PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Sturridge (ranked 1349 p4p, 180 weight class) and Javier Esposito (ranked 4869 p4p, 457 weight class). Sturridge comes to the cage accompanied by Gimmie The Loot - By: The Notorious BIG. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sturridge
vs
Esposito

188 cm
28
220 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

186 cm
37
205 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Sturridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sturridge looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Esposito.
Sturridge attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sturridge lands a right hook to the body.
Esposito misses with a hook. Sturridge ducked under it nicely.
Sturridge swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Esposito throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Esposito swinging wildly here.
Esposito dips to his left and cracks Sturridge with an uppercut!

Sturridge shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Esposito is trying to defend but Sturridge finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Esposito is looking to control Sturridge's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Esposito avoid being mounted?
Esposito works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sturridge trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Esposito manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sturridge works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Esposito lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sturridge 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.
Sturridge is pulling down on Esposito's head to control his posture.
Esposito wants to pass the guard but Sturridge is keeping the position.
Esposito sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sturridge is trying to control the position but Esposito postures up.

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 is fighting to break Sturridge's control of his arms but Sturridge is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Esposito throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sturridge works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sturridge is pulling down on Esposito's head. It's preventing any offense from Esposito, at least for the moment.
Sturridge is trying to control the position but Esposito postures up.
Esposito preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esposito postures up.
Esposito trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Esposito has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sturridge is controlling Esposito's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sturridge walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Esposito checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Esposito defending well as Sturridge loads up on a big left hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Esposito.

It looks like Isaiah Sturridge has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sturridge bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Esposito tries to bench press Sturridge off him but Sturridge keeps the position.
Sturridge trying to control the position but Esposito is working away.
Esposito is trying to improve his position.
Sturridge trying to control the action but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito tries to buck Sturridge off but Sturridge is having none of it.
Sturridge sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Esposito is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sturridge tries to advance to mount but can't.
Esposito wants to control but Sturridge postures up.
Sturridge works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sturridge wants to control but Esposito is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to buck Sturridge off but Sturridge is having none of it.

Sturridge swings around for an armbar but Esposito sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sturridge's guard.
Sturridge is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sturridge's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Esposito missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sturridge wants to sweep but no luck.
Esposito showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sturridge avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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 Isaiah Sturridge will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Isaiah Sturridge's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sturridge feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Espositos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sturridge misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Isaiah Sturridge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sturridge shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sturridge was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sturridge trying to control the action but Esposito is working from the bottom.

Sturridge is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Esposito has escaped the position, nice work there.
Esposito is looking for a sweep.

Sturridge is trying to get an arm triangle but Esposito is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito prevents Sturridge from improving position.
Sturridge working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturridge wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esposito keeps working.
Sturridge sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Esposito is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sturridge is working Esposito over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sturridge in side control lands a decent elbow.

Sturridge tries for a kimura but Esposito is defending well.
Sturridge cracks Esposito with a big elbow.

Sturridge is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Esposito is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Esposito avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sturridge.

Sturridge tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sturridge connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Esposito some visible discomfort.
Sturridge is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Esposito can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sturridge is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Esposito is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sturridge tries for a kimura but Esposito is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Esposito's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Esposito is looking for a sweep.
Isaiah Sturridge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Esposito gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sturridge not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito works his way to full guard. Good work.
Esposito working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sturridge.
Sturridge wants to pass the guard but Esposito is keeping the position.
Esposito pulls Sturridge in close to his closed guard and prevents Sturridge from doing any damage or advancing position.

Sturridge drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Esposito dives on top into guard.

Sturridge is pulling down on Esposito's head. It's preventing any offense from Esposito, at least for the moment.
Esposito's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sturridge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sturridge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Esposito throwing strikes but missing.
Sturridge is trying to keep Esposito in close.
Esposito postures up in Sturridge's guard and throws a big left but Sturridge blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sturridge wants to sweep here but Esposito controlling him for the moment.
Sturridge pulls Esposito in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Sturridge dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Isaiah Sturridge's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Esposito staying out of range there.
A solid body kick from Esposito.
Sturridge throws a big shot that misses.
Sturridge tries for a takedown but Esposito sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Esposito tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Esposito avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Esposito takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The fighters circling - Esposito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Decent striking displayed by Esposito there.
Esposito defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sturridge.
Esposito drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sturridge defends it well.
Esposito throws a jab but it's blocked by Sturridge.
Sturridge misses with an uppercut
letting Esposito counter with a right hand.
Esposito checks a low kick from Sturridge.
A big right from Sturridge misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good work by Sturridge as he checks the leg kick.
Sturridge uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esposito.
A little feinted left hand from Sturridge on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Esposito tries a head kick but it misses.
Sturridge shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Sturridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esposito throws the left hand but Sturridge avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito throws a shot from downtown. Sturridge moves away and avoids it.
Sturridge shoots in for a takedown but Esposito shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Esposito might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sturridge lands with a good body shot.
Sturridge is trying hard to land a takedown here. Esposito sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Esposito ducks under a wild hook from Sturridge.
Esposito jabs Sturridge right on the nose. Sturridge blinks but takes it well.
Esposito walks into a jab.
Sturridge misses with a body kick.
Sturridge tries a head kick but it misses.
Javier Esposito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esposito is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sturridge sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Esposito throws a good cross that connects.
Esposito missing with a left hand there. Sturridge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sturridge uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Esposito has time to react.
Sturridge moves into range and connects with a jab.

Sturridge closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Esposito quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito is looking to improve his position.
Sturridge thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Javier Esposito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Esposito wants to improve his position but Sturridge is controlling well.
Sturridge is trying to control the action in half guard but Esposito is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Esposito moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sturridge trying to move into half guard but instead Esposito has managed to sweep!

Sturridge wants to sweep here but Esposito controlling him for the moment.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Esposito throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito postures up in Sturridge's guard and throws a big left but Sturridge blocks it.
Sturridge wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Esposito is now in half guard.
Sturridge is looking to get back to full guard here but Esposito has managed to pass to side control instead.
The ground and pound from Esposito seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sturridge tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Esposito wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Esposito working away.
The ground and pound from Esposito seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sturridge stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Esposito trying to control the position but Sturridge is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturridge tries to buck Esposito off but Esposito is having none of it.
Esposito scoring with punches from side control.
Sturridge is trying to improve his position.
Esposito works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Sturridge's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Isaiah Sturridge is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Esposito creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sturridge sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sturridge 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isaiah Sturridge!
After winning the bout, Isaiah Sturridge thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.