PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamezdin Shraf (ranked 4938 p4p, 545 weight class) and Javier Esposito (ranked 5927 p4p, 590 weight class). Shraf's entrance music is Road To Glory. A fine choice. Javier Esposito has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Shraf
vs
Esposito

190 cm
40
212 lbs
22 - 22 - 0

186 cm
35
205 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 22 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jamezdin Shraf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Esposito tries to keep at a distance but Shraf has taken the fight into the clinch.
Esposito is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Esposito is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shraf is keeping busy.
Esposito prevents the takedown attempt.
Esposito misses with a body punch.
Shraf drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Esposito gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Esposito takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Shraf lands a hook to the side of the head.
Esposito is trying to break free.
Esposito lands a hook that snaps the head of Shraf backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito stops a takedown attempt from Shraf.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamezdin Shraf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shraf has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Esposito after a bit of a struggle.
Esposito is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Shraf.
Shraf tries for a takedown but Esposito manages to get underhooks.
Shraf lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shraf throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Espositos head.
Esposito digs a right hand underneath Shraf's ribcage. Shraf let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Esposito lands a body shot in the clinch.
Shraf is breathing heavily.
Esposito lands a hook that snaps the head of Shraf backwards.
Esposito softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Esposito lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shraf has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Esposito avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Esposito tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shraf avoids it.

Esposito has Shraf pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Esposito pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Shraf tumbling to the mat - Esposito dives into Shraf's guard.
Esposito chips away with some ground and pound.
Shraf working a defensive guard here.
Esposito trying to control the position from guard on top but Shraf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esposito missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shraf working for a triangle but Esposito defends it easily.
Esposito scoring with punches to the head and body.
Esposito preventing the sweep.
Shraf keeping moving, preventing Esposito from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esposito connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shraf 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.

Shraf had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esposito defends it easily.
Esposito with a nice head shot there.
Esposito lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shraf wants to sweep here but Esposito controlling him for the moment.
Esposito scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Esposito's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shraf wants to sweep but no luck.
Esposito looking to pass the guard.
Esposito stopping the sweep attempt from Shraf.

Shraf 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 scoring with some ground and pound.
Esposito cracks Shraf with a solid left hand.
Esposito lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Esposito dominated that round.
That's time! Shraf's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shraf takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Esposito throws an overhand right that lands on Shraf's shoulder, as Shraf tries to avoid the shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shraf.
Esposito lands a nice shot that snaps Shraf's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito. Shraf does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esposito misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito. Shraf does a little dance to reset his feet.
Esposito scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito sizes up Shraf with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Shraf tries to clinch up
and Esposito counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Esposito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Esposito or perhaps it was just good defense by Shraf, which made it look bad.
Shraf tries to counter with a takedown but Esposito is quick to defend against it.
Shraf tries to clinch but Esposito is having none of it.

Esposito shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shraf manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shraf trying to control the position.
Javier Esposito has got the better of the ground game so far.
Esposito with a nice head shot there.
Shraf wants to hit a switch here but Esposito passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Shraf there!
Shraf slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Shraf on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands strikes from half guard.
Shraf works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shraf controls Esposito momentarily but Esposito frees himself.
Esposito throwing strikes from guard but Shraf blocks nicely.
Esposito preventing the sweep.
Esposito keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shraf's head.

Shraf 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 postures up and lands a big shot to Shraf's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shraf wants to control but Esposito passes easily into half guard.
Esposito wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shraf keeps working.
Esposito wants to pass the guard but Shraf is defending well.
Shraf wants to control but Esposito is keeping busy.
Esposito lands strikes from half guard.
Shraf wants to control but Esposito is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Shraf looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Esposito slips a nice elbow through Shraf's hands, connecting with Shraf's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shraf is looking to improve his position.
Esposito is just content to waste time from the top position. Shraf takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Esposito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shraf has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esposito has managed to get both his arms back between Shraf's legs - danger averted.
Esposito keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shraf's head.
Shraf working a defensive guard here.
Esposito postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Esposito seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Esposito working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Esposito showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shraf moves in looking to clinch but Esposito pushes him off.
Shraf tries to clinch up but Esposito circles away and keeps his distance.
Shraf tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Esposito paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esposito punishes Shraf's body with a nice straight punch.
Esposito lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shraf's sensitive parts.
Esposito misses with a hook. Shraf ducked under it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shraf looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shraf closes the distance looking to clinch
and Esposito counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shraf looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've been told by Shraf's head coaches at Spartans Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Shraf tries to clinch but Esposito is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shraf.
Esposito is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shraf's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Esposito works his way to full guard. Good work.
Esposito keeping full guard, as Shraf tries to pass.
Esposito wants to sweep here but Shraf controlling him for the moment.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Shraf from controlling successfully.
Esposito has his hands on Shraf's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shraf trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shraf is one step ahead there.
Shraf looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jamezdin Shraf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shraf throws a big elbow that misses.
Esposito tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shraf trying to move into half guard but instead Esposito has managed to sweep!

Esposito with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Shraf 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.
Shraf looking to control.

Shraf looking for a guillotine here but Esposito defends easily.
Esposito lands a couple of elbows.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shraf trying to keep a closed guard but Esposito is proving a slippery customer.
Javier Esposito is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shraf thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Esposito fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Esposito cracks a nice hook into Shraf's ribs.
A big right from Shraf misses.
And Esposito tries to counter it with a takedown but Shraf pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A nice leg kick lands there from Esposito.
Shraf darts in trying to clinch

and Esposito counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shraf won't be happy with that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Esposito 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Javier Esposito!