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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ward Shaver (ranked 3563 p4p, 2784 weight class) and Leonardo Esposito (ranked 472 p4p, 374 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 186 cm
18
193
1 - 1 - 0 |
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185 cm
19
190
3 - 0 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ward Shaver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leonardo Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaver walks into a jab.
It looks like Ward Shaver has been cut.
Shaver ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Esposito moves away.
Shaver feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Shaver in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shaver throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Esposito works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esposito keeping full guard, as Shaver tries to pass.
Shaver wants to control from the top but Esposito keeps moving.
Shaver throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shaver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shaver stands and throws Esposito's legs to the side, diving into side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito is trying to control Shaver's posture but Shaver avoids it.
Shaver wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esposito keeps working.
Shaver is chipping away with strikes.
The strikes coming from Shaver are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Shaver has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Shaver fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Shaver working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaver trying to control the position but Esposito is working away.
Shaver 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.
Shaver tries to advance to mount but Esposito denies him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Shaver.
Shaver is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shaver throws an elbow but Esposito slips to the side and avoids it well.
Shaver wants to control but Esposito is keeping him busy.
Shaver tries to score with some ground and pound. Esposito controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaver tries to advance to mount but Esposito denies him.
Esposito is looking to reverse the position.
Shaver 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.
Shaver misses with the ground and pound.
Shaver is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Shaver keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esposito.
Shaver throws a leg kick
and Esposito counters with a straight right hand.
Esposito stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Esposito wants it to stay on the feet.
Shaver stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Esposito.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaver looks to land a combination but Esposito avoids it well.
A little jabbing left from Esposito on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Leonardo Esposito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shaver doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Esposito counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shaver looks for a takedown but Esposito sprawls well.
Esposito looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ward Shaver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esposito throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shaver shoots in but Esposito avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ward Shaver dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ward Shaver's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Shaver shoots in for a takedown but Esposito shows good takedown defense.
Esposito doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ward Shaver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito is looking to slow Shaver down with leg kicks.
Shaver jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shaver tries to score a power double leg takedown but Esposito sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shaver somewhat.
Shaver gets a double leg takedown into Esposito's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaver loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shaver throwing strikes from guard but Esposito blocks nicely.
Esposito can't keep his opponent in guard - Shaver advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shaver is looking to take a break and control but Esposito is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shaver throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shaver keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shaver wants to pass the guard but Esposito is defending well.
Esposito felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Ward Shaver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shaver wants to take a breather but Esposito is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shaver not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shaver controlling the action here.
Esposito is looking for a sweep. Shaver is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shaver thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Esposito avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shaver.
Esposito has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shaver is working away from the top position though.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Esposito displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shaver throws out the jab.
Esposito appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito connects with a looping right hand.
Shaver shoots in for a takedown but Esposito shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ward Shaver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Esposito connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Shaver momentarily.
Shaver shoots and misses
and Esposito counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shaver.
A little jabbing left from Esposito on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Esposito throws a hook but Shaver avoids it easily.
Esposito checks a low kick from Shaver.
Leonardo Esposito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esposito throws a lazy right hand but Shaver sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaver moves out of range as Esposito strikes.
Shaver tries to counter with a takedown but Esposito is quick to defend against it.
Esposito swings for the body but Shaver moves out of range.
A jab from Esposito misses.
Shaver with a poor takedown
and Esposito connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shaver on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shaver gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shaver takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shaver is rocked!
Ward Shaver's cut is getting worse.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shaver glances at the clock... BAM! Esposito nails him with a big right hand! A momentary lapse in concentration sends Shaver crashing to the mat! The referee steps in and this one is over! Damn, Shaver is out of it, he thinks the ref is his opponent!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Leonardo Esposito!
Leonardo Esposito thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
33% |
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