PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mousa Dembele (ranked 3116 p4p, 410 weight class) and Javier Esposito (ranked 3137 p4p, 414 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dembele
vs
Esposito

185 cm
24
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
34
205 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mousa Dembele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito lands with a good body shot.
Esposito misses with a kick to the body
and Dembele counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Esposito bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Dembele's head backwards.
Dembele avoids a kick to the body.
Esposito scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Dembele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito.
Esposito feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dembele's calf.
Dembele lands a slapping body shot.
Dembele scores with a hook to the body. Esposito takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A leg kick checked by Dembele.
Esposito avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dembele throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dembele cracks Esposito with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dembele lands a nice looking body shot.
Dembele has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Esposito.
Dembele takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Dembele looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito slips under a jab from Dembele.
Esposito throws a lazy right hand but Dembele sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dembele wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Dembele cracks Esposito with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Dembele is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Esposito.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dembele checks a leg kick.
Dembele tests Esposito's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Javier Esposito has been cut.
Dembele thows a left - swing and a miss!
Esposito takes one to the chin there.
Dembele lands a right hook to the body.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Dembele is just out of range.
Esposito throws an overhand right that lands on Dembele's shoulder, as Dembele tries to avoid the shot.
It looked like Dembele wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Esposito uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dembele.
Esposito wants to slow Dembele down by chopping away at his legs.
Esposito fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dembele is out of range.
Dembele swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dembele looks to land a combination but Esposito avoids it well.
Dembele throws a body punch but Esposito moves out of range.
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 listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Esposito slips a straight right by Dembele.

Esposito has Dembele up against the cage in a clinch.
Esposito misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Dembele fails to land.
Dembele tries to land a knee to the head but Esposito blocks with his arms.
Dembele misses with a body punch.
Esposito lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dembele backwards.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.
Esposito misses with a body punch.
Esposito lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Esposito.
Dembele is pressed up against the cage. Esposito has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dembele down to the mat. Dembele avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Esposito scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a series of wild punches.
Dembele moves out of range of the body kick.
Dembele slips a jab from Esposito.
Esposito shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Dembele looks to land a left hand but Esposito moved out of range nicely.
Dembele just misses with a punch to the body.
Esposito throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Esposito cracks the inside of Dembele's front leg.
Dembele getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A good leg kick by Esposito.
Esposito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dembele misses with an uppercut.
Esposito tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Esposito.
Esposito moves away from the strike by Dembele.
Esposito turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dembele misses with a hook. Esposito ducked under it nicely.
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!
Dembele moves out of range as Esposito throws a body kick.
Nice uppercut there from Esposito.
Good standup being displayed there by Esposito as he connects with a hook.
Dembele throws a jab but it's blocked by Esposito.
Esposito throws a looping overhand right but Dembele ducks down to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Dembele throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dembele. Esposito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dembele misses with a straight right.
Esposito throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dembele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Esposito lands a nice looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Javier Esposito will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Javier Esposito's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Esposito looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dembele is looking for a counter combo.
Esposito throws a nice inside leg kick.
Dembele throws out a loose jab but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito lands a body shot.
Dembele drops his hands momentarily and Esposito takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Esposito throws a good cross that connects.
Esposito slips under a jab.
Esposito slips a jab from Dembele.
Esposito is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Javier Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito thuds his shin into the meat of Dembele's side.
Esposito throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Esposito steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dembele.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dembele throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Esposito stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Esposito shoots and misses
and Dembele counters with a straight right hand.
Esposito feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dembele's calf.
Dembele just misses with a punch to the body.
Dembele misses with a hook.
Dembele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mousa Dembele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheers as Dembele lands an impressive looking overhand right. Esposito doesn't seem phased though.
Esposito misses with a straight left.
Dembele is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Dembele ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Esposito keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dembele.
Nice uppercut there from Dembele.
Esposito moves out of range of the strikes.
Esposito with the counter takedown but Dembele avoids it easily.
Dembele misses with a looping right.
Esposito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito throws a body shot but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Esposito.
A big right from Dembele misses.
Dembele moves out of range as Esposito throws a body kick.
Esposito moves away from the strike by Dembele.
Esposito throws a good cross that connects.
Dembele steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esposito.
Dembele thows a left - swing and a miss!
Esposito drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Dembele defends it well.
A big right from Dembele misses.
Esposito attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Dembele was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Esposito.
Dembele slips a jab from Esposito.
An attempted straight right counter from Dembele misses the target.
Esposito digs a good body shot into Dembele's ribs.
Esposito misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dembele lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Esposito at a distance.
Dembele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dembele throws a body punch but Esposito moves out of range.
Esposito jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Esposito with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Esposito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dembele.
Esposito drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Dembele defends it well.
Esposito changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Dembele lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Esposito slips a jab and a cross from Dembele.
Esposito throws a series of punches but Dembele moves out of range.
Esposito slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
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!
Dembele moves away from the strike by Esposito.
Dembele closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dembele throws a big shot that misses.
Esposito throws out a counter right but Dembele avoids it with no problem.

Dembele shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Esposito is trying to control but can't.
Esposito is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Dembele is staying active.
Esposito wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mousa Dembele will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Javier Esposito's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dembele takes one to the side of the head.
Dembele wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Esposito jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Esposito scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Dembele.
Esposito feints the counter takedown.
Dembele digs a good hook to Esposito's body.
Esposito misses with a left hand
and Dembele counters with a nice body shot.
Dembele digs a good hook to Esposito's body.
Dembele swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dembele moves away from the strike by Esposito.
Dembele takes a swing at Esposito's ribcage but misses.
Dembele pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dembele throws a jab but it's blocked by Esposito.
Esposito ducks under a wild hook from Dembele.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Esposito.
Esposito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dembele was well out of range. Poor timing from Esposito.
Esposito pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Dembele lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Esposito misses the jab.
Dembele jabs at Esposito's body.
Esposito misses with a hook
and Dembele counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Esposito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dembele uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Esposito wants to land a leg kick but Dembele is out of range.
Dembele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito.
Esposito thows a leg kick but Dembele checks it
letting Dembele counter with a right hand.
Esposito finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esposito keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dembele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esposito was well out of range. Poor timing from Dembele.
Esposito is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dembele.
Esposito misses with a straight left.
Dembele misses the jab.
Esposito is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Dembele throws a lazy uppercut
and Esposito counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Dembele swings widly with a right hand
and Esposito counters with a nice uppercut.
Esposito feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dembele's calf.
Esposito fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dembele throws a big shot that misses.
Esposito changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Dembele lands a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esposito looking to score a takedown here. Dembele is defending well but Esposito drives through and ends up in Dembele's guard.
Dembele wants to sweep but no luck.
Dembele keeping full guard, as Esposito tries to pass.
Esposito scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dembele looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Esposito accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dembele looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Esposito puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Esposito has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dembele keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Esposito is keen to just control but Dembele is a slippery customer.
Esposito lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Esposito throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Esposito sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dembele defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mousa Dembele.
I think Dembele has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mousa Dembele!
A very excited looking Mousa Dembele rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.