground, out cold! Stick some heavy metal music over the top of that clip and it's one for the highlight makers!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Javier Esposito!