PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dante Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerald Minor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Esposito
vs
Minor

178 cm
27
161 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

170 cm
39
162 lbs
21 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Conviction

Sin City Allstars
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Esposito !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gerald Minor!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito throws a head kick but Minor moves out of range.
Minor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Esposito defends it well.
Minor tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Esposito defends well and Minor ends up having to push Esposito into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Minor throws a lazy right hand but Esposito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Esposito misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Minor counters with a left and a right that stings Esposito .
Minor slips under a jab from Esposito .
Esposito throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Minor throws a big shot that misses.
Esposito lands with a thumping leg kick.
Esposito scores with a jab to the jaw.
Esposito throws a hook but Minor avoids it easily.
Dante Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito misses with a jab, cross combination.
Minor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minor thows a leg kick but Esposito checks it
and Esposito counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito . Minor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Minor moves out of range of the body kick from Esposito .
Minor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Esposito appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Esposito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Minor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Minor moves away.
Esposito takes a swing at Minor's ribcage but misses.
Minor blocks a leg kick.
Esposito throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Minor moves out of range of the body kick.
Minor misses with a wild combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Minor.
Esposito just misses with a punch to the body.
Esposito throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Minor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Esposito 's guard.

Esposito has his feet on Minor's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Dante Esposito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Esposito uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Minor.
Esposito appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Esposito throws a leg kick that is checked
and Minor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Esposito moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Minor staying out of range there.
Esposito is looking to wear down Minor with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Minor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Minor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Esposito throws a leg kick that is checked

and Minor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Esposito 's guard.
Esposito is wriggling around but Minor manages to pass to half guard.

Minor is keen to just control but Esposito is a slippery customer.
Minor wants to free his trapped foot but Esposito is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Minor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minor throwing shots but Esposito is blocking nicely.

Minor is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Esposito defends it well.
Minor looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Esposito is looking for a sweep. Minor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Minor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Minor looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Minor trying to pass the guard but Esposito defending well.
Esposito knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Minor on the ground.
Esposito is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esposito pushes Minor off looking to stand but Minor dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Minor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Minor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Minor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Minor. Esposito does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dante Esposito will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Esposito with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Minor to score with a decent uppercut.
Esposito lands a nice looking body kick.
Esposito misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Minor misses with an uppercut.
Minor throws an off balance right hand
and Esposito counters with a leg kick.
Esposito is looking to land body kicks.
Minor thuds a left hand into Esposito 's body.
Minor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Esposito blocks a low kick nicely.
Esposito swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Minor is just out of range.
Minor tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito scores with the left hand. Minor knows he should have avoided that one.
Esposito stuns Minor with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Minor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Esposito lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice inside leg kick there by Esposito . That's going to slow Minor down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minor takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Esposito misses with a head kick.
Minor throws out a leg kick but Esposito moves out of range and Minor only half commits.
Esposito throws a hook but Minor avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Minor.
Esposito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Minor.
Dante Esposito is winning the standup battle so far.
Esposito connects with a right hand. Minor shakes it off.
Esposito lands with a good body shot.
Minor throws a body punch but Esposito moves out of range.
Minor doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Esposito .
An inside leg kick lands from Minor.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Minor is just out of range.
Esposito tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Minor is able to avoid easily.
Esposito lands a jab to the head.
Minor's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to land a body kick

and Minor counters with a single leg into guard. Esposito didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Minor throwing strikes but missing.
Minor trying to control the position from guard on top but Esposito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gerald Minor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Minor postures up and lands a big shot to Esposito 's brow.
Esposito managing to control the position.
Minor wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Minor blocks a head kick by Esposito .
Esposito lands a nice leg kick that just misses Minor's sensitive parts.
Minor lands a nice hook to Esposito 's body. Esposito takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Esposito avoids the body shot from Minor.
Minor throws the left hand but Esposito avoids the punch easily.
Minor misses with a body shot.
Minor wants to clinch up but Esposito keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minor misses with a hook. Esposito ducked under it nicely.
Esposito lands with an overhand left.
Esposito throws a hook but Minor avoids it easily.
Minor appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Esposito throws a half hearted mid kick.
Esposito throws a body shot but no joy.
Minor appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Esposito throws a body punch but Minor moves out of range.
Esposito throws a head kick but Minor moves out of range.
Minor lands with a good body shot.
Esposito scores with a jab to the head.
Minor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito .
A head kick by Esposito misses

so Minor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Esposito is wriggling around but Minor manages to pass to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Minor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito . Minor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Minor scores with a body shot.
Esposito throws a right hand that misses
and Minor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Minor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esposito .
Minor lands a really nice looking cross but Esposito seems unphased.
Esposito avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Minor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esposito manages to avoid it.
Esposito lands a head kick. Minor smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Minor feints and as Esposito raises his hands in defense, Minor changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Minor throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esposito works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Minor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Minor distracts Esposito with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minor works over Esposito with some ground and pound from guard.
Minor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Minor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Minor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Minor trying to control the position from guard on top but Esposito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Esposito swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Minor distracts Esposito with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Minor trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito wants to sweep here but Minor controlling him for the moment.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Minor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Minor thumps Esposito with a low kick.

Minor shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Esposito is trying to defend but Minor finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Esposito has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Minor is on him like a limpet, forcing Esposito back against the cage.
Esposito lands a body shot.
Esposito lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Esposito struggles to land a body shot inside as Minor controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Esposito .
Esposito stops a takedown attempt from Minor.
Minor blocking some punches.
Esposito lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Minor jumps guard.
Our spies down at at Westside Martial Arts inform us that Minor has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Minor looking to control but Esposito passes into half guard.
Esposito is controlling the pace.
Minor wants to control but Esposito is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minor tries to roll over but Esposito keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Esposito prevents Minor from improving his position.

Minor is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Esposito is tapping! Great win for Minor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Gerald Minor!
During a confident post fight interview, Gerald Minor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.