PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dante Esposito (ranked 2856 p4p, 330 weight class) and Afa Sila (ranked 3046 p4p, 342 weight class). Sila has chosen I'd Love To Change The World as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Esposito
vs
Sila

178 cm
31
161 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

173 cm
39
161 lbs
26 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dante Esposito !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Afa Sila!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sila.

Sila closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Esposito to the mat! Esposito manages to get full guard.

Esposito manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Sila jumps guard but Esposito stands there with Sila around his waist. Sila gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Esposito .
Stalling in the clinch from Esposito .
Sila misses with a punch on the inside.
Sila jumps guard but Esposito turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sila is trying to pull guard but Esposito turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Dante Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afa Sila.

Sila ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sila no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sila looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sila looking for a guillotine here but Esposito defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sila being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Our spies down at at Far-Q Fight Club inform us that Sila has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Sila working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Esposito doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Esposito manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sila keeping full guard, as Esposito tries to pass.

Sila escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Esposito gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Esposito sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sila controls Esposito momentarily but Esposito frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Esposito sitting in guard here, content to control.

Sila working for a triangle but Esposito defends it easily.
Sila being controlled here, momentarily.

Esposito avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Esposito looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito trying to control the position from guard on top but Sila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Esposito scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sila avoids the body shot from Esposito .

Sila gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esposito tries to improve position but can't.

Sila goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Esposito rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sila's guard! Nice work there by Esposito !

Sila 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.

Sila escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Esposito gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Esposito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sila is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito 's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Esposito avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Esposito content to stall in guard here.

Esposito avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sila working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Esposito has passed into half guard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Esposito connects with a right hand. Sila shakes it off.

Sila moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esposito .
Sila blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sila wants to get back to striking at distance but Esposito won't allow it.
Sila jumps guard but Esposito turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Esposito breaks from the clinch.
Sila loads up on a big right hand but Esposito slips the punch.
Esposito lands a two punch combo.
Sila throws a looping overhand right but Esposito ducks down to avoid it.
Esposito throwing a counter right hand but Sila manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Esposito cracks Sila with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
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 avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sila avoids the body shot from Esposito .
Esposito misses with a leg kick.
Sila misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Esposito to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila takes one to the side of the head.
Sila checks a leg kick.
Sila goes for a double leg but Esposito avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Esposito continues to drive forward.
Esposito swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Dante Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afa Sila.
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sila.
Sila checks a leg kick.
Esposito lands a slapping body shot.
Sila shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Esposito defends it nicely.
Esposito scores with a head kick. Sila tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Good leg kick by Esposito there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Esposito moves into range and connects with a jab.
Esposito misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Esposito keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Esposito chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Esposito fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sila checks it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sila scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sila tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Esposito defends well and Sila ends up having to push Esposito into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It looks like Esposito has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Esposito looks to land a left hand but Sila moved out of range nicely.
Sila takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sila takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Esposito slaps away a takedown attempt from Sila, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Esposito throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esposito lands a nice shot that snaps Sila's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sila fails with the takedown
and Sila takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Esposito lands a head shot.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick

and Sila counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sila.
Sila trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Esposito wants to control the position but Sila says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Sila wants to work for an arm triangle but Esposito is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Esposito desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito won't allow Sila to pass to mount.

Sila is working for a submission of some sort.
Esposito has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sila is working away from the top position though.
Esposito makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Esposito .
Sila trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito pulls Sila in close to his closed guard and prevents Sila from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Sila moves out of range as Esposito throws a body kick.
Sila shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Esposito sprawls well. Esposito wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sila gets slowly back to his feet.
Sila fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sila slips under a jab from Esposito .
Sila stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Esposito .
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sila.
Sila misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito .
Esposito connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sila closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Esposito to the mat! Esposito manages to get full guard.
Esposito is trying to keep Sila in close.
Esposito is really struggling to control Sila but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sila stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Esposito swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Esposito has Sila pulled in close to control his posture.
Sila trying to control the position from guard on top but Esposito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esposito has Sila pulled in close to control his posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Esposito misses with a body shot.
Esposito swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Esposito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sila moves out of range as Esposito strikes.
Sila is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sila shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Esposito sprawls well. Esposito wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sila gets slowly back to his feet.
Dante Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Afa Sila.
Esposito throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sila wants to counter with a clinch but Esposito pushes him away.
Sila uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esposito .
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sila is defended easily by Esposito .
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito . Sila does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sila has his takedown stuffed
and Esposito counters with a stiff right hand.
Esposito is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sila can do to turn this around?
Sila throws a left and a right that both miss
and Esposito counters with a nice uppercut.
Sila gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Esposito to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sila's jab looks to have found its range, popping Esposito under the eye.
Sila walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Esposito just misses with a punch to the body.
Sila misses with a body shot.

Sila drives through and clinches with Esposito against the cage.

Sila breaks the clinch.
Sila blocks a jab.
Sila fails with the takedown.
Dante Esposito is winning the standup battle so far.
Esposito throws a right hand that Sila ducks under and follows up with a left that Sila also avoids with ease.
A leg kick checked by Sila.
Sila tries to counter with a clinch but Esposito shakes him off and moves away.
Dante Esposito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sila gets a takedown into half guard.
Esposito trying to hold on to Sila's head to control him but Sila postures up.
Afa Sila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sila is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Esposito moves into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Sila from controlling successfully.
Esposito looking to control.
Esposito managing to control the position.
Esposito controls Sila momentarily but Sila frees himself.
Sila 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 showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Esposito , 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Esposito !
During a confident post fight interview, Dante Esposito thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.