PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Blanco (ranked 4178 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juliano Esquivel (ranked 5080 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Blanco
vs
Esquivel

176 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexander Blanco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Juliano Esquivel!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Dirk Anderson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanco wants to clinch.
Esquivel connects with a high kick.
Blanco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Esquivel looks for the body kick but Blanco saw that one coming.
Esquivel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blanco manages to avoid it.
Blanco checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Esquivel has managed to clinch.
Esquivel has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blanco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Blanco creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Esquivel jumps guard but Blanco turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Blanco is trying to pull guard but Esquivel has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Blanco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanco is trying to break free.

Esquivel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Esquivel misses with a series of wild punches.
Blanco fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Esquivel avoids it really well and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Esquivel misses.

Esquivel moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Esquivel gets control of Blanco's arms and successfully pulls guard. Esquivel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esquivel has his foot on Blanco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blanco works his way back into a safe position though.
Esquivel wants to stand but Blanco is controlling the position.
Esquivel is trying to control the position but Blanco postures up.
Esquivel keeping moving, preventing Blanco from controlling successfully.
Esquivel is controlling Blanco's posture.
Blanco trying to control but Esquivel is working from the bottom.
Blanco being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco wants to control from the top but Esquivel keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Esquivel rushes Blanco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Blanco tries to pull guard but Esquivel forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Blanco tries to pull guard but Esquivel forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Blanco jumps guard but Esquivel stands there with Blanco around his waist. Blanco gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Blanco tries to pull guard but Esquivel won't allow it.
Esquivel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blanco's efforts to push away.

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.
Blanco jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Esquivel walks away with a smile on his face. Blanco gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Blanco moves into the clinch successfully.
Blanco dodges an elbow strike from Esquivel.
Esquivel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Blanco gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Blanco can't break the clinch.
Blanco slows down the pace here.

Esquivel ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Esquivel no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blanco looking to sit in guard and control but Esquivel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck with that takedown attempt from Esquivel.
Esquivel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Blanco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Esquivel shoots in for a takedown but Blanco shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Esquivel throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Blanco tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Esquivel is in Blanco's guard.
Esquivel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blanco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Blanco trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanco seems keen to control Esquivel's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esquivel tries to stand but Blanco is controlling from the bottom.
Blanco lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Esquivel lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blanco wants to get back to his feet but Esquivel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Blanco is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esquivel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blanco is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blanco throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Esquivel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Esquivel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Esquivel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Blanco can't keep his opponent in guard - Esquivel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanco trying to control here.
Esquivel is just content to waste time from the top position. Blanco takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Esquivel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Juliano Esquivel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Esquivel wanted to stand there but Blanco had control of the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Esquivel misses with a head kick.
Esquivel swats away the attempt to clinch by Blanco.
Esquivel changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Blanco is looking to clinch.
Esquivel goes for a double leg but Blanco avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blanco continues to drive forward.
Alexander Blanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juliano Esquivel.
Blanco fails with a takedown attempt.
Blanco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esquivel throws a head kick but Blanco moves out of range.
Blanco with a lazy takedown attempt

and Esquivel counters by clinching up.

Esquivel drags the fight down to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juliano Esquivel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Esquivel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blanco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Esquivel drives through and clinches with Blanco against the cage.
Blanco has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Esquivel after a bit of a struggle.
Esquivel has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blanco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Blanco gets control of Esquivel's arms and successfully pulls guard. Blanco will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Blanco working for a triangle but Esquivel defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blanco controls Esquivel momentarily but Esquivel frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esquivel advances position into side control!
Esquivel tries to stand but Blanco is controlling his head.

Esquivel stands up.
Esquivel dives in for a single leg takedown but Blanco sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Esquivel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Blanco's half guard.
Blanco is trying to maintain the position but Esquivel is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esquivel wants to stand up but Blanco is controlling the position.
Blanco is trying to control but can't.
Esquivel not doing much here.
Blanco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Esquivel.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esquivel clinches up against the cage.
Blanco has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Esquivel after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Blanco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanco has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short left from Esquivel.

Esquivel has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Blanco regains guard immediately.
Esquivel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blanco is keeping the position for now.
Blanco lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blanco passes Esquivel's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esquivel keeping hold of Blanco's head, controlling as best he can.
Esquivel tries to get to full guard but Blanco has control of the leg.
Esquivel is not content to let Blanco control the position.
Alexander Blanco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juliano Esquivel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esquivel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blanco.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juliano Esquivel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Esquivel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juliano Esquivel!