PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Esquilo (ranked 4608 p4p, 25488 weight class) and Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji (ranked 0 p4p, 484 weight class). Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Paulo Esquilo's chin.

Esquilo
vs
Thumbs Up Emoji

174 cm
25
144
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
145
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Paulo Esquilo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thumbs Up Emoji fails with a takedown attempt.
Esquilo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Esquilo throws a leg kick but Thumbs Up Emoji sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Esquilo throws a looping overhand right but Thumbs Up Emoji ducks down to avoid it.
Esquilo is looking to chop away at Thumbs Up Emoji's legs.
Esquilo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Some bone on bone action there as Thumbs Up Emoji checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esquilo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thumbs Up Emoji is able to avoid easily.
Esquilo misses with an uppercut. Thumbs Up Emoji saw that one coming.
Esquilo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thumbs Up Emoji sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thumbs Up Emoji feints the counter takedown.
Thumbs Up Emoji uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Esquilo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thumbs Up Emoji keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Esquilo.
Esquilo misses with a looping right.
Thumbs Up Emoji defending well as Esquilo loads up on a big left hand.
Thumbs Up Emoji steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Esquilo tried to score with a low kick but Thumbs Up Emoji checks it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thumbs Up Emoji takes an elbow to the forehead.
Esquilo pushes off an throws an elbow but Thumbs Up Emoji leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thumbs Up Emoji blocks an elbow strike from Esquilo.
Thumbs Up Emoji tries to break the clinch but Esquilo is controlling the position.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to push Esquilo away but Esquilo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Esquilo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esquilo lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esquilo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Thumbs Up Emoji jumps guard but Esquilo stands there with Thumbs Up Emoji around his waist. Thumbs Up Emoji gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thumbs Up Emoji has Esquilo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Esquilo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Paulo Esquilo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji.
Esquilo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esquilo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thumbs Up Emoji is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thumbs Up Emoji wants to stall.
Esquilo has Thumbs Up Emoji pressed against the cage, preventing Thumbs Up Emoji from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nice elbow from Esquilo.
Esquilo lands a nice elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esquilo slows down the pace here.
Esquilo lands a nice elbow.
Esquilo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thumbs Up Emoji is looking to control Esquilo's arms but Esquilo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Thumbs Up Emoji has his back to the cage.
Thumbs Up Emoji takes an elbow to the forehead.
Esquilo lands an elbow just above Thumbs Up Emoji 's eye.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Esquilo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Esquilo throws an elbow that misses.
Esquilo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thumbs Up Emoji wants to stall.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Esquilo lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji has been cut.
Thumbs Up Emoji takes an elbow to the temple.
Esquilo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Esquilo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Esquilo lands a damaging elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thumbs Up Emoji avoids a wild elbow strike from Esquilo.
Thumbs Up Emoji takes an elbow to the temple.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to pull guard but Esquilo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Thumbs Up Emoji avoids the elbow strike from Esquilo, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Esquilo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thumbs Up Emoji moves away from the strike by Esquilo.
Esquilo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thumbs Up Emoji can do to turn this around?
Esquilo tries a low kick but Thumbs Up Emoji avoids it.
Esquilo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Esquilo throws a leg kick but Thumbs Up Emoji checks it.

Esquilo closes the distance and pushes Thumbs Up Emoji back into the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Esquilo throws an elbow but misses.
Thumbs Up Emoji jumps guard but Esquilo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thumbs Up Emoji wants to break free but Esquilo has control.
Esquilo blocks the elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esquilo.
Esquilo lands a nice elbow.
Esquilo is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Thumbs Up Emoji's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Esquilo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thumbs Up Emoji's defenses.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to force a seperation but Esquilo has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thumbs Up Emoji tries to circle away but Esquilo has him pinned against the cage.
Thumbs Up Emoji tries to land knees in the clinch but Esquilo avoids the damage to the body.
Esquilo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to pull guard but Esquilo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Thumbs Up Emoji is looking for a takedown.
Paulo Esquilo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji.
Thumbs Up Emoji dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Thumbs Up Emoji jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Esquilo walks away with a smile on his face. Thumbs Up Emoji gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Paulo Esquilo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thumbs Up Emoji defending well as Esquilo loads up on a big left hand.
Esquilo misses with a looping right.
Esquilo throws a leg kick but Thumbs Up Emoji sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thumbs Up Emoji uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Esquilo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esquilo throws a shot from downtown. Thumbs Up Emoji moves away and avoids it.
Thumbs Up Emoji moves out of range of the strikes.
Esquilo misses with a low kick as Thumbs Up Emoji jumps back.

Esquilo forces Thumbs Up Emoji back against the cage and clinches.
Esquilo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to pull guard but Esquilo has him pressed against the cage.
Esquilo throws an elbow that misses.
Esquilo lands a damaging elbow.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Esquilo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
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!
Esquilo lands an elbow inside.
Esquilo lands an elbow that stopped Thumbs Up Emoji in his tracks for a moment.

Thumbs Up Emoji is rocked!
Esquilo lands a damaging elbow.
Thumbs Up Emoji is still on wobbly legs! Can Esquilo finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esquilo'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.
Esquilo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esquilo lands an elbow that stopped Thumbs Up Emoji in his tracks for a moment.
Thumbs Up Emoji seems to have recovered his senses.

That has opened up Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji's cut even more.
Thumbs Up Emoji avoids a wild elbow strike from Esquilo.
Thumbs Up Emoji takes an elbow to the temple.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esquilo.
Esquilo misses with an elbow strike.
Esquilo lands an elbow just above Thumbs Up Emoji 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thumbs Up Emoji tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Esquilo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Esquilo looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Thumbs Up Emoji manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Esquilo is looking to stand up but Thumbs Up Emoji won't let him.
Esquilo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Esquilo wants to stand and escape but instead Thumbs Up Emoji has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Thumbs Up Emoji advances to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Esquilo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thumbs Up Emoji lands a leg kick that knocks Esquilo off balance momentarily.
A jab from Esquilo misses.
Esquilo misses with a straight left.
Thumbs Up Emoji slips under a jab.
Esquilo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thumbs Up Emoji ducks under a wild hook from Esquilo.
As Esquilo backs off Thumbs Up Emoji throws a huge counter combo but Esquilo manages to avoid it all.
Esquilo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thumbs Up Emoji sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thumbs Up Emoji shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Esquilo as he avoids it easily.
Thumbs Up Emoji fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Paulo Esquilo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thumbs Up Emoji uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Esquilo.

Esquilo rushes Thumbs Up Emoji and presses him up against the cage.
Esquilo lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esquilo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Thumbs Up Emoji jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Esquilo walks away with a smile on his face. Thumbs Up Emoji gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thumbs Up Emoji slips under a jab from Esquilo.

Thumbs Up Emoji gets a clinch.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to pull guard but Esquilo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Thumbs Up Emoji stalling in the clinch but Esquilo improves position.
Esquilo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thumbs Up Emoji's defenses.
Esquilo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Esquilo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Esquilo lands a damaging elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esquilo.

The cut above Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esquilo lands a nice elbow.
Thumbs Up Emoji goes for a takedown in the clinch but Esquilo prevents it.
Thumbs Up Emoji blocks the elbow strike.
Esquilo pushes off an throws an elbow but Thumbs Up Emoji leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Esquilo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thumbs Up Emoji.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thumbs Up Emoji takes an elbow to the temple.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thumbs Up Emoji wants to get back to striking at distance but Esquilo won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Esquilo.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to break free.
Thumbs Up Emoji avoids the elbow strike from Esquilo, against the cage.
Thumbs Up Emoji changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Esquilo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thumbs Up Emoji uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Esquilo.
Esquilo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thumbs Up Emoji is out of range and Esquilo settles back down.
Esquilo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thumbs Up Emoji.

Thumbs Up Emoji closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Esquilo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thumbs Up Emoji's defenses.

Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Esquilo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esquilo lands a damaging elbow.
Thumbs Up Emoji has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Esquilo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Thumbs Up Emoji has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Esquilo uses from the top position.
Esquilo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Esquilo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thumbs Up Emoji on the ground.
Thumbs Up Emoji is trying to keep Esquilo in close.
Ricardo Thumbs Up Emoji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esquilo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Esquilo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Esquilo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Esquilo!