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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sauvage Thibodeaux (ranked 1124 p4p, 2196 weight class) and Leonardo Esposito (ranked 166 p4p, 297 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 180 cm
19
195
5 - 0 - 0 |
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185 cm
19
190
4 - 0 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sauvage Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leonardo Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Aleksandr Martynov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thibodeaux.
Esposito stuffs the takedown.
Esposito lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thibodeaux tries to close the distance and clinch but Esposito swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've been hearing reports that Thibodeaux has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Thibodeaux on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Esposito digs a good body shot into Thibodeaux's ribs.
Thibodeaux misses with a takedown
and Esposito counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab from Esposito does it's job there.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch
and Esposito counters with a nice body shot.
Thibodeaux closes the distance and clinches.
Thibodeaux goes for a takedown attempt but Esposito pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sauvage Thibodeaux. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thibodeaux has closed the distance and engaged Esposito in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Esposito throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Esposito stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Esposito prevents a takedown attempt there.
Esposito gets underhooks to prevent Thibodeaux's takedown attempt.
Esposito prevents a takedown attempt there.
Thibodeaux jumps guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Esposito must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Esposito is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Thibodeaux is adopting a defensive guard.
Thibodeaux 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.
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 engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Thibodeaux is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Thibodeaux had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Esposito defends it easily.
Thibodeaux looking to control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito being controlled here momentarily.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Esposito throws out a powerful jab.
Sauvage Thibodeaux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito scores with a hook to the body. Thibodeaux takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Esposito connects with a solid leg kick.
Esposito moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Esposito defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thibodeaux.
Good leg kick by Esposito.
Esposito scores with a leg kick.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Esposito lands with a left to the head.
Thibodeaux fails to pull guard.
Esposito lands a left hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esposito.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esposito scores with a shoulder strike.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thibodeaux tries to pull guard but Esposito won't allow it.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but Esposito turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Esposito working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A hook to the body from Esposito.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries to pull guard but Esposito holds him up against the cage and eventually Thibodeaux drops back down to his feet.
Esposito pushes Thibodeaux back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Esposito pushes Thibodeaux back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Esposito fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Esposito pushes Thibodeaux away with a front kick.
Leonardo Esposito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thibodeaux is breathing heavily.
Thibodeaux on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Thibodeaux with a poor takedown
and Esposito connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice shot lands for Esposito.
Esposito thumps Thibodeaux with a low kick.
Esposito with the inside leg kick.
Esposito has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Esposito fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thibodeaux is looking to clinch.
Esposito cracks Thibodeaux with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thibodeaux avoids the head kick by Esposito.
Thibodeaux doesn't manage to clinch there - Esposito circles away.
Esposito delivers a nice body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Leonardo Esposito dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Esposito scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Esposito scoring well with a low kick there.
Thibodeaux closes the distance but Esposito moves to the side
and Esposito counters with a right hand to the body.
A left lands for Esposito.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but Esposito is having none of it.
Esposito looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thibodeaux wants to clinch
and Thibodeaux takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Esposito manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Esposito with a nice calf kick.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but Esposito moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Esposito - that will leave a mark!
Esposito connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thibodeaux's hands.
Esposito keeps the fight on the outside.
Thibodeaux on the wrong end of a nice jab.
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!
Thibodeaux chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Esposito can pounce on him.
Thibodeaux wants to clinch up but Esposito keeps it at a distance.
Esposito appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Esposito defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux moves in looking to clinch but Esposito pushes him off.
Thibodeaux doesn't manage to clinch there - Esposito circles away.
Thibodeaux shoots for a takedown but Esposito saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito throws a jab when Thibodeaux was well out of range.
A good leg kick by Esposito.
Esposito lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Thibodeaux wants to clinch but Esposito slips to the side
and Esposito counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thibodeaux closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Esposito lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Thibodeaux is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Thibodeaux drags the fight down to the ground.
Esposito got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thibodeaux has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Esposito has managed to get both his arms back between Thibodeaux's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thibodeaux looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Esposito passes into side control.
Thibodeaux struggling a bit here.
Thibodeaux is trying to improve his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is working hard here to advance position.
Thibodeaux can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thibodeaux tries to buck Esposito off but Esposito is having none of it.
Esposito remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Esposito working away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux being controlled for a moment.
Thibodeaux wants to control but Esposito postures up.
Thibodeaux is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Esposito off and has taken his back!
What can Esposito do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Esposito is in bad spot here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux controlling the position well here. Esposito rolled but Thibodeaux kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Thibodeaux trying to control.
Esposito has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Thibodeaux wants to control but Esposito is keeping busy.
Esposito manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Esposito.
Thibodeaux pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esposito is keeping the position for now.
Thibodeaux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Leonardo Esposito showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Thibodeaux takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thibodeaux wants to clinch
and Esposito counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice shot lands for Esposito.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up.
Esposito connects with a body shot that sends Thibodeaux's belly button to the back.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but Esposito is having none of it.
Esposito with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Leonardo Esposito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Esposito keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
That kick from Esposito tenderised Thibodeaux's leg. Thibodeaux is trying to keep his angry face on.
Esposito connects with an inside leg kick.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch
letting Esposito counter with a right hand.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up but Esposito circles away and keeps his distance.
Thibodeaux doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Esposito counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito circles away from the clinch attempt
and Esposito connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Esposito swats away the attempt to clinch by Thibodeaux.
Esposito throws a front kick that sends Thibodeaux stumbling back into the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Esposito lands a slapping body shot.
Esposito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thibodeaux. That did some damage!
Esposito connects with a high kick.
Esposito comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Esposito circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thibodeaux fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Esposito.
Thibodeaux tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Esposito paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thibodeaux shoots for a double leg takedown but Esposito sprawls well. He's pushed Thibodeaux's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sauvage Thibodeaux. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An inside leg kick lands from Esposito.
Thibodeaux is looking to clinch but Esposito is avoiding it.
Thibodeaux looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
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 cracks Thibodeaux with a right hand to the side of the head.
Esposito fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thibodeaux has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thibodeaux tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Thibodeaux with a poor takedown
and Esposito counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Esposito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thibodeaux ducks right into an uppercut from Esposito.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thibodeaux. That did some damage!
Esposito with a nice calf kick.
Esposito stuns Thibodeaux with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Esposito connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Esposito swats away the attempt to clinch by Thibodeaux.
Esposito stuffs the takedown.
Thibodeaux tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Esposito counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fight stays on the outside here - Thibodeaux looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Esposito punishes Thibodeaux's body with a nice straight punch.
Esposito lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Thibodeaux at a distance.
Esposito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Esposito cracks Thibodeaux with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Thibodeaux is looking to clinch but Esposito is avoiding it.
Thibodeaux backing away here, and Esposito unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A good leg kick by Esposito.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Esposito connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Thibodeaux momentarily.
A good leg kick by Esposito.
Esposito scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Esposito fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Thibodeaux doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Esposito's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thibodeaux under the eye.
Esposito lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Esposito keeps the fight on the outside.
Thibodeaux shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Esposito to counter with a crisp jab.
Esposito turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux fails in his attempt to clinch.
Esposito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thibodeaux. That did some damage!
Thibodeaux shoots in but Esposito avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Esposito takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thibodeaux instigates a clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands with a left to the head.
Esposito lands with a left to the head.
Esposito lands a right hand.
Esposito lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short left from Esposito.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esposito.
Thibodeaux manages to pull guard.
Thibodeaux looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Esposito has picked Thibodeaux up and slammed him! Thibodeaux can't keep hold of the triangle and Esposito manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Thibodeaux's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thibodeaux is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Esposito's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thibodeaux is looking for a sweep. Esposito is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sauvage Thibodeaux has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonardo Esposito is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thibodeaux missing with punches from the bottom.
And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Esposito winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Esposito!
A victorious Leonardo Esposito thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
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
66% |
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