PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Christian Zayer Jr (ranked 2461 p4p, 2469 weight class) and Pablo Esposito (ranked 210 p4p, 211 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Christian Zayer Jr has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Christian Zayer Jr seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Zayer Jr
vs
Esposito

183 cm
25
155
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
153
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Christian Zayer Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pablo Esposito!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito fails with a takedown attempt.

Esposito changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zayer Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Zayer Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zayer Jr's coaches at PhoQus Island Training have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Zayer Jr is not content to let Esposito control the position.
Esposito wants to take a breather but Zayer Jr manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Esposito.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zayer Jr trying to control the position.
Esposito stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zayer Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Esposito throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zayer Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Esposito lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zayer Jr has momentary wrist control but Esposito slips an elbow through the middle.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Esposito landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zayer Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Esposito doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Esposito manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Esposito is stalling in the full guard.
Esposito stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zayer Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zayer Jr has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Esposito can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito tries to free his leg and advance position but Zayer Jr is retaining full guard.
Esposito scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zayer Jr throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Esposito slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
It looks like Esposito might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Esposito shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zayer Jr defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Esposito keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Esposito is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zayer Jr sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Christian Zayer Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Esposito.
Zayer Jr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Esposito shoots in looking for a takedown but Zayer Jr manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Esposito's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Zayer Jr drives through and clinches with Esposito against the cage.

Zayer Jr breaks from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zayer Jr gets caught napping as Esposito dives in and scores a takedown. Zayer Jr manages to retain guard.
Esposito looking to pass the guard.
Esposito not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Esposito dominated that round.
That's time! Zayer Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zayer Jr tries to clinch but Esposito moves out of range.
Esposito with the counter takedown but Zayer Jr avoids it easily.
Esposito swats away the attempt to clinch by Zayer Jr.
Zayer Jr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zayer Jr wants to clinch up but Esposito keeps it at a distance.
Esposito looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zayer Jr dives in and grabs Esposito's left leg, looking for a takedown. Esposito pushes down on Zayer Jr's head and hops out.
Esposito is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Esposito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito shoots in looking for a takedown but Zayer Jr manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Esposito's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Esposito doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zayer Jr counters with a two punch combo.
Christian Zayer Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Esposito.
Esposito shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zayer Jr pinned against the cage. Zayer Jr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito leaves Zayer Jr with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Zayer Jr fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Esposito to the ground. Zayer Jr is now in Esposito's guard.
Esposito is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zayer Jr stands up from Esposito's guard - Zayer Jr perhaps looking for a knockout.

Zayer Jr gets caught napping as Esposito dives in and scores a takedown. Zayer Jr manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esposito engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Esposito trying to control but Zayer Jr is working from the bottom.
Esposito not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Esposito's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Esposito wants to pass the guard but Zayer Jr is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands a couple of digs.
Zayer Jr wants to stand but Esposito is controlling the position.
Esposito passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zayer Jr struggling a bit here.
Zayer Jr is not content to let Esposito control the position.

That's four 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Esposito looking to score a takedown here. Zayer Jr is defending well but Esposito drives through and ends up in Zayer Jr's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Esposito postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esposito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zayer Jr is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pablo Esposito will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Zayer Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zayer Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Esposito moves out of range easily.

Esposito changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zayer Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Esposito is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Esposito has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Elite Boxing Club. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Esposito lands a nice forearm strike.
You can see the frustration on Zayer Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zayer Jr is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zayer Jr is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Esposito is controlling him well.
Zayer Jr trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Esposito swings around for an armbar but Zayer Jr sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Esposito's guard.
Zayer Jr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Esposito is adopting a defensive guard.
Esposito looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zayer Jr is looking to stand up but Esposito won't let him.
Esposito utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zayer Jr scoring with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Esposito is on top in guard.

Zayer Jr being controlled here, momentarily.
Esposito trying to control but Zayer Jr is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esposito stopping the sweep attempt from Zayer Jr.
Esposito distracts Zayer Jr with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Esposito is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Zayer Jr is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zayer Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Esposito shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Esposito was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Esposito scoring with punches and elbows.
Esposito looking to control but instead Zayer Jr has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zayer Jr is looking to get back to is feet but Esposito passes into side control.
Zayer Jr gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Christian Zayer Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pablo Esposito is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Esposito tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pablo Esposito.
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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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