PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Maki (ranked 398 p4p, 1090 weight class) and Leonardo Esposito (ranked 51 p4p, 140 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Maki
vs
Esposito

182 cm
29
194
18 - 7 - 1

185 cm
29
190
16 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Maki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leonardo Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esposito connects with a high kick.
Esposito throws a head kick that misses.
Esposito checks the leg kick.
A solid body kick from Maki.
Esposito takes a swing at Maki's ribcage but misses.
Maki keeps the fight on the outside.
Maki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Maki throws a leg kick but Esposito checks it.
Esposito lands a nice shot that snaps Maki's head back.
We've been told by Maki's head coaches at IMMA Gym of Elite ASS that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Esposito will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Esposito rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maki throws a leg kick which misses Esposito's front leg but catches the back leg as Esposito tries to avoid it.
Esposito scores with a hook.
Esposito takes a body punch but keeps moving.
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!
A jab from Maki misses.
Maki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Esposito scores with a hook.
Esposito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maki.
Esposito throws a head kick but Maki moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki looks to land a body kick but Esposito moved away.
Esposito slips under a jab.
A combination from Esposito does no damage.
Esposito throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maki counters with a nice leg kick.
Maki takes a kick to the side of the head.
Maki misses with a hook. Esposito ducked under it nicely.
Esposito looks to land a right hand but Maki moved out of range.
A combination from Esposito does no damage.
Maki misses the jab.
A left lands for Esposito.
Leonardo Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Esposito drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Maki slips a jab and a cross from Esposito.
Maki throws a hook but Esposito blocks it.
Esposito throws a leg kick but Maki checks it.
Esposito scores with a push kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esposito moves to clinch but Maki breaks away
and Maki counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Esposito tries to close the distance and clinch but Maki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esposito has managed to clinch.
Esposito trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esposito.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Esposito.
Maki blocks a body shot from Esposito.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.
Maki gets through Esposito's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Esposito misses with the head strike.
Maki lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maki.
Maki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esposito stalls.
Maki throws a punch but it's blocked by Esposito.

Maki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Esposito misses with a shot to the body
and Maki counters with a nice leg kick.

Esposito darts in and clinches Maki up against the cage.
Esposito cracks Maki with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki has a couple of punches blocked by Esposito.
Esposito leaning his opponent against the cage.
Maki swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esposito.
Maki tries a body shot but Esposito blocks it.
Esposito misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maki lands a nice shot to the body.
Esposito lands a hook that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
Esposito is trying to maintain a safe position but Maki gets an underhook and turns Esposito into the cage.
A hook to the body from Esposito.
Esposito lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Esposito prevents a body shot from Maki.
Maki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Maki breaks from the clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Esposito.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Esposito lands.
Maki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Esposito looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Maki swats away the attempt to clinch by Esposito.
Maki takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maki goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Maki takes a swing at Esposito's ribcage but misses.
Esposito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maki.
Esposito looks to score with a jab to the body but Maki is just out of range.
Esposito misses with a straight left.
Esposito is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Esposito's jab looks to have found its range, popping Maki under the eye.
Esposito throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maki looks to land a body kick but Esposito moved away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Esposito dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Maki throws a nice inside leg kick.
Esposito fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Esposito missing with a left hand there. Maki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Esposito throws a sloppy head kick and Maki moves out of range easily.
Esposito throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maki's head.
Maki misses with a straight left.
Maki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Esposito lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Esposito moves into range and clinches up with Maki.
Maki throws a head punch that misses.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.
Esposito is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Maki throws a head punch that misses.
Esposito tries a knee to the head but Maki blocks it.
Maki wants to get back to striking at distance but Esposito won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Maki fails to land.
Leonardo Esposito seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Maki lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki pushes Esposito back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maki working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Esposito scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maki swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito working aggressively here.
Maki swings wildly with an uppercut but Esposito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esposito scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esposito throws a head punch that misses.
Esposito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esposito misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maki tries a body shot but Esposito blocks it.
Maki blocks a body shot from Esposito.
Maki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maki blocks an uppercut.
Esposito lands a hook that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
Maki working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
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.
Esposito pushes Maki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Maki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Esposito effectively controlling the action here.
Esposito's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Maki misses with the head strike.
Maki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maki.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Esposito in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Esposito stalling against the cage.
A short left from Esposito.
Maki lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Esposito backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito lands a nice shot to the body.
Esposito is stalling here.
Maki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Esposito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esposito tries to work over Maki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito just leaning against Maki, taking a breather.
Esposito has a couple of punches blocked by Maki.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maki.
Maki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esposito backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Maki.
Maki gets through Esposito's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Esposito throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.
A body shot lands from Esposito.
Esposito misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Esposito controlling the action here for a moment.
Esposito lands a nice shot to the body.
Esposito blocks an uppercut.
Maki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Esposito stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Esposito holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Esposito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maki prevents a body shot from Esposito.
Maki has a couple of punches blocked by Esposito.
Maki misses with a body punch.
Esposito pushes Maki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Maki is trying to force a seperation but Esposito has the dominant position.
Esposito can't find room to land a body shot as Maki controls the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Seppo Maki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Esposito has managed to clinch.
Maki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Esposito struggles to land a body shot inside as Maki controls his hands.
Maki working aggressively here.
Esposito misses with some punches.
Maki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maki blocks an uppercut.
Esposito misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maki misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maki.
Esposito scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Esposito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esposito leaning his opponent against the cage.
Esposito scores with a shoulder strike.
Maki misses with a punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Esposito.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Esposito tries to stall but Maki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Esposito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Esposito misses with a punch to the body.
Maki throws a head punch that misses.
Esposito blocking some punches.
Maki can't find room to land a body shot as Esposito controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esposito.
Maki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maki can't find room to land a body shot as Esposito controls the action.
Maki blocks an elbow strike.
Esposito gets through Maki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Esposito looking to slow down the pace here.
Esposito blocks a body shot from Maki.
A right hook to the body lands for Esposito.
Maki misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki blocking some punches.
Maki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Esposito backwards.
Maki misses with the head strike.
Esposito tries to throw a body punch but Maki avoids it by throwing Esposito back against the cage.
Maki has Esposito pushed against the cage.
Esposito lands with a right to the head.
Maki lands a body punch.
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.
Esposito misses with some punches.
A body shot lands from Maki.
Maki throws a punch but it's blocked by Esposito.
A right hook to the body lands for Esposito.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Esposito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Esposito looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maki lands a hook that snaps the head of Esposito backwards.
Esposito lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Maki throws a punch but it's blocked by Esposito.
Maki prevents a body shot from Esposito.
Maki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esposito lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
Esposito lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maki has Esposito pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Esposito.
Maki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esposito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Esposito lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maki backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esposito lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Esposito misses with the head strike.
Esposito lands with a right to 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!
Maki blocks a body shot from Esposito.
Esposito lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maki backwards.
Esposito blocking some punches.
Esposito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Esposito has a couple of punches blocked by Maki.
Esposito has a couple of punches blocked by Maki.
Esposito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Maki.
Esposito makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maki.
Esposito works on Maki's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch on the inside from Esposito fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonardo Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Esposito has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonardo Esposito!
Our winner, Leonardo Esposito, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.