PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Javier Esposito (ranked 6903 p4p, 505 weight class) and Brandon Walker (ranked 2801 p4p, 315 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Esposito
vs
Walker

186 cm
37
205 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

188 cm
28
205 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent 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 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Javier Esposito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brandon Walker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Esposito misses.
Walker with the counter takedown but Esposito avoids it easily.

Walker moves into the clinch.
Esposito lands a body shot in the clinch.
Walker wants to stall.
Esposito's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Walker wants to break the clinch but can't.
Walker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Walker is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Walker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Esposito's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker tries to land a knee to the head but Esposito blocks with his arms.
Esposito blocks an elbow strike.

Esposito manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circling - Esposito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Walker throws a right and a left that both miss.
Esposito gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Walker counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito fails with a takedown attempt.

Esposito gets a takedown into half guard.
Walker has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Esposito lands a nice short elbow.
Walker wants to improve his position but Esposito is controlling well.

Walker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Esposito thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Walker's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walker taking some punishment here, with Esposito in his half guard.
Esposito thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Walker's head.
Walker wants to control but Esposito is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Walker is looking for a sweep. Esposito is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Esposito controlling the pace.

Walker looking for submissions off his back.
Esposito takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Esposito scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Walker wants to get back to full guard.
Walker wants to control but Esposito is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Walker has hold of Esposito's hands but Esposito slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Esposito working over Walker with some ground and pound. Walker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Esposito stalling.
Esposito wants to free his trapped foot but Walker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Walker tries to roll over but Esposito keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker is looking to control Esposito's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Walker avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esposito controlling the action here.
Esposito trying to control from Walker's half guard. Walker has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Walker lands a decent punch to the body there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Walker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esposito defends it easily.
Walker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Esposito dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Walker shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Esposito makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Esposito.
Walker trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Walker distracts Esposito with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Esposito preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Esposito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Esposito keeping moving, preventing Walker from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Esposito is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Walker connects with a couple of short punches.
Walker stands up over Esposito, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Esposito is trying to control the position but Walker postures up.
Walker chips away with some ground and pound.
Walker trying to control but Esposito is working from the bottom.
Esposito wants to sweep here but Walker controlling him for the moment.
Esposito has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker lands a couple of elbows.
Esposito wants to sweep but no luck.
Esposito avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Esposito manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Walker manages to get himself to full guard.

Esposito throwing strikes from guard but Walker blocks nicely.
Javier Esposito overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Esposito trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Walker keeping moving, preventing Esposito from controlling successfully.

Walker looking for a guillotine here but Esposito defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Walker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Esposito.
Esposito stands up over Walker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Esposito postures up.
Esposito landing with the ground and pound.
Esposito content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Walker controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Walker wants to control but Esposito passes easily into half guard.
Esposito working over Walker with some ground and pound. Walker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Esposito is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Walker has a hand on Esposito's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Esposito takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Walker gets back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Walker looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Esposito.
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 Javier Esposito will probably get the nod.
That's time! Esposito's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Walker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jab, jab by Walker - just one landing.
Walker moves in looking to clinch but Esposito pushes him off.
Esposito changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Esposito is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Walker.
A shot to the liver by Esposito. Beautiful body shot.
Esposito thows a leg kick but Walker checks it
and Walker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker trying to land knees to the body.
Esposito throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Walkers head.
Walker scores with a shoulder strike.
Esposito scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esposito prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esposito.

Esposito manages to break the clinch.
Esposito getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Esposito avoids the body shot from Walker.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Esposito misses with a jab, cross combination.
Walker lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A jab lands there for Walker.
Esposito throws a hook but Walker blocks it.
Esposito misses the shot to the body.

Walker rushes Esposito and presses him up against the cage.
Esposito is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Esposito tries to work over Walker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Walker content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Esposito pushes Walker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esposito.
Walker wants to stall.
Esposito lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Walker.
Esposito controlling the action here for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Walker is trying to break the clinch but Esposito is controlling him.
Walker is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Esposito gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Javier Esposito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Walker.
A body shot lands from Esposito.
Esposito on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Esposito obliges.
Walker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Walker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Esposito just stands there and leans against the cage.
Javier Esposito has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Esposito is looking for a takedown.
Esposito tries for a takedown but Walker manages to get underhooks.
Esposito cracks Walker with a nice body shot.
Esposito lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands a left hand.
Esposito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walker jumps guard but Esposito stands there with Walker around his waist. Walker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Esposito digs a right hand into Walker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Walker's gas tank.
Esposito is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Walker can do to turn this around?
Esposito stalling the fight.
Walker taking a breather.
Walker can't get the takedown.
Walker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Walker misses with a punch to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Esposito.
Walker is trying to stall.
Esposito lands a nice shot to the body.

Esposito breaks from the clinch.
Esposito lands with a shot to the body.
Walker takes one on the button.
Javier Esposito is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Walker has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Walker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Esposito was well out of range. Poor timing from Walker.
Esposito drops down looking for a counter takedown but Walker sprawls and moves away.
Brandon Walker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esposito scores with a hook.
Esposito ducks under a wild hook from Walker.
Walker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Esposito connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walker moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Walker walks into a straight right hand from Esposito.
Walker misses with a looping left.

Esposito dives in and scores a takedown into Walker's guard.
Esposito controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Esposito seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Walker for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Javier Esposito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Esposito has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

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