PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fredrik Stenberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fredrik Stenberg had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Stenberg
vs
Esposito

177 cm
27
164 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

178 cm
25
161 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Bullet Proof System

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fredrik Stenberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Esposito !
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stenberg connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Esposito scrambles back to his feet.

Stenberg looking to score a takedown here. Esposito is defending well but Stenberg drives through and ends up in Esposito 's guard.
Stenberg stands and throws Esposito 's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stenberg trying to control the position but Esposito is working away.
Stenberg in side control lands a decent elbow.
Stenberg advances nicely into full mount.
Stenberg thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Esposito gets back to half guard.
Esposito wants to get back to his feet.
Stenberg wants to take a breather but Esposito is having none of it.
Esposito really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stenberg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stenberg stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito trying to hold on to Stenberg's head to control him but Stenberg postures up.

Stenberg is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Esposito defends it well.
Stenberg sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Stenberg thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stenberg thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Esposito can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stenberg is looking to advance position but Esposito won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stenberg in particular looking to stall.
Esposito is refusing to be controlled, as Stenberg sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Esposito keeps Stenberg at a distance using the push kick.
Esposito slips a jab from Stenberg.
Esposito is looking to land body kicks.
Stenberg stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenberg has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Esposito finds it's way round the side to connect with Stenberg's head.
Stenberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stenberg misses with a hook.
A big right from Stenberg misses.
A little jabbing left from Esposito on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Esposito throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Stenberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Esposito is just out of range.
Esposito jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stenberg lands with an overhand left.
Esposito lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stenberg lands a right hook to the body.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Stenberg moves out of range easily.
Stenberg fires out a quick counter leg kick but Esposito just manages to avoid it.
Stenberg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esposito moves away.
A slow jab from Esposito misses its intended target.
A slow jab from Esposito misses its intended target.
Dante Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Esposito pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenberg moves out of range of the body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Stenberg misses the target.
Stenberg checks the leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stenberg.
Good shot there by Stenberg.
Stenberg cracks Esposito with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A chopping leg kick lands by Esposito .
Stenberg has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Esposito finds it's way round the side to connect with Stenberg's head.
Esposito jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stenberg slips a jab from Esposito .
Stenberg is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Esposito lands a jab to the nose.
Esposito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stenberg.
Stenberg takes one to the side of the head.
Esposito is looking to score with low kicks.
A little feinted left hand from Stenberg on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Esposito lands a nice looking body kick.

Esposito gets caught napping as Stenberg dives in and scores a takedown. Esposito manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fredrik Stenberg dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Esposito lands with an overhand left.
Esposito lands with a kick to the ribs.
Stenberg fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stenberg is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Esposito lands a lovely overhand right.
Stenberg lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Esposito lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Esposito . Stenberg shrugs it off though.
Stenberg misses with an uppercut
and Esposito finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Esposito just misses with a punch to the body.
Esposito misses with a head kick.
Esposito uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stenberg.
Stenberg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Esposito .
The crowd cheers as Esposito lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stenberg doesn't seem phased though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esposito swings for the body but Stenberg moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito throws a hook but Stenberg avoids it easily.
Stenberg tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esposito was well out of range. Poor timing from Stenberg.
Stenberg throws a hook but Esposito blocks it.
Nice body punch from Esposito .
Esposito lands a body shot.
Dante Esposito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Esposito throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Stenberg looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Esposito scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stenberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Esposito .
Esposito throws a lazy body kick
and Stenberg counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Good standup being displayed there by Esposito as he connects with a hook.
Esposito scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stenberg in his tracks.
Stenberg uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Esposito .
A head kick by Esposito misses
and Stenberg counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stenberg is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Esposito .
Esposito scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stenberg blocks a head kick by Esposito .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Esposito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Esposito leaves Stenberg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Stenberg checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stenberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito .
Esposito finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Esposito .
Stenberg tries to score a power double leg takedown but Esposito sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stenberg somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fredrik Stenberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Esposito misses.
Esposito buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stenberg paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stenberg takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stenberg.
Esposito doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Stenberg throws a nice looking combination but Esposito bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Stenberg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Esposito is aware though and is defending well.
Esposito is stalling in the full guard.

Stenberg has his foot on Esposito 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Esposito works his way back into a safe position though.
Stenberg wants to sweep here but Esposito controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenberg is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stenberg is trying to hold Esposito in close to prevent damage but Esposito has managed to pass into half guard.
Stenberg gets full guard.

Stenberg has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Esposito is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Stenberg.
Esposito working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Esposito tries to work over Stenberg's front leg with a kick but Stenberg checks it.
Esposito throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
That kick from Esposito tenderised Stenberg's leg. Stenberg is trying to keep his angry face on.
Esposito clobbers Stenberg with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dante Esposito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esposito misses with a straight right.
Stenberg is looking to counter punch.
A big right from Stenberg misses.
Esposito with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stenberg on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Some wild striking there from Stenberg.
Esposito tests Stenberg's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
No luck for Stenberg with that takedown attempt.
Esposito throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito throws a left and a right that both miss

and Stenberg counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stenberg's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stenberg has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Stenberg's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Stenberg from controlling successfully.
Stenberg slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stenberg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esposito works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stenberg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Esposito swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stenberg being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stenberg throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Esposito .
Stenberg on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stenberg will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Esposito takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Stenberg is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Esposito feints and then cracks Stenberg's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Stenberg down.
Stenberg takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Esposito displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stenberg throws out the jab.
Esposito loads up on a big right hand but Stenberg slips the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito lands with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stenberg fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Esposito misses the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Stenberg misses the target.
Esposito buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stenberg misses the shot to the body.
Stenberg checks a low kick from Esposito .

A momentary lapse in concentration from Esposito enables Stenberg to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Esposito manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Stenberg content to stall in guard here.
Fredrik Stenberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stenberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Esposito is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito has control of Stenberg's left arm, preventing Stenberg from doing any damage.
Stenberg trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Stenberg wants to pass the guard but Esposito is keeping the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Stenberg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Stenberg feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stenberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Esposito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Esposito has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Esposito !
A relieved looking Dante Esposito thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.