PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Padilla (ranked 1665 p4p, 197 weight class) and Dante Esposito (ranked 1674 p4p, 198 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Padilla
vs
Esposito

187 cm
24
168 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

178 cm
35
161 lbs
23 - 12 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Padilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dante Esposito !
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Padilla takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Padilla uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Esposito .
Padilla half committed to a counter leg kick.
Esposito throws out a loose jab but Padilla uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito lands a jab to the nose.
Esposito misses with a hook
and Padilla counters with a body kick that stops Esposito in his tracks momentarily.
Padilla misses with an attempted mid kick.
A jab lands there for Esposito .
Esposito fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dante Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Padilla throws a hook but Esposito avoids it easily.
Esposito scores with a jab. Padilla acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Esposito misses with a wild combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esposito throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Padilla.
Esposito 's jab looks to have found its range, popping Padilla under the eye.
Padilla lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Esposito goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Padilla is looking to land body kicks.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Padilla bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Esposito checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Padilla misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Esposito . Padilla does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla connects with a leg kick. Esposito looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Padilla throws a body shot but no joy.
Padilla avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Padilla swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Esposito throws out a loose jab but Padilla uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito throws a right hand that Padilla ducks under and follows up with a left that Padilla also avoids with ease.
Esposito bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Padilla steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Esposito .
Some wild striking there from Padilla.
No joy there for Esposito , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Esposito thuds a left hand into Padilla's body.
Padilla throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Padilla throws a sloppy head kick and Esposito moves out of range easily.
Padilla takes one to the chin there.
Padilla thumps Esposito with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esposito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Padilla manages to avoid it.
Padilla throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Padilla looks to score with a jab to the body but Esposito is just out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Padilla.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito avoids the body shot from Padilla.
Esposito lands with a straight right. Padilla didn't see that one coming.
Padilla's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Esposito connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Padilla scrambles back to his feet.
Padilla ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
An inside leg kick from Padilla misses.
Padilla throws a low kick but Esposito avoids it.
A jab from Esposito misses.
Padilla scores with a spinning back kick!
Esposito throws a push kick but Padilla slaps the foot to one side.
Good work by Esposito as he checks the leg kick.
Padilla throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Esposito tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Padilla moves out of range easily.
Padilla lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Esposito tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Esposito throws a leg kick which misses Padilla's front leg but catches the back leg as Padilla tries to avoid it.
Esposito blocks a head kick by Padilla.
Padilla swings for the body but Esposito moves out of range.
Esposito throws a big counter head kick but Padilla avoids it with no problem.
Nice cross by Esposito .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito misses with the combination.
A big left from Esposito misses.
Esposito throws an overhand right that lands on Padilla's shoulder, as Padilla tries to avoid the shot.
Padilla looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Padilla keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Padilla misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito .
Padilla wants to slow Esposito down by chopping away at his legs.
Esposito tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Padilla is able to avoid easily.
Esposito lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Esposito on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Padilla avoids the head kick by Esposito .
Nice defenses there by Esposito .
Padilla is looking to wear down Esposito with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Esposito slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Padilla moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Esposito feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Padillas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Esposito is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Padilla had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito throws a series of punches but Padilla moves out of range.
Padilla lands a nice looking kick to the body. Esposito takes a step back to recover.
Padilla throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to bum rush Padilla with a series of wild strikes but Padilla uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Esposito misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Padilla throws the kick towards the body but Esposito avoids it.
Esposito lands with a kick to the temple. Padilla shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Esposito checks the leg kick nicely there.
Esposito throws a shot from downtown. Padilla moves away and avoids it.
Esposito moves out of range of the body kick.
Esposito tries to land a leg kick but Padilla saw it coming and moves away.
Padilla takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Padilla throws a wild body kick that Esposito sees coming a mile off.
Esposito throws a jab but it's blocked by Padilla.
Padilla defending well as Esposito loads up on a big left hand.
Padilla lands a nice shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good shot there by Padilla.
Padilla ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Padilla cracks Esposito with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Esposito throws a left and a right that both miss
and Padilla counters with a head kick. That will keep Esposito thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Padilla is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Padilla takes one to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Esposito dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Esposito blocks the body kick.
Padilla slips a jab and a cross from Esposito .
Padilla is looking to counter with head kicks.
Esposito looks to throw the jab but Padilla is out of range.
Esposito darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Esposito feints and then cracks Padilla's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Padilla down.
Esposito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Padilla misses with a wild body shot.
Good work by Padilla as he checks the leg kick.
Esposito misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Padilla is looking to counter with a body kick.
Esposito takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Esposito moves into range and connects with a jab.
Esposito throws a lazy right hand but Padilla sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Padilla ducks right into an uppercut from Esposito .
Padilla walks into a straight right hand from Esposito .
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esposito lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Padilla backs up against the cage.
Padilla misses with a body kick.
Padilla throws a body punch but Esposito moves out of range.
Padilla defending well as Esposito loads up on a big left hand.
Esposito looks to throw the jab but Padilla is out of range.
Esposito throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla misses the jab.
Esposito misses with a jab, cross combination.
Padilla delivers a nice body kick.
Padilla shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Padilla looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Padilla goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Esposito will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Esposito keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Padilla avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Padilla tried to counter with a leg kick but Esposito avoided it.
Esposito waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Padilla.
Padilla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Esposito .
Padilla slips under a jab.
Padilla has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Esposito finds it's way round the side to connect with Padilla's head.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Padilla is just out of range.
Padilla scores with a body shot.
Padilla tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Padilla misses with a low kick as Esposito jumps back.
Padilla takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice jab there from Esposito .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esposito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Esposito slips a straight right by Padilla.
Nice shot by Padilla.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Padilla might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Padilla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Esposito scores with a punch to the head.
Padilla takes a swing at Esposito 's ribcage but misses.
Padilla closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Padilla lands with an uppercut that bounces Esposito off the cage and back into range.
Esposito scoring well with a low kick there.
Padilla with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Esposito to score with a decent uppercut.
Esposito misses the jab.
Dante Esposito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Padilla lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Esposito clobbers Padilla with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Padilla goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Good work by Esposito as he checks the leg kick.
Esposito throws a leg kick but Padilla sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Esposito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Padilla manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla blocks a leg kick.
Padilla goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Dante Esposito has been cut.
A head kick misses from Padilla.
Padilla throws a head kick that Esposito semi-blocks.
Padilla misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Esposito .
Esposito throws a low kick but Padilla moves out of range easily.
Esposito avoids the head kick by Padilla.
Padilla tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Padilla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Padilla stuns Esposito with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Esposito rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Padilla moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Padilla throws a head kick that misses.
Esposito connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Esposito jabs at Padilla's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Padilla swinging wildly here.
Esposito throws out a counter right but Padilla avoids it with no problem.
Esposito scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Padilla looks to land a body kick but Esposito moved away.
Esposito unleashes a big counter combination but Padilla bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Padilla throws a leg kick but Esposito checks it.
Esposito takes a kick to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Esposito .
Padilla tried to counter with a leg kick but Esposito avoided it.
Padilla keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esposito .
It looks like Padilla has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Padilla throws a sloppy head kick and Esposito moves out of range easily.
A head kick from Padilla lands but Esposito takes it in his stride.
Padilla misses with a straight right.
Esposito takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Esposito .
A head kick misses from Esposito .
Padilla throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Padilla scores with a kick to the midsection.
Esposito works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Padilla scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Esposito looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dante Esposito will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dante Esposito 's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Padilla throws a leg kick but Esposito sees it coming and moves out of range.
Padilla fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Esposito throws a body punch but Padilla moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Esposito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Padilla chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Esposito can pounce on him.
Esposito swings widly with a right hand
and Padilla counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Esposito moves out of range of the body kick from Padilla.
Padilla thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Esposito if he has to take too many more of those.
Padilla takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Crunch! Padilla slams his shin into Esposito 's torso.
Nice body kick there by Padilla.
Padilla throws a head kick that misses.
Padilla throws a body shot but no joy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Esposito ! But no joy.
A good leg kick by Esposito .
Padilla ducks under a wild hook from Esposito .
Esposito tries to bum rush Padilla with a series of wild strikes but Padilla uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
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 scores with a nice strike.
Esposito throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Esposito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Padilla - that will leave a mark!
Esposito pivots, looking for a leg kick but Padilla is out of range and Esposito settles back down.
Esposito throws a body shot but no joy.
A left lands for Esposito .
Esposito has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Padilla.
Padilla misses with a kick to the body.
Padilla looks for the body kick but Esposito saw that one coming.
Padilla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Padilla waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Esposito .
Esposito throws out a counter right but Padilla avoids it with no problem.
Esposito connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Padilla thuds a left hand into Esposito 's body.
Padilla throws a front kick that sends Esposito stumbling back into the cage.
Esposito pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Padilla back to the cage. Esposito follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Padilla scores with a leg kick.
Esposito scores with a crisp jab that stopped Padilla in his tracks.
Esposito moves out of range as Padilla throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito misses with an uppercut. Padilla saw that one coming.
Esposito takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Padilla scores with a hook.
Esposito lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Padilla circles away quickly and effectively.
Esposito cracks Padilla with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Esposito scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Padilla throws a sloppy head kick and Esposito moves out of range easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Esposito !
Esposito takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Esposito keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Padilla.
Esposito throws a hook but Padilla blocks it.
Padilla swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Donk. Padilla catches Esposito right on the button with a cross.
Esposito lunges at Padilla with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Padilla's hand.
Esposito lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Esposito .
Padilla lands with a slapping head kick.
Esposito avoids a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla lands a nice looking body kick.
Padilla lands a leg kick that knocks Esposito off balance momentarily.
Padilla lands a jab to the nose.
Esposito 's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Padilla throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Esposito is looking to chop away at Padilla's legs.
Padilla quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Padilla cracks the inside of Esposito 's front leg.
Esposito misses with a hook. Padilla ducked under it nicely.
Padilla tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esposito was well out of range. Poor timing from Padilla.
Esposito misses with a series of wild punches.
Esposito connects with a right hand. Padilla shakes it off.
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Padilla.
A nice leg kick lands there from Padilla.
Esposito stuns Padilla with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Esposito blocks the body kick.
Padilla gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Esposito .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 lands a jab to Padilla's midsection.
Esposito blocks the body kick.
Antonio Padilla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Padilla on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Esposito lands with a right hand.
Padilla fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Padilla looks for the body kick but Esposito saw that one coming.
Esposito throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Padilla thinks about countering with a body kick.
Esposito thuds a left hand into Padilla's body.
Padilla dodges the punch combination from Esposito .
Padilla takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esposito fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Esposito blocks the body kick.
A jab lands there for Esposito .
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Padilla moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Esposito !
A relieved looking Dante Esposito thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.